Black Mountain

Find Your Fresh Start in Black Mountain: The Real-Life Stars Hollow

Commonly referred to as the “real-life Stars Hollow” (famed fi ctional town in the cult-classic, Gilmore Girls), Black Mountain boasts many names and accolades—from "Prettiest Small Town" to “Best Place to Get a Fresh Start” to “Front Porch of Western North Carolina.” Tucked a mere 15 minutes east of Asheville in the Swannanoa Valley, Black Mountain delivers character, southern hospitality, and inspiring mountain scenery. Black Mountain offers unbeatable access to summer camps like Timberlake, Merri-Mac, Hollymount, and Ridgecrest, along with proximity to the Montreat Conference Center and Montreat College. Black Mountain’s walkable downtown is home to amazing restaurants, a historic general store, the NC Glass Center, art galleries, cafes, gift shops, bookstores, and more.

Popular dining spots include Trailhead Kitchen & Bar, My Father’s Pizza, Cousins Cuban Cafe, and The Grange, and breweries include Lookout Brewery, Black Mountain Brewing, and Pisgah Brewing. Black Mountain also hosts several beloved annual events like LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival), Sourwood Festival, and Holly Jolly, to name a few.

Just outside of town’s center, you’ll find the Black Mountain Golf Course and Lake Tomahawk Park, with its pavilion, fishing pier, playground, tennis courts, public swimming pool, and walking trail with a full view of the towering Seven Sisters Mountain range. This is a popular residential neighborhood that offers sleek new builds, updated mid-century modern homes, and functional cottages.

Another popular nearby neighborhood is Cheshire Village—an upscale community just 5 minutes from downtown Black Mountain, featuring luxury Arts & Crafts-style cottages, state-of-the-art Treehouse-style homes, and high-end townhomes. This neighborhood is home to a handful of restaurants, a YMCA Gym, Creekside Sports Club (with indoor and outdoor pickleball courts), and a community walking trail and playground.

Black Mountain truly offers the best of both worlds–small-town charm and access to big-city convenience.