Linville Caverns

The Linville Gorge Wilderness ("The Grand Canyon of North Carolina") is the third largest wilderness area in North Carolina (after Shining Rock Wilderness and Joyce-Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness) and one of only two wilderness gorges in the Southern United States (along with Bald River Gorge Wilderness in Tennessee). Maintained by the United States Forest Service, it comprises 11,786 acres (47.7 km2) around the Linville River, and is situated inside the Pisgah National Forest. The river is approximately 1,400 feet (427 m) below the ridge, thus hiking in and out of the Gorge is challenging and enjoyable for those who like serious hiking. The plant and animal community is extremely diverse, with a dense hardwood/pine forest and a wide variety of smaller trees and other plants as well as bear, fox, raccoon, trout, grouse, wild turkey, vultures, owls, hawks, copperheads, and timber rattlesnakes. Popular tourist attractions in or near the wilderness are: Linville Falls, a waterfall fed by the river and free to the public. Wiseman's View, a rock outcrop near the center of the gorge that gives an excellent view of the interior of the gorge. Linville Caverns, a privately maintained cave attraction accessible by automobile from U.S. Route 221.

Humpback Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country and the Pisgah National Forest, located southwest of Linville Falls. The mountain is accessible along the Blue Ridge Parkway, which ride along its eastern slope. The peak reaches an elevation of 4,245 feet (1,294 m), in Avery County; while the overall mountain is also in McDowell County. Two ridges, Mill Ridge and Dividing Ridge, form from the western side of the mountain. Split by the Eastern Continental Divide, the mountain generates feeder streams to the North Fork Catawba River on its eastern slopes and to the North Toe River on its western slopes.

Henry Seawell Brown and Mary Jane English Farmstead, also known as the Brown Family Farm, is a historic home and farm located near Ashford, McDowell County, North Carolina. The farmhouse was built in 1916, and is 1+1⁄2-story, three-bay, frame dwelling with Queen Anne and Colonial Revival style design elements. It has a two-story portico, triangular pedimented front gable, hip-roofed dormers, fish-scale shingles, and one-story wraparound front porch. It has a two-story rear ell. Also on the property are a contributing barn and garage (1920s).It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

Table Rock is a mountain in the east rim of Linville Gorge, part of Pisgah National Forest (Grandfather Ranger District) in North Carolina. It features a distinctive rock formation, and is a prominent peak in the area.The peak makes for a quick hike from a nearby parking area, and is also very popular for rock climbing. It is described as having a "national reputation of being the best place to climb in the Southeastern U.S.", and the "hub of climbing activity in Linville Gorge".Table Rock is also known for its flora. Botanists André Michaux and John Fraser found various plants in the area in the nineteenth century. Fraser discovered Fraser's Sedge near the mountain.Table Rock has been described as "the most visible symbol in the region". Former North Carolina senator Sam Ervin said that he retired to the nearby town of Morganton to "watch the glorious sunsets over Table Rock". In addition, Jules Verne's novel Master of the World describes Table Rock, which is called Great Eyrie in the book, as "rising high above the valley to sometimes belch strange sounds and fire over the little village of Morganton".A wildfire swept through the area in November 2013. At least one hundred firefighters were involved.

Doe Hill Mountain is a mountain in the North Carolina High Country, located northwest of Linville Falls. Though the mountain itself is undeveloped, it is flanked on all sides by tree farms and the following roads: US 221 to the east, NC 194 to the north, US 19E to the west and Brushy Creek Road (SR-1101) to the south. Pink Ridge form from the northern side of the mountain. The mountain generates feeder streams to the North Toe River.

Three Mile is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The community is located along NC 194 (Three Mile Highway); the name is derived from the air miles-straight-line distance of three miles between US 19-E to US 221. It is a rural, unincorporated community, vs. a chartered town and is part of the Green Valley Community and fire district, near the South Toe River. The community is 4 miles from the Mitchell County line and 5 miles East of the Mitchell County Town of Spruce Pine. Due to better roads and close proximity, the area has historical ties to Spruce Pine, population 2,200, for shopping and eating, vs. to the Avery County Seat town of Newland, which is 11 miles north. Spruce Pine has several large shopping centers, several motels, numerous restaurants, bars, alcohol sales and a regional hospital. The unincorporated community of Linville Falls, 4 miles East, is where Avery, Burke and McDowell Counties converge. Burnsville in Yancey County, is 18 miles west, Asheville is 55 miles Southwest, Boone is 30 miles East and the Johnson City, Tricities TN-VA area is 50 miles north. The area has Avery County's only section of 4-lane highway; a 2-mile section of US 19E, extending from the Gushers Knob Road intersection, to the Toe River bridge at Schoolhouse Mine. The NC DOT has planned that section of highway for expansion to 4 lanes for 3 miles, from the Toe River bridge to connect with the 4-lane, US 19E Highway at the city limits of Spruce Pine. 19E was extended in October of 2020 from Spruce Pine, all of the way to Interstate 26 in Madison County, near Mars Hill, making travel to the Asheville area much faster. There are several major, regional employers nearby: Mayland Community College-Main Campus, Schoolhouse Mine mica and quartz mine owned by Sibelco and 2 large side-by-side NC State Prisons; Mountain View and Avery-Mitchell. The community area also has several churches, the Avery County Airport (7A8); a public, a regional airport with a paved, 3100 foot runway for general aviation with,several hangars, and aviation fuel, but no tower or rescue crew, Riverside P-5 Elementary School, Green Valley Fire Station, an Avery county park, an Avery County EMS station, a campground, 2 tombstone shops, an automotive garage, a shooting range, along with several small stores and a public landfill. There Mile's children residents attend Riverside Elementary School grades P-5, then Avery Middle School in Newland for grades 6-8 and then the adjacent county's sole central high school, Avery County High School, for grades 9-12, along with classes for high school students at Mayland Community College. Avery County School buses provide transportation, as does Avery County transportation.

Mayland Community College is a public community college in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The college also operates learning centers in Newland and Burnsville. The name of the college is derived from the three counties it primarily serves: Mitchell, Avery, and Yancey. It is part of the North Carolina Community College System. Mayland Community College was first chartered as Mayland Technical Institute in February 1970 by the General Assembly of North Carolina upon recommendations by the State Board of Education, the Advisory Budget Commission, and Governor Robert W. Scott. The president of the college is Dr. John C. Boyd. The school's nickname is the Mountain Lions. Mayland offers a variety of curriculum programs, including numerous college transfer options, as well as nursing, adult education, distance learning, and dual enrollment for high school students. To assist the local workforce, MCC provides several workforce development and continuing education courses that directly serve the needs of local and regional business and industries, as well as the civic and cultural interests of the community.

Montezuma is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. Before its founding in 1883, it had two variant names, Aaron and Bull Scrape. The community is located on Old State Highway 181 and is on the Eastern Continental Divide.

Ingalls is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The community is located at the intersection of US 19-E and NC 194. The Avery County Airport (Morrison Field) is located two miles south from Ingalls, towards Spruce Pine.

Pinebridge Coliseum, also known as The Bridge Coliseum, is a 5,000 seat indoor arena located in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. When it opened in 1983, it was the largest arena with an ice rink in North Carolina. It hosted the ice hockey team Pinebridge Bucks of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1983 to 1985, becoming the smallest town to host a professional hockey team.

Gillespie Gap (el. 2,805 ft (855 m)), also known as Etchoe Pass, is a mountain pass along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Historically, two events occurred at the pass. The first was in 1761 when thirty men, under the command of Francis Marion, were sent to dislodge an encampment of Cherokee warriors at the pass; ambushed, Marion lost twenty-one men. The second was in 1780 when the Overmountain Men crossed the pass on their way to Kings Mountain.NC 226 traverses through the gap, which connects Marion and Spruce Pine. Intersecting at the gap is NC 226A, which goes to nearby Little Switzerland. The Blue Ridge Parkway (milepost 330.9) also passes through the gap, providing scenic views along the adjacent ridge lines. The gap is also along the Eastern Continental Divide and the McDowell–Mitchell county line.

Gunter Building is a historic commercial building located at Spruce Pine in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States. It was built about 1941, and is a two-story, three bay by four bay, building constructed of river-tumbled micaceous biotite. It was built by local stonemasons Charlie Mitchell and Dave Greene for the Belk-Broome Company.It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It is located in the Downtown Spruce Pine Historic District.