Situated at 3,739 feet above sea level, the village of Banner Elk is in the heart of the best of High Country Skiing. Banner Elk has a full time population of 995 residents with a vibrant part time population during the summer months. The area was first occupied by Cherokee Indians who used the land as their hunting grounds. The first European settlers arrived in 1825 and the town was incorporated in 1911. In the early 20th century, the cooler mountain temperatures drew people to visit Banner Elk for vacations and short trips to the mountains. The Banner Elk hotel was built in 1892 to accommodate the growing number of visitors to the area and tourism became the mainstay of the town’s economy.

Banner Elk, NC and the surrounding area is also known as the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World” and next to tourism related businesses, is a foundation of the local economy. Located just minutes away from Grandfather Mountain, Linville, Boone, and Blowing Rock; Banner Elk has many luxury gated communities as well as thriving family neighborhoods. The pastoral drive into town from Hwy 105 offers breathtaking views of Beech, Grandfather and Sugar Mountain.

Lees-McRae College, a private liberal arts school, has been located here since 1900 and is a special part of the community catering to approximately 700 students. Banner Elk, NC is a part of the Avery County school system which provides their students with superior instruction in a supportive environment. The village of Banner Elk provides the intimacy of a small town in the setting of a Thomas Kincaide painting.