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Is this a good area for people to retire to who are tired of wall to wall people and traffic in the big city, ugly humid weather, etc.?
It's not like the "Deliverance" movie area is it? Also, how do the skiers behave when they show up in the winter? It doesn't turn into a major drunk-fest, does it?
I think you probably should visit any area you are considering for a permanent move.
Your concerns are so far off base . . . and the things you SHOULD be concerned about (i.e., transportation in winter, medical care, cost of living, taxes) you are not questioning . . . which tells me you need to do a LOT more research before even tentatively deciding this is an area for you to retire.
I think you probably should visit any area you are considering for a permanent move.
Your concerns are so far off base . . . and the things you SHOULD be concerned about (i.e., transportation in winter, medical care, cost of living, taxes) you are not questioning . . . which tells me you need to do a LOT more research before even tentatively deciding this is an area for you to retire.
In that case... how is the transportation in winter, medical care, cost of living, taxes,etc.?
I take it, the answer re: the influx of winter sports enthusiasts is relatively tame?
^ A few questions that might elicit better responses to your questions:
-Retired or working? If still working, working from home vs will be looking for employment in Banner/Beech?
-Interests?
-Family, spouse, partner, kids, solo?
-Coming from?
-Health good, or needing close by and frequent attention?
-With 'Western NC' being a large geo area, with dozens of towns, (most of which have very little "wall to wall people and traffic", why did you select Beech/Banner area to investigate?
GL, mD
Without boring you folks with my life story, is there anybody willing to give their view on the good and/or not for that area? More than what I can read on viewtrip.com?
I'm leaving the slate totally open. Do anybody have an opinion of that area. Anything at all. Not just re: me, but in general for any person from anywhere. Have at it. No need to sugar-coat it. Tell it like it is.
Its a small, isolated place (population 1,000) with great natural beauty. It does have a small college, so there is some degree of cultural activities, but for the most part, you'll have to drive to Boone (30 minutes or so) for things like the hospital, shopping for anything more than basics, movies, etc. That area gets a lot of snow (for North Carolina) so you have to prepare for that.
Lots of tourists in the summer, fall and winter.
Last edited by carolinadawg2; 07-15-2015 at 04:36 PM..
We live at the foot of Grandfather Mtn, 6.5 mi from the center of downtown Banner Elk. We are avid skiers, but are homebodies when it comes to "nightlife." And since we ski at Sugar, we rarely go up on Beech Mtn. Having said that, I have never had the impression that things get especially rowdy during ski season. And the area, in general, certainly does not have a "Deliverance" type atmosphere, though you can get into really remote areas pretty quickly.
You didn't ask about healthcare, but since others mentioned it.... besides a good offering of doctors and hospital in Boone, there are also closer options with Cannon Hospital in Linville, only 9.5 mi from downtown Banner Elk. It's quite small (25 bed acute care rating) but there are several general medical practices, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, etc. in Avery County, without requiring trips to Boone. The local YMCA is located in the same building complex as Cannon Hospital and is a real treasure for a really small county.
For daily necessities, we have several grocery stores, drug stores, and Lowe's Home Improvement all at our fingertips in Banner Elk.... not to mention all sorts of locally owned businesses. I make a trip to WalMart in Boone once or twice a month to stock up on basics.
Personally, I wouldn't want to live full-time on Beech Mtn, although quite a few folks do. You have to drive a lot to get anywhere. I would get tired of driving Beech Mtn Pkwy every day.
Because the winters are more extreme (relatively speaking) than the rest of WNC, there are a lot of retirees who reside in the area in the warmer months only. It all depends on your tolerance for cold weather.
We love it here.
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