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Dethel
- east; on US-19
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Hot Springs
- northwest; at intersection of US-25 and NC-209
When we first came to Western North Carolina some 35 years
ago, AAA told us the the only way from Knoxville was via
US-25. Getting from Knoxville to Hot Springs was the easy
part. From Hot Springs to Asheville was, literally, a
nightmare! It is still easier to get in and out of Tennessee
from Hot Springs than to any town in North Carolina. So why
do folks come here? Ah, yes, why else did they name this
town Hot Springs!
You don't come here for a day; you spend a week or two - or even
all summer. And while you are relaxing at one of the spas, who
cares about Asheville! To be fair, there is another highway
connecting Hot Springs to a North Carolina town: NC-209 to
Waynesville in Haywood County.
There are dozens of creeks in the area feeding the French Broad
River so, if you're looking for waterfront property, it
shouldn't be hard to find. Homes with a view are hot. Check with
Mountain Home Properties to find out how you can have
your own view.
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Luck -
southeast; on NC-209
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Mars Hill
- east; at intersection of I-26 and NC-213
When they rebuilt US-19/23 between Asheville and Mars Hil, Mars
Hill became to first community in Madison County to have decent
access to the rest of North Carolina. Now folks buy homes in
Mars Hill and commute to the Asheville area. How times can be
change just by the construction of a highway!
Mars Hill is very much a college town. Mars Hill College, a Baptist
college, is the focal point and has made for a very pleasant
atmosphere. There are (mostly) paved roads in about every
cove (that's valley for you Yankees) and there is a lot of
nice mountain land parcels for sale. See the list of real
estate agencies at
NCML:F.com
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Marshall
- south central; on US-25
Does the
highway make the town? Above, in the Hot Springs write-up, I
mentioned how bad US-25 was (still is north of Marshall).
The modernization of US-19/23 to Mars Hill made such a
difference that the North Carolina Department of
Transportation decided to build a freeway to Marshall; after
all, Marshall is the county seat of Madison County! That
'new' US-25 did for Marshall what the US-19/23 freeway
(which is now I-26, by the way) did for Mars Hill. And
people flowed into the area and property values went up. If
you are around here in the autumn during the leaf-viewing
season, drive along the old US-25 (now labeled NC-251) which
hugs the French Broad River like a long lost friend. For a
list of local real estate agencies see
NCMLF.com
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Walnut
- central; on US-25
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