Ensemble Stage has moved its professional theater productions to downtown Banner Elk after seven years in Blowing Rock. The group has established permanent residence at the Historic Banner Elk School and will give performances throughout the year. Its previous location at the Blowing Rock School auditorium limited performances to summer break and other school holidays. “We’ve always wanted to do things year-round,” says Gary Smith, artistic director for Ensemble Stage. “We want people anytime of year to say, ‘Ensemble Stage has something going on in Banner Elk. Let’s go there.’” The Town of Banner Elk partnered with Ensemble Stage to bring the highly-regarded theater troupe to the town-owned historic school. “The town is very excited about them coming to our area,” says Banner Elk Mayor Brenda Lyerly. “They love the facilities, and we’re all in unison in thinking this is going to be wonderful for the entire community.” Ensemble Stage uses the school’s gymnasium for its performance space. The group will continue to make improvements, such as adding a new stage, lighting system and risers with seats. The risers will be removable, allowing the space to be used for other functions. The group opens its Mainstage season June 16.... Read More

Banner Elk is the culinary hot spot of the NC High Country. Whether you’re looking for an upscale meal to mark a special occasion, a hearty sandwich after a day in the great outdoors, or a steak… Read... Read More

Looking for fun and affordable summer cabin vacation? Look no further than a Banner Elk cabin says one of the world’s largest travel websites. TripAdvisor.com, with more than 375 million unique visitors monthly, named Banner Elk to its list of 15 Affordable Summer Cabin Getaways Across America. Trip Advisor analyzed user ratings for all U.S. towns that have rental properties available on its website. It then calculated the average cost of a one-week stay in July in a two-bedroom cabin rental in those cities and towns. Banner Elk made the top five for having an average weekly cabin rental of $768, while offering “no shortage of challenging hikes and spectacular overlooks.” TripAdvisor further commented on Banner Elk’s convenient location: “This Blue Ridge Mountain getaway is close to major attractions like Grandfather Mountain, Blowing Rock, and the Appalachian Trail.” It also noted, “the wine and beer scene won’t disappoint, either, with Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Vineyard, and Flat Top Brewing Company offering delicious grapes and suds.” “Trip Advisor is the top website in the U.S. for consumer-rated travel. It’s a big deal when a site of that magnitude recognizes Banner Elk,” says Nancy Owen, representative of the Banner Elk Tourism Development... Read More

Few places in the North Carolina mountains have the variety of leaf-viewing options that Banner Elk offers. Nestled at 3,740 feet above sea level, the area typically reaches peak color around the… Read... Read More