Location - Asheville, NC

The City of Asheville is the largest city in the mountainous western portion of the state. Asheville has a thriving economy, the largest airport in western North Carolina with almost 50 flights in and out daily, interstate highways, a state community college, UNC-Asheville, home of the Center for Creative Retirement and two large hospitals - one of them a regional medical center. Boasting one of the largest historic districts on the National Historic Register, the city is alive with trendy boutiques, antique stores and nightspots.

Health Facilities

• Mission St. Joseph's Hospital - Mission Hospitals is the regional medical referral center for the western quarter of North Carolina and parts of several adjoining states. It provides nearly all medical and surgical services to all who need hospital care, regardless of their ability to pay.
• Veteran's Administration Medical Center - The Asheville VA Medical Center is a tertiary care, 112-bed acute care facility located in western North Carolina.
• Park Ridge Hospital - Park Ridge Hospital is a 103-bed facility providing state-of-the-art medical care to the community since 1910.

Education

Along with numerous elementary and secondary schools, both private and public, Asheville is home to the University of North Carolina at Asheville and numerous other advanced educational institutions including Western Carolina University, Warren Wilson College, Mars Hill College, Montreat-Anderson College and Brevard College. WCU and UNCA have expanding graduate programs. Other educational facilities in Asheville include:

• The North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement - Established in 1988 as an integral part of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement (NCCCR) has the threefold purpose of promoting lifelong learning, leadership and community service opportunities for retirement-aged individuals.

Culture

The Asheville area enjoys a rich craft and folk heritage, as well as a long history of supporting the fine arts. Culturally, Asheville offers many opportunities and participation in painting, dance, theatre and music, as well as mountain crafts. Pack Square, Asheville's core, is the site of the Bele Chere festival and Shindig-on-the-Green, celebrating arts, crafts, music and dance. A major focus of the square is Pack Place Arts, Education and Science that incorporates the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Gem and Mineral Museum, the Health Adventure, the Diana Wortham Theatre and the YMI (Young Men's Institute) Cultural Center.
The John C. Campbell Folk School in nearby Brasstown offers year-round short courses in basketry, calligraphy, genealogy, music and dance, photography, nature studies, tin-smithing, weaving, writing and much more.

Links

Asheville Chamber site

A Chaffin / Light Community
Balsam Mountain Preserve
81 Preserve Rd
Sylva, NC 28779
866-452-3456