The prices in the gift shop are also great, considering this is a local, family-owned business who have to pay to operate a farm. They are loved members of the family and we loved this so much! None of the animals on the farm are used for anything other than when the alpaca are shorn. Brody walked with us for part of the tour (lab/basset mix who was wonderful). We got to see donkeys, alpaca, llama, pot-bellied pigs, a hive of 80,000 bees (yes! They sell their own honey in their gift shop!), guardian Great Pyrenees (you’ll learn what they do), sheep (there were babies!), horses, a cows (including the endangered Randall Lineback) and the sweetest pups. We walked around the property (I suggest not wearing your best shoes, as there were puddles/mud when we went however much of the walk is on a gravel path).

Local festivals include Oktoberfest in the fall and SugarFest in December.If you’re on the fence about booking this tour, jump off and book it! This is a wonderful property and great people working there. The population was 811 at the 2000 census. In the winter, grab your skis and snowboard and enjoy North Carolina’s largest ski area. Banner Elk is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. Bayou Smokehouse & Grill 928 reviews Closed Now American, Cajun & Creole - Menu The catfish was excellent, as was the red beans and rice. We started with the Crab Cakes, which were excellent. In and around the Village of Sugar Mountain you will find a Frank Duane designed 18-hole public golf course, Har-Tru clay tennis courts, miles of trails to hike and bike, outdoor adventure outfitters, shopping, restaurants, and a range of cozy lodging options. Stonewalls Restaurant 1,110 reviews Closed Now Bar, American - Menu My wife had the burger and she really enjoyed it as well. The high temperature has exceeded 72 degrees only a handful of times since an official weather service reporting station was established in 1992. Popular events include the Mile High Kite Festival in September, and the Autumn of Oz Celebration in October. In winter, Banner Elk is situated within five miles of North Carolina’s two largest ski resorts on Sugar and Beech mountains.īeech Mountain is Eastern America’s highest town (elevation 5,506) with well-maintained hiking trails and bike routes made famous by Lance Armstrong, alongside premier skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and ice skating. Fall foliage season is popular in Banner Elk, especially the third weekend of October, when the famous Wooly Worm Festival draws over 20,000 visitors to celebrate this furry little critter long considered a forecaster of winter weather. Banner Elk is home to Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, NC’s first alpine coaster, while waterfalls, hiking trails and Grandfather Mountain are within 20 minutes of town. Summer visitors enjoy cool temperatures and outdoor activities.

Banner Elk’s food scene has earned it the title “Culinary Hot Spot of the NC High Country.” Several top-notch restaurants are within walking distance of the town’s lone stoplight, including Artisanal, twice ranked in the Top 100 in the U.S.

Home to Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk features a lively arts and crafts cultural scene, complete with an intimate pedestrian shopping district. About Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, & Sugar Mountain Areaīanner Elk is located in the northwest quadrant of Avery County in the Appalachian Highlands 3,701 feet above sea level.

Banner elk nc