Summer is Western North Carolina is difficult to beat. With the mountains in full bloom and fresh produce available at farmers markets or more improvised stands along the side of the road, summer is when its easiest to appreciate just how majestic WNC is. It’s also when visitors are most likely to be possessed by a need to feel deeply connected to the land.
Trust us, you’re not alone. This is a common feeling people get whether it’s their first time in WNC or twentieth, and this desire to reconnect with nature has brought people from all over the country, and in fact the world, to this corner of Appalachia. More than just homesteaders and farmers, it’s also attracted artisans, artists, writers, musicians, and some of the best cooks, bakers, and brewers you’ll ever meet. These people only add to the draw of WNC.
Following the Path to WNC
While Asheville has established a reputation for being a bit of a weirdo magnet, there are loads of eccentrics living throughout WNC, including in rural retreats or towns like Sylva, Burnsville, and Marshall. Tom Cure, Owner and Broker in Charge of LandCrazy and certified WNC town explorer, says that you really begin to appreciate just how unique this part of the country is when you start to get away from the bigger cities and talk to people who have opted for chicken wire over the white picket fence.
For many of them, they realized they had been following the path of least resistance for much of their lives. Given the events of the past few years, a lot of them decided to radically alter their life’s trajectory and to buy land in WNC. According to Tom, the consensus among those who made the change is: “If you’re not doing something extraordinary, now is the time.”
Helping Others Find Their Way
Small mountain communities throughout WNC are attracting people who want to create something new and exciting, but each one of these towns is a little bit different. For someone who’s just visiting, it can be difficult to see all of them or to decide exactly where to settle down. This is where Tom’s expertise really shines. He’s spent nearly 20 years taking potential buyers up every mountain and down every hollow in search of a patch of WNC land that suits their personality and their interests.
For Tom, exploring the landscape and discovering new places throughout WNC is just one perk of the job. What he’s most grateful for is that he gets the chance to meet and learn from those who have decided to come to WNC to establish roots. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude,” Tom says about getting to know newcomers to the area and having the opportunity to help them discover the site where they plan to finally do something extraordinary.