Little Switzerland
Little Switzerland Property: A Retreat into Beauty
By HarrisRealty.org

Under the majestic splendor of the stars, the misty blue mountains and green valleys surrounding Little Switzerland, North Carolina are as awesome now as they have been for thousands of years.  With Mount Mitchell towering 6,684 feet high to the west and the splendor of Pisgah National Forest to the south and east, the Cherokee, European gold seekers, wealthy visitors, poor Appalachians and countless tourists have traveled through the incredible scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway to Little Switzerland.

Waterfalls, Carolina hemlock, and meandering creeks are laced through property with cabins for sale in Little Switzerland, mountain real estate in Little Switzerland and creek-side homes.  McDowell County and Mitchell County real estate—once only a vacationers’ paradise and now, with the high-tech capabilities, a year-round Mecca—include homes in Spruce Pine, homes in Penland, Bakersville homes, Celo homes, North Cove homes, as well as rhododendron- and azalea-laden historic and estate properties near Little Switzerland overlooking the Catawba River Valley. 

Over 100,000 thousand acres of national forest and hundreds of miles of trout streams with hiking, camping, horseback riding, hunting, rafting, and golfing make this a paradise blending the graces of modern life with the beauty of the wilderness.  Differences in temperature and moisture create 16 different forest types—each with unique trees, shrubs, ferns, wildflowers, fungi and lichens—to be present on the mountains in this area.  The lush plant kingdom supports an equally lush wildlife community from black bears to hawks, fireflies and Monarch butterflies.  Hidden beneath the gorgeous landscapes are mineral- and gem-rich substructures such as can be explored while mining at Emerald Village.  This area is a rock hound’s dream!

With top-notch hospitality in the area, an adventurous traveler may find a picturesque B&B or quaint Swiss inn around town.  Myriad historic and natural wonders keep families and visitors coming back.  For example, the Carolina Mineral and Gem Mines, Linville Falls and Caverns, Grandfather Mountain, Roan Mountain Gardens, the Tweetsie Railroad, Lake James State Park and the Biltmore House are within an hour’s drive.  The trail systems to Roaring Fork Falls, Setrock Creek Falls and Crabtree Falls may pass chalets and country estates.  There’s the Penland School of Crafts and the Moses Cone (the Denim King) Estate galleries and the Mountain Gateway Museum.

The well-rated schools from the two straddling counties, along with several private schools and two community colleges bring education to the mountains.  Health services and other amenities are available within 30 minutes.  All thanks to the Blue Ridge Parkway with its fabulous turns and tunnels begun in 1935 by Teddy Roosevelt and artisans from near and far.  For that project opened up easier access to the secluded mountain retreats.  Gone were the mud roads, oxen-pulled sleds and mule-drawn wagons.

The town is named for its similarity to the Jura Mountains near the Swiss border with France.  Yes, tucked away in the mountains of Western North Carolina midway between Asheville and Blowing Rock, you can get away and relax—far from the cares of the city, far from the worry.  For the healing gratitude experienced by watching the crescendo of color through the crystallized mist near the highest peak east of the Mississippi will truly quiet your soul.