Mitchell County

Mitchell County

Home of Penland School of Crafts

Mitchell County is celebrating it's 150th Birthday on October 7th, 8th and 9th. Come experience arts & crafts demostrations, music, food, a Civil War Camp and much more! It's happening in the Historic Capitol of Mitchell County, Bakersville.

Visitors to Mitchell County enjoy the Appalachian Trail on the north and the Blue Ridge Parkway on the south. Roan Mountain, where you'll find the world's largest natural rhododendron garden, the Toe River, and the Nolichucky River provide dozens of hiking and walking trails, creeks full of native trout and breathtaking waterfalls.

Mitchell County is also home to the Penland School of Crafts, founded in 1923 by Miss Lucy Morgan. The school encompasses some 400 acres, 41 structures and has over 1,200 people a year seeking instruction in a variety of different media.

The Bakersville and Penland areas alone are home to almost 100 professional artisans, including N.C. Folk Heritage Award Winner Bea Hensley. Their studios and galleries, with displays of glass, pottery, metal, weavings and jewelry, capture the essence of Mitchell County's strong arts and crafts heritage.