Burnsville: Nature Inspired, Community Driven

Blue Ridge Craft Trails Sites: Burnsville 

Ask most artists in Burnsville what they love the most, and you will likely hear ‘Nature.’ So many artists come to the area and are inspired by the flora and fauna of Pisgah National Forest and the surrounding area. Nature convinces them to move here, and the creative community makes it feel like home. 

Located in North Carolina’s western mountain region, Burnsville draws visitors from multiple states. They weave along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in and out of the county. People stop at Mount Mitchell State Park for breathtaking views from the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River. They wind down the mountain to rest and enjoy time in Burnsville. We invite you to spend an afternoon or a few days in this part of the Toe River Valley, and you’ll discover how nature and art shape the town’s heritage and growing culture.

Downtown Burnsville 

As you enter Downtown Burnsville, you’ll find a growing Main Street with numerous shops and restaurants. On one end of Downtown, Town Square serves as a focal point where the community gathers for events year-round. Across from the square is the historic Parkway Playhouse, the oldest continually operating summer theatre in NC.

On the other end of Main Street, Hearth Glass & Gallery, run by Keikichi Littleton, welcomes passersby with bubbly, bright glass in its shop windows and roaring fires in the studio space. Next door on Saturdays, the Yancey County Farmers Market becomes a communal space. Shoppers find everything from meat and dairy products to plants and art.

The Toe River Arts Burnsville Gallery is across from Hearth and the farmers market. It’s home to the Toe River Arts Council, which represents hundreds of artists in Yancey and Mitchell counties. Twice a year, the arts council holds the Toe River Arts Studio Tour, guiding art lovers to artists’ studios throughout the county. In addition to the studio tours, the council hosts and supports events and exhibitions year-round at its Burnsville and Spruce Pine locations.

On the eastern outskirts of the town, the Center for Pioneer Life introduces residents, teachers, and locals to life on a farm in the 1850s. Staff and volunteers share the mission of preserving and teaching Southern Appalachian Heritage through tours, workshops, lectures, and more. 

Additional artists around town:

• Rutowski Pottery – Michael Rutowski and Ruth Fischer Rutowski
• TW Weaving – Terry Weber
• Page Pottery – Kristen and J.R. Page
• Selena Glass & Metal – Chuck Young

80 North & Green Mountain

In the evening, nature beckons eyes upward. A rare place exists a short drive northeast of Burnsville: Mayland Earth to Sky Park. With little light pollution, the park is designated an official International Dark Sky Park.  It’s open 24 hours and free to the public. Visitors can opt to purchase tickets to stargaze through the SAM Scope, the largest public telescope in the Southeast. Additionally, the Glenn and Carol Arthur Planetarium shows astronomy and STEM films and the occasional laser show.

Nearby, in unincorporated Green Mountain, a studio continues to share craft heritage. Artists Liz Zlot Summerfield (clay) and Scott Summerfield (glass) own and run Double Island Studio. Their daughter, Roby Summerfield (printmaking), is also very talented and works at the studio. Together, they offer small hands-on workshops, creating a communal learning environment. 

Celo

Off the beaten path, travelers can find Celo, a quiet community 20 minutes south of Burnsville. Even more studios are tucked away around every turn. Toe River Crafts is a member-owned gallery that hosts 40 + artists. Look for the charming blue and purple building off NC-80. Just across the street on White Oak Road sits Paul Eisenhauer’s woodworking studio. Paul carves functional pieces such as bowls and spoons, giving logs and branches a new purpose. 

Nearby, luthier Richie Crowder crafts guitars in his studio. Through Crowder Guitars, he contributes to the sound of music in Yancey and across the United States. Demand for his instruments is so high that Richie has an ongoing waitlist, but he’ll gladly keep adding to it, play you a tune, or let you see his most recent creation. 

Additional Blue Ridge Craft Trails artists in Celo:

• Featherwood – Buzz Coren
• Forde-Wilson Glass – Loretta Forde and David Wilson 
• Hartsoe Pottery – Jason Hartsoe
• Levin Glass – Rob Levin
• McWhirter Pottery -Pete and Kim McWhirter
• Pieper Glass – Kenny Pieper

The Community Keeps Growing

Burnsville and the surrounding areas are well known for their communities of potters, glassmakers, and woodworkers. Many of these artists live close to one another, and together they celebrate nature’s beauty and the joy of craft, making the region an exciting place to explore, learn, and shop.

Looking for more – Visit exploreburnsville.

And check out Explore Burnsville’s social media:

Instagram @exploreburnsville

Facebook @exploreburnsville

Nurture Your Nature Side

• Bare Dark Sky Observatory at Mayland Earth to Sky Park
• Hiking
  • Roaring Fork Falls – Easy waterfall hike.
  • Spivey Gap to High Rocks – Part of the legendary Appalachian Trail.
  • Singecat Ridge – Great views!
• Carolina Native Nursery
• Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat
• The Lodge at Mt. Mitchell

Around the Town

• Burnsville Barn Quilts
• Burnsville Candle Co. 
• Carolina Country Inn
• Mountain Time on Main Street
• Parkway Playhouse
• Plott Hound Books
• NuWray Inn
• Something Special
• Terrell House Bed and Breakfast
• Yummi Yarns

Annual Events

• April
  • Dark Skies on the Square 
• June
  • Toe River Arts Studio Tour 
• July
  • Fourth of July  on the Square
• August
  • Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair 
• September
  • Carolina Mountains Literary Festival 
  • Harvesting Heritage Festival 
  • Old Timey Fall Festival 
• October
  • RiddleFest – Remembering guitarist Leslie Riddle 
  • Trick or Treat Main Street
• November
  • Toe River Arts Studio Tour 
• December
  • Christmas Parade 
  • Very Merry Main Street