Tell me about Waynesville, NC

I may have a job opportunity in Waynesville, NC. Wondering if anyone on this forum can tell me anything about the town. (good, bad, indifferent)

Any forum members close by?

Thanks,
Bill

Well, It's about an hour and a half from here. I don't go thru there very often. I can tell you that there's lots of good roads for the MG. It's close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Near Asheville, Gatlinburg, and Cherokee.

Everyone will have an opinion but here is my take...

Somewhat out in the sticks but close enough to Asheville and even Knoxville that you won't feel too isolated. Want a real re-charge weekend? You will be about two to three hours from Atlanta, where you will find anything you could possibly ever need. Better yet you will be about an hour or so from Hap's shop in Greenville! ;-)

Asheville is referred to around these parts as Berkeley East. Relatively small as far as cities go, it came back in the eighties from decades of degeneration due to poor fiscal policies. Very nice city with lots of diversity. Kathleen and I are considering moving there if Emily and Graham move off the mountain. Asheville will be your portal to the rest of the world from Waynesville VIA I-40 and I-26 and I-81. Not particularly high elevation and a lower latitude than where we live now and will give you decent winters and relatively cool summers. The summers aren't going to be as "cool and airy" as one might think but they are a lot more tolerable than say Fort Bragg. Are you an out doors type? Bring it on !!!! Hiking, rafting, sailing, power boating, camping, wildlife, ad nauseum. Like to drive squiggly mountain roads? Go practice every evening on The Tail of the Dragon., perhaps north America's #1 MG road. LOL

Waynesville might be a very good place to hang you hat over the next ten years or so.

Remember, zillions of folks retire to the south, but I can't remember hearing of anyone retiring to the north.

Remember too that the flat lander bergermiesters pay BIG BUCKS to come spend their summers up here. If you live here full time it is a good thing!

Jack

That sounds great Jack!

Thanks for the detailed reply. I do like fishing. My wife is into sailing. And the MG roads sound like a dream compared to the congestion around Philadelphia and suburbs.

Trying to get a little more separation from the neighbors. Not that they're bad neighbors, just on top of each other in town here.

Just hope I get the job! (any job at this point)

It is a necessity that a true NC mountaineer be able to pee off of his front deck at any time without offending anyone, except the wife perhaps.

If you are coming out of the Philly area you are going to think that you have died and gone straight to the nicest part of heaven.

Jack

twigworker Wrote:

Jack, should we really be encouraging folks from up North to be moving South?
Just kidding William:)
Pretty area, I usually pick up the BR Parkway near there.

C'mon Tom, after all, I'm just a tad north of the Mason-Dixon line. Got a green card and everything.

Years ago I worked for a computer maintenance company (in sales) and twice a month I'd fly from Philly into Knoxville (via Atlanta) and meet with the Martin-Marietta folks at Oak Ridge. One evening we all went out to dinner in Lenoir City at a great rib place on a lake. Anyway, I'm a Jack Daniels guy and the customer insisted I try Makers Mark. Nice southern belle of a waitress comes over to take our order and I ask her where Makers Mark is from. She says with a nice drawl..."It's impohted." I ask her from where. She says..."Kentucky." Wow, a whole state away. Gotta love it!

Calhouns on the lake, near Ft Loudon Dam. Good ribs.

Anybody who likes ribs, Jack Daniels and MGs are welcome

If you're moving from the Philly area, you'll be in culture shock down there. Things move really slow in those mountains. You don't want to move to Canton which is close to Waynesville because it has (or had) a paper plant. Not a lovely aroma at times. There's a nice lake about an hour from Waynesville on 109 toward Cashiers and Highlands. I would say about the worst crime up there is theft due to a slow economy. Some spots are a little trashy but other parts are absolutely beautiful. There's quite a few British cars in the area. If you don't mind driving to W-S or Charlotte there are some British car shows and Rallyes. Greer, SC has a big show. Hap knows about that. Western Carolina University is close by (20 minutes). GO CATS!!! Dillsboro and Bryson City has nice shops. The Blue Ridge Parkway to either Ashveville or Cherokee has some great mountain scenery. If you're into racing VIR and Road Atlanta are about 4 hours away. You can get to Winter Place Ski Resort in WV in about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. There is Chatlooggee (sp) in Maggie Valley right near Waynesville.

If you buy the right house you will be able to pee DIRECTLY into a trout stream and hoist a finger at the tree huggers.

Jack

Yep, you can hop on the Parkway, go north a fair bit, get off on Holloway Mountain Road, use second gear over to 221 and then run right up my driveway.

Beer is in the fridge and the back door is unlocked. Make yourself at home!

Jack

Just make sure you can take the smell blowing in from Clyde....

Ditto that, the paper mill might be a consideration!

I grew up in Asheville, and love that whole area.

Didn't spend much time in Waynesville, but always liked it.

I would check on health care, and how good they are or not. Asheville does have one of the best heart units in the Mission Hospital!

AND, US-176 runs straight (well, not straight at all) from there to Greenville, SC! A FANTASTIC stretch of MG road to the cultural center of the Southeast ;) !

It's a nice town, I live on the other side of the mountian in hendersonville. It has a nice british pub and a great pizza place that has a micro brewery in the pizza shop.
Besides all the good stuff everyone already said, its a mountian biking heaven if your into that. I moved here 9 years ago and never regretted it.
cheers
mike

Fascinating post.
I too am considering relocating to the Asheville area! since I left Alaska, I have been in the motorhome - just not ready to set down roots until I get a chance to see what's out there.
Thanks for the input.

Jim....think Blackmountain area!

Or, go up I-26 toward TN, that is really pretty up that way, and not long to get to Asheville.

But, you better get a run at the big hill...that is one long grade if you weren't ready. My 1st time going up that way, I thought I was going to have to get out and walk.

If your in the part of PA that the politition called redneck, come on down!
Just kidding. I know you'll like it.
Everyone wants a house with a view. That's nice but make sure you have enough flat land to have a garden and a shop.

The only time I was ever in Waynesville, I saw a TR3 and Triumph Stag parked on the street, loaded with luggage, and Florida tags. I thought right away I'd like to live there.

Unfortunately, not much sailing. None at all, in fact. No big water is the only real downside, however. If I ever save up some money, I'm gonna buy a shack up that way. Will have to keep renting at big water. Never going to have that kind of change, it seems, since saltwaterfront property values skyrocketed and never went down, sales just paused.... -sailadams

BumbleB74 Wrote: