any thoughts about Mountain City, Tennessee? (Church Hill, Charlotte: for sale, real estate, houses)

[Candylou2]

I presently have a home in upstate NY in the mountains and love it, except the winters are getting to be too much for us.

We have been looking on line for houses and like what we read about the North Carolina mountains - Boone/Asheville area.

We recently found a house for sale in Mountain City that looks nice and is very reasonable priced. I have learned a lot about Mountain City from this site, but any opinions about it will be greatly appreciated.

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by Candylou2

I presently have a home in upstate NY in the mountains and love it, except the winters are getting to be too much for us.

We have been looking on line for houses and like what we read about the North Carolina mountains - Boone/Asheville area.

We recently found a house for sale in Mountain City that looks nice and is very reasonable priced. I have learned a lot about Mountain City from this site, but any opinions about it will be greatly appreciated.

Beautiful area with four lovely seasons. Cool summers, snowy winters. Nearest Wal-Mart or any other large retailer is in Boone, NC or Abingdon, VA (30-minute drive).

[jabogitlu]

Mountain City is sort of like Alaska (without the heavy winters). The people there are sort of ... pioneery and independent. There are no Wal-Marts, Lowe's or places like that and honestly I think if they put one in the people would protest it. The downtown is pretty and there is enough city to get by, especially if that's your thing. (Personally, I would wither and die - I'm more of a Raleigh/Charlotte type of person.)

Weather is very nice, the avg temps are lower than most of the rest of NETN because Mountain City is in the highlands, more like Boone. I'd say you could handle the winter no problem, coming from upstate NY, but for those of us who were raised in the TN Valley it can be a bit harrowing. They do get more snow and temps can be anywhere from 5 to 15 degrees cooler in the winters. (And in the summers, but generally that's less pronounced.)

[SarahSal]

I concur with all the info in the posts above..
Having lived in MC for about 18 years, I'd say it's changed a lot since the late 80's when we first moved there as 'pioneers' of sorts via the NC coast and Connecticut. Loved the beauty and seclusion of our place after we moved but despite the friendliness of some folks, others never seemed comfortable with the fact we hadn't been born there. Should be noted that the Johnson County area is quite religious and churches of several Christian denominations (including Catholic) dot many of the main and lesser highways.

But since those early days lots of folks from other places have moved in, including many retirees and the acceptance level of 'outsiders' (by locals) has been enhanced by these newcomers' contributions to their community. It *is* truly a beautiful area and its proximity to all that Boone has to offer makes it completely viable for many people. Certainly real estate prices are quite a bit lower than the 'High Country' of Boone area, which is one big reason many folks 'discover' then choose MC as an alternative to NC - plus there's beautiful Watauga Lake close by, along with the Cherokee National Forest and access to the Appalachian Trail. There really is a wealth of outdoor recreational options. Also, there's a recreation center and relatively new community theatre.

Depending on your level of expectations and cultural/shopping needs, Mtn City (combined w/ access to Boone) could provide a perfect new community. I would surely pay a visit first and talk to local shop owners and officials to get a sense of the place before you buy. Best of luck!!

[Candylou2]

Thank you for your replies. It sounds great. Will be planning a visit very soon.

[Southside Shrek]

I know of a couple who recently built a home in MC and moved there to retire. They apparently were sold on it.

[klosk]

My husband and I looked at Mountian city during our search for eastern Tennessee residence. We thought it was a bit out of the way from everything. Nothing close by and this is just my thought, I think it could be a clickish clan. Seemed to be alot of older people who grew up through generations there, but that is just what my husband and I thought. We settled on Church Hill.