Last Updated on June 2, 2023
Just 10 miles outside of Waynesville is Maggie Valley, a quaint mountain delight that sprang up to cater to visitors and still rolls out the welcome mat to traveling tourists, creatives, old souls, and the young at heart. This laid-back resort town is easy to traverse year round. Most businesses are located along a five-mile stretch of US Highway 19 known as Soco Road.
There are plenty of terms we could use to characterize this charming small town. Here are three of the most meaningful words we could think of to describe Maggie Valley, NC.
Maggie Valley is Old Fashioned
Vintage. Old timey. Quaint. Antique. Maggie Valley has been called them all, and the town takes pride in every term. From old fashioned music to old fashioned living to old fashioned moonshine (check out Elevated Mountain Distilling), visiting Maggie Valley can be like taking a step back in time. Mountain music aficionados love visiting the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. This venue hosts events year round, including the Hillbilly Jam. The Maggie Valley Opry also boasts legendary performances by owner Raymond Fairchild, a five-time “Banjo Player of the Year”. And if Appalachian dance is more your thing, check out Stompin’ Ground, the clogging capital of the world. Antiquers always make a point to stop at longtime favorite Cabbage Rose, especially around Christmas time. And if you’re staying overnight, don’t miss the many mom-and-pop motels with authentic vintage, down-home style.
Maggie Valley is Meandering
If you’re looking to wander around the mountains all day, Maggie Valley is the best starting point and destination. Located near the tail end of the winding Blue Ridge Parkway in Cherokee, Maggie Valley attracts motorists, cyclists, hikers, and more. From spring to autumn, motorcyclists from around the country pack the valley to motor along the gentle curves gliding through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many make an annual trek through the area to visit the Wheels Through Time Museum. The museum features a world-class collection of historic motorcycles and some cars—many still in running condition. But if you’re looking for a quieter day, meander along one of the area’s many rivers and springs. All freshwater flowing through the county originates within the county lines.
Maggie Valley is Snow-Capped
If winter weather brings to mind snowy slopes, ski runs, and exciting trails, Maggie Valley has what you need. Cataloochee Ski Area features the best skiing in the Southern mountains and typically is one of the first ski resorts in the East to open. The resort has five lifts leading to 18 slopes and trails. And it constantly modernizes and updates its snow making abilities, allowing it to add inches of snow to its base every time the weather drops below freezing. If you’re not a regular skier, more than 4,000 sets of snowsports equipment will gear you up for your day on the mountain. Cataloochee Ski Area’s Tube World also offers 12 lanes of fun on their specialized snow tubing hill. Come for the afternoon or stay for the weekend in a local cabin rental.
Make your home in Maggie Valley, NC
Maggie Valley traces its roots to the early 1800s and a group of pioneering settlers in Cataloochee Valley. Today, Maggie Valley is an epicenter of old-time mountain fun—with family restaurants and fine dining, foot-stomping Appalachian song and dance, putt-putt, elk-spotting, and some of the best snow skiing in the South.
Does that sound like the perfect lifestyle for you? Find your dream home in Maggie Valley now!
