Altamont Lodge

08/05/2026

High Country Fall Road Trip Map for Sept & Oct getaway ideas... a 50-mile loop from Banner Elk to Grandfather Mtn, Blowing Rock, Boone, and Valle Crucis. Find 500 stops along with way, including plenty of locally owned shops, galleries and restaurants. Things to do include many hiking trails, Tweetsie RR, Apple Hill Alpaca Farm, Alpine Coaster, Zip Lines, and scenic lift rides. This route includes US 221 (Little Parkway). Blue Ridge Parkway rebuilding should be finished by early October. Great regional partnership! Save this image to your phone or laptop to help with NC fall mountains trip planning.

04/23/2026

⚠️🔥 Attention Avery County and Mitchell County residents and visitors- Wildfire Update from Avery County Emergency Management :

"Good Morning Avery County, we are here at the County Line brush fire still. At this time we are at 45% containment, acreage burnt still being determined this morning. We have ALL the resources and staff on scene or on stand-by. The biggest thing for today is there will be TONS of smoke in the area. The Forestry Service and Fire Departments will be doing some controlled back burning to help contain the fire. You will see our spotter planes in the air, with other aircraft on standby locally. Thankfully all homes in the vicinity at this time are protected. We will update as we can..."

04/07/2026

04/01/2026

FYI

BURN BAN in EFFECT
6PM- 3/28/26

Due to increased fire risk, the North Carolina Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective at 6 p.m. Saturday March 28, 2026 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to the extinguishment of the fire.

The burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest service does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.

Avery County Fire Marshal’s Office has issued a local burning ban effective at 6 p.m. Saturday March 28, 2026. This ban will be in effect until further notice. This ban applies to any open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Campfires and fire pits are included in this ban and are not exempt.

Paul Buchanan
Avery County
Fire Marshal
828-733-8210
[email protected]
Avery County Fire Marshal

02/21/2026

01/01/2026

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! Thank you to all who were our guests in 2025! To those staying with us in 2026, we look forward to hosting you.

12/25/2025

09/04/2025

We always have a beautiful fall season. Our lodge is currently vacant during peak leaf season. We would love to have you as our guests!

Here, the journey is as meaningful as the views. 🍂

This High Country road trip map will lead you to 7 mountain communities—each at peak color during the first two weeks of October—filled with charm and experiences worth discovering.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to catch fall color in the Boone area, this is it.