Tucked into the heart of Yancey County, Burnsville NC is the kind of mountain town that invites you to slow down, stay awhile, and feel like a local. With a walkable downtown, a thriving arts scene, dark-sky stargazing, and easy access to some of North Carolina’s most beautiful landscapes, Burnsville offers a refreshing blend of history, creativity, and small-town soul.
At the center of it all is the NuWray Hotel, the longest continually operating hotel in North Carolina. In this cozy fire-side chat, we’re talking with Amanda Keith, co-owner of the NuWray Hotel. Amanda and her husband James Keith restored the 1833 iconic hotel, adding luxe bedding, gorgeous tiled bathrooms in every room, along with new dining concepts, an outdoor bar, and more. You’ll find plenty of reasons to visit Burnsville, NC and Yancey County here.
What are a few words you would use to describe Downtown Burnsville?
Charming, walkable, full of character (and characters).
Your hotel is the longest continually open hotel in NC. How would you describe the vibe of the NuWray Hotel in its historic records from 1833 and through the years?
My favorite description of the NuWray comes from a 1945 article in Trailways Magazine, which calls it a “rambling, comfortable inn” with everything a “weary wayfarer” could want: “comfortable, clean quarters, a cheery fire, and a lot of good, hot food.”
This and other references to the NuWray throughout the years tend to mention the same things — the welcoming front porch with rockers to sit on and watch the world go by, the ever-burning fireplace, the bountiful food and drink, and opportunities for travelers and locals alike to interact and commune with one another.
How would you describe the NuWray Hotel today, now that it’s been completely refurbished with multiple dining options?
Though our restoration brought modern comforts and expanded food & beverage options to the NuWray Hotel, my experience is that the general vibe remains the same as it was 40, 80, 150 years ago. The fireplace and dining tables continue to draw every kind of character you can imagine around them. Entering the lobby invites the visitor to slow down and enjoy the simpler things in life.
What makes you smile the most when you think about bringing the hotel back to life? What was most agonizing?
I’m proudest of the stories and history we unearthed during this project. Sometimes, I’m drawn to physical items–such as two 130-year-old trunks full of memorabilia found behind a wall. Or discovering architectural details that no one had seen in centuries. Sometimes, people who stop by reveal their personal connections, memories, pictures, memorabilia, ghost stories, and legends around the NuWray.
The most agonizing part was by far the amount of time and money the project took, especially because of the timing of the project, which ended up being bookended by Covid and Hurricane Helene.
We know that the NuWray Hotel became a community gathering place during and after 2024’s Hurricane Helene. Can you describe how the hotel and its staff jumped into action? (And we’re awfully sorry that happened to all of you, too.)
Thank you for saying that. The shock, awe, and grief of that experience was and continues to be a collective community feeling. We were grateful to have completed hotel rooms before the storm hit, so that the NuWray could serve its purpose as a shelter and gathering place. As our staff gradually found their way into town from their respective homes, many of them immediately jumped in to help with cleaning rooms (many of them now occupied by people who lost their homes), carrying water, serving meals, and organizing information and communication. Many community members also graciously, humbly joined in.
Why would folks want to stay with you at the NuWray Hotel and visit Burnsville? What can people do for fun while they are there?
Burnsville offers SO many things to do. It makes our job really easy! A lot of people enjoy our location on the Town Square, which gives them walking access to our wonderful shops & restaurants, plus all the activity that happens on the Town Square. You can attend festivals, programmed activities, live music, and other gatherings throughout the year. You can literally park your car and not get back into it again until you leave! For those who want to wander, the NuWray offers a great home base for exploration of our nighttime skies, our beautiful mountains, Mt Mitchell State Park and our rivers. We have plenty of fishing and kayaking here–we can hook you up with a great guide from across the street.
Burnsville and Yancey County are known for their concentration of artists and craftspeople. What are unique craft/art experiences here?
My favorite arts event is the Toe River Arts Studio Tour, which is hosted in June and November, annually. It’s a great way to experience the beauty of this area while seeing artwork inspired by it. In the last tour, more than 80 artists, in every medium you can imagine, opened their studios to visitors. Guests get to see them at work and learn more about their creative process. We also have great galleries close to the hotel. Hearth Glass & Gallery is a working glass studio just down the street. Beginners can take classes and watch glassblowing demonstrations–or you can shop. It makes art a personal experience. We also have several destinations on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails.
How would you describe the vibe of Downtown Burnsville businesses and merchants?
Our downtown businesses are full of characters! You can explore shops with musical instruments, a local bookstore, candles, restaurants, gifts, clothing, yarn and more. At every turn, you’ll be greeted by someone who cares that you’re here. They will help you navigate our small town, where not everything is Google-able. When I moved into town, many of my first friends were shopkeepers who greeted and welcomed us with the warmth and personality I’ve come to know in Burnsville.
We’ve heard great things about the easy-going food at Carriage House Sundries and Southern classics at NuWray restaurant –both at your hotel. What are a few other food and drink stops in the area?
I always recommend Homeplace Beer Co., our local brewery, which makes great beers with heart and history behind them. They share space with Hog Hollow Wood-Fired Pizza. The brewery has live music and events throughout the year. Pig & Grits is a consistent favorite for BBQ, as well as the Snap Dragon Bar & Kitchen. Live Oak Gastropub is owned by a husband and wife couple with strong food service experience and following; they relocated here from Spruce Pine after Helene.
What is a fun thing to know about visiting in each season?
Winter is cozy and beautiful in Burnsville! We get enough snow to make everything look festive, the downtown lights stay up through February; all of our shops and restaurants stay open. Spring is a great time to visit as the landscape starts waking up — this is my personal favorite time to hike and go stargazing at the Bare Dark Sky Observatory at Mayland Earth to Sky Park. It’s home to one of the largest public telescopes in the southeastern US, and it’s a certified Dark Sky Park, open 24 hours a day to the public.
Snakeroot Ecotours also leads amazing, guided experiences to see spring ephemerals and blue ghost fireflies throughout the forests in Spring.
Summer is the most active time in Burnsville — festivals and celebrations occur almost every weekend; our vibrant Yancey County Farmer’s Market is in full swing, and visitors come for fly fishing and river tubing.
And Fall, man what else can you say about fall? The colors are fantastic, the weather couldn’t be better, and Burnsville provides all the most cherished fall activities you could ask for — pumpkin picking, apple orchards, harvest festivals, and more. Our Visitor Center offers a handy calendar year-round.
Name three of your favorite local events.
I already mentioned the Toe River Arts Studio Tour, and of course, the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair has to be on this list! It’s an amazing weekend in Burnsville that brings more than 200 craft vendors and thousands of visitors to the Town Square. I also really appreciate the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival, which has welcomed incredible writers to town every September for more than 15 years.
I’m excited for 2026 because it’s the 50th anniversary of Toe River Arts. Celebrations are in the works, including the long-awaited opening of their Burnsville gallery in the historic Citizens Bank building on the Town Square! Toe River Crafts is re-opening in a new building in the South Toe Valley after Hurricane Helene washed the old one away. The Parkway Playhouse, the oldest continually operating summer theater in North Carolina, just announced its new season. It’s going to be great. I have a great feeling about this year in Burnsville — there’s lots of energy in the air!
And, our little “speakeasy”-style bar, The Washroom, will open in February in the NuWray’s downstairs basement. We’re definitely excited about that.
The best place to start planning your trip is the Visitor Center run by the Yancey Chamber of Commerce. They share their deep knowledge of the area with people far and wide. You can talk to any of the kind folks who staff it for personalized recommendations by visiting in person at 106 West Main Street, Burnsville. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Or, call (828) 682-7413.
Explore Burnsville is a great online resource.
At the NuWray Hotel, our Front Desk staff keeps tabs on what’s happening around town and helps our guests plan things to do. The hotel front desk is open 7am-9pm daily. You can talk to us any time by calling (828) 678-7070.
From art-filled backroads and seasonal festivals to cozy winter nights by the fire and vibrant summer weekends on the Town Square, Burnsville offers something meaningful in every season. As Amanda’s story reveals, this is a place where history is honored, creativity thrives, and visitors are welcomed like old friends.
Whether you’re planning a mountain getaway, an arts-focused adventure, or simply looking to experience a small town with a big heart, Burnsville invites you to come see what’s unfolding here: starting with a stay at the NuWray Hotel of course, where past and present meet on the front porch.
