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Spruce Pine, North Carolina
Located in Mitchell County on the banks of the Toe River
and just off the
Blue Ridge Parkway
at mile marker 331,
Spruce Pine NC
is a vibrant mountain town with a past rich in gem mining history
and lore. In
the early 1900s, Spruce Pine was a booming mining town and the Clinchfield Railroad operated to bring materials and supplies to and
from the growing community. Chartered in 1913, Spruce Pine wa s
built around the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railroad Depot. The
railroad is still going strong, and train enthusiasts continue today
to come from far and wide to Spruce Pine to enjoy watching the
frequent passage of CSX trains through the downtown area. Over 30
trains a day pass by, often blowing their horns in greeting.
Historically, the White House Christmas
tree has come from the Spruce Pine region and with so many Christmas
tree farms in the area, the town has
appropriately become known as the Christmas Tree Capital of the
World, a title it shares along with "The Mineral City". Located in a
region of the mountains that is known for gem mines, Spruce Pine is
famous for the world-class rubies and emeralds that have been found
in local mines. The surrounding mountains have a more concentrated
wealth of feldspar than any other area on earth, supplying 60% of
the United States production of the mineral. Additionally, almost
100% of the United States and the world supply of ultra-pure quartz,
which is used in the production of semi-conductors, comes from the
Spruce Pine region. 
Spruce Pine has the distinction of having two Main Streets, Upper
Street (Oak Avenue) and Lower Street (Locust Street), with nicknames
given because of respective altitudes. Spruce Pine’s also has
two municipal parks -Riverside Park on Tappan Street with a
wonderful walking path and access to the Toe River, and Brad Ragan
Park on Laurel Creek Court.
Resources
City Website: Spruce Pine:
Town Hall, 138 Highland Avenue, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-765-3000
Facebook:
High Country
Location: Northern Mountains, 2 hours northeast of Asheville
County:
Mitchell
County:
County Administration Building, 26 Crimson Laurel Circle,
Bakersville NC 28705; 828-688-2139
Elevation & Population:
2,517 feet, 2,000+
City Economic Development Website:
Spruce Pine Main Street
County Visitor Center: Located in the Museum of NC Minerals,
Milepost 331, Blue Ridge Parkway; Spruce Pine NC 28777; 800-227-3912
County Chamber of Commerce:
Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce: 11 Crystal Street, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 828-765-9033
Newspaper:
Mitchell News-Journal 291 Locust Avenue, Spruce Pine 28777;
828-765-2071
Movie Theatres: (Nearest)
Regal Boone Cinema 7 210 New Market Street Centre, Boone NC
28607;
828-262-3330
High School:
Mitchell High School, 416 Ledger School Road, Bakersville NC
28705; 828-688-2101
Colleges and Universities:
Mayland Community College, 200 Mayland Drive, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 828-765-7351
Hospitals:
Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, 125 Hospital Drive, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 877-777-8230
Area Major Festivals:
Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival (April),
Toe River Storytelling Festival (July),
Mineral City Heritage Festival (October)
Area Natural Attractions:
Blue Ridge Parkway,
Grandfather Mountain
State Park,
Pisgah National Forest
Area
Cultural Attractions:
Emerald Village,
Museum of North Carolina Minerals,
North Carolina Mining Museum,
Orchard at Altapass
Real Estate
Blue Ridge Properties: 286 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine NC 28777;
828-766-9509
Castle Rock Realty Ltd.: 215 Locust Avenue, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 828-765-8888
Fireside Real Estate: 186 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine NC 28777;
828-765-4660
Grassy Creek Realty: 2360 Swiss Pine Lake Drive, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 828-765-2249
Howell & Sparks Realty: 338 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine 28777;
828-765-7477
Realty One Service, Inc.: 139922 South Highway 226; Spruce Pine
NC 28777; 828-765-4275
Timberline Properties, Inc.: 89 Walnut Avenue, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 800-321-4342
Tree House Mountain Realty, Inc.: 167 Locust Avenue, Spruce Pine
NC 28777; 828-765-1655
Dining
Fine Dining
Grassy Creek Golf and Country Club Restaurant: (American) 2360
Swiss Pine Lake Drive, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-765-6589
Knife and Fork Restaurant: (American) 61 Locust Street, Spruce
Pine NC 28777; 828-765-1511
Casual & Family Dining
Skyline Cavern Tavern: (American) Skyline Village Inn, 12255
Highway 226A, (Milepost 334 Blue Ridge Parkway), Spruce Pine
NC 28777; 828-994-0027
Overseas & Exotic
China Wok: (Chinese) 12105 Highway
226 South, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-766-8811
KB's BBQ & Grill: (BBQ) 143 Old Marion Way, Spruce Pine, NC 28777;
828-765-2106
Tokyo Asian Grill: (Asian) Upper Street, Spruce Pine NC 28777;
828-765-5514
Cafes & Grills
DT's Blue Ridge Java: Coffee Shop & Cafe: (Cafe) 169 Locust
Street, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-766-8008
Pizza
Papa's Pizza To Go: (Pizza, Italian) 631 Pond Road, Spruce Pine
NC 28777; 828-898-3313
Coffeehouses
DT's Blue Ridge Java: Coffee Shop & Cafe: (Coffeehouse) 169
Locust Street, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-766-8008
Sweet Buns Bakery: (Bakery) 198
Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-7865-0622
Accommodations
Hotels, Inns & Lodges
Pinebridge Inn: (Hotel &Conference Center) 207 Pinebridge
Avenue, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 800-356-5059
River House Country Inn & Restaurant: (Country Inn) 1896 Old
Field Creek Road, Grassy Creek NC 28631; 336-982-2106
Skyline Village Inn: (County Inn) 12255 Highway 226A, (Milepost
334 Blue Ridge Parkway) Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-994-0027
Bed & Breakfasts
Richmond Inn: (B&B) 51 Pine Street, Spruce Pine NC 28777;
877-765-6993
Motels
Lemon Tree Inn: (Motel) 872 Greenwood Road, Spruce Pine NC
28777; 828-765-6161
Pine Valley Motel: (Motel) 11827 Highway 226 South, Spruce Pine
NC 28777; 828-765-6276
Cabins, Cottages & Chalets
Bear Den Campground: (Cabins) 600 Bear Den Mountain Road,
Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-765-2888
Lake Forest Cabins: (Cabins) 1959 Jacksontown Road, Spruce Pine
NC 28777; 828-765-9674
Peak Mountain Cottages and Retreat: (Cottages) Spruce Pine NC
28777; 828-765-9559
Campgrounds
Bear Den Campground: (Campground) 600 Bear Den Mountain Road,
Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-765-2888
Springmaid Mountain Campground: (Campground) 2171 Henredon Road,
Spruce Pine NC 28777; 888-297-0752
Spruce Pine Campground: (Campground) 260 Spruce Pine Campground
Road, Spruce Pine NC 28777; 828-765-7007
Rental Agencies
Realty One Service: (Rentals) 13922 Highway 226 South, Spruce
Pine NC 28777; 828-765-4275
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