Graham County, North Carolina

09/11/2026

Travel Advisory — paving and loose sediment alert for the last three miles of the Cherohala Skyway just before the Skyway Visitor Center. Paving is near completion and striping will soon be in progress.

Please click through to the post for full details.

🚧 TRAVEL ADVISORY | CHEROHALA SKYWAY

Resurfacing is underway on the first 3 miles of the Cherohala Skyway from Tellico Plains.

Work is expected to be completed by Friday, Sept. 11.

⚠️ Until then, travelers should expect possible traffic stops, loose debris, and delays.
Please slow down, use caution, and follow all work-zone signage.

Thank you for your patience!

09/09/2026

Over the next several days we'll be keeping an eye on those highest peaks along the Cherohala Skyway like:

📍Huckleberry K**b which sits at 5,560 feet

for signs of early color. As the highest point in the Unicoi range Huckleberry is always one of the first locations to usher in the season.

🗓️ We're partnering with our friends, , again this year to provide all of you leaf peeps with the best information on where and when to go for peak color along the Cherohala Skyway — so save this seasonal color guide to help you navigate 43 miles of fall.

Covering 15 overlooks, two waterfalls and a number of trails, this colorful guide will help you plan your stops.

🌧 Weather of course can cause seasonal variations — for the most up to date conditions follow us for weekly color reports from the road.

Not familiar with the Cherohala Skyway?

ℹ It is a national scenic byway that meanders through both the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests (that's how it got its name). Begin your ascent along NC Hwy 143 in Robbinsville, NC which stretches 43 uninterrupted miles of gentle curves along the ridgeline to Tellico Plains, TN. As you near the Tennessee line along Haw K**b and Santeetlah Overlook you are riding along at a mile high — that's why the road is known as the 'Mile High Road in the Sky'.

As you make your plans be sure to include a visit to both the Graham County Welcome Center and Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center to pick up your free souvenir — while supplies last. And of course, we want to see your beautiful photos:

📸 Use so we can follow along!

09/03/2026

The dog days of summer may be over but it’s a great time to take your best friend for a hike.

We selected just a few trails out of miles of dog friendly hiking just for you:

📍 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Loop
A 2 mile figure eight in one of the oldest forests in the country

📍 Huckleberry K**b
A 2.5 mile out and back to the highest point along the Cherohala Skyway

📍 Santeetlah Lake Trail
Stretch those legs and get up to 8.5 miles along the Santeetlah Lake

📍 Spirit Ridge
A paved trail along the Cherohala Skyway — an easy place to get those four legs moving after a long stretch in the car

Want more suggestions? Drop by the Welcome Center in downtown Robbinsville for a hiking guide and more trail ideas.

08/31/2026

Travel Advisory for Monday, Aug 31 through Sept 25, 2026 — motorists and pedestrians should exercise caution and plan for delays when crossing Fontana Dam:

The Tennessee Valley Authority will temporarily close one lane of the two-lane roadway across Fontana Dam – North Carolina Highway 28 – for approximately four weeks beginning Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, to conduct concrete maintenance work.

Motorists and pedestrians will still be able to cross the dam but are advised to exercise caution and plan for potential delays as traffic atop the dam will be reduced to a single lane, managed by portable traffic control signals.

Project completion is tentatively set for Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, but that schedule is subject to change pending weather and other factors.

08/29/2026

Shelton & Williams close out An Appalachian Evening tonight at 7:30. It's the last concert of the Stecoah Valley Center summer series.

📍Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center is located at 121 Schoolhouse Road.

This group features some of the best harmony you will hear all year!

Coming all the way from Danville, Virginia the group is made up of three singer songwriters —Jeanette Williams on upright bass, Johnny Williams on guitar, and Jay Shelton on lead guitar.

Jeanette holds two IBMA Recorded Event of the Year awards, from 2006 and 2009 with the Daughters of Bluegrass, three SPBGMA Female Vocalist of the Year wins, and more than seventeen SPBGMA nominations.

Johnny has been named Virginia State Champion Male Vocalist and won the bluegrass division of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest twice, in 1998 and 1999. Last year the city of Danville gave the two of them Lifetime Achievement Awards for thirty-six years of work in bluegrass and acoustic music.

Their newest single, "Highway Eleven," was released yesterday — which Johnny is featuring in this year’s IBMA’s songwriter showcase.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear the music of Shelton & Williams in the historic Lynn Shields Auditorium as the Stecoah schoolhouse continues to celebrate 100 years this year.

Dinner is served in the Schoolhouse Café beginning at 6 pm. Plan to spend some time shopping in the Artisan gallery before the show or during intermission which features the work of more than 100 local artists!

Tickets and details at stecoahvalleycenter.com or 828.479.3364. The An Appalachian Evening concert series will return next June.

We would like to recognize Fontana Village Resort & Marina for their sponsorship of this event.

08/28/2026

Tonight is the last night of the 2026 Dancing on the Square Season — a Special America 250th Dancing on the Square Celebration with the Darren Nicholson Band Featuring a Live Square Dance Caller. Join us for an authentic mountain dance night with the Darren Nicholson Band, celebrating America’s 250th birthday with one of the oldest living traditions in the Country.

Square dancing is older than America itself. Like much of Southern Appalachian culture it grew out of a mix of cultures — English country dances, French quadrilles, and Scottish and Irish reels that settlers brought to these mountain where it was woven into something distinctly and beautifully American. This is the dance form that brought America together as neighbors and communities for generations — what better way to celebrate than with Dancing on the Square?

Never square danced before? Perfect — this is a teaching event. You don’t need to know a sing step to come out and join in. Darren’s live caller will walk dancers of every age and experience level through every figure, every swing, and do-si-do. If you can walk, you can square dance.

About Darren Nicholson —
Darren Nicholson is one of North Carolina’s most celebrated mandolin players. A Haywood County native and Grammy nominee, he is the front man for the Darren Nicholson Band and a founding member of the award-winning bluegrass quintet, Balsam Range. Darren has been recognized with numerous awards and is event a recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine but all of that is shadowed when he’s standing in front of a crowd. He likes nothing more than bringing people together to enjoy our mountain music and have a good time.

What Is Dancing on the Square?
Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to have fun! In Robbinsville, N.C. we have a long standing tradition of dancing in the streets — join us every Friday night from May through August for a live band performing dance music.

This Is A Rain Or Shine Event
In case of rain dance will be in Graham County Community Building located at 196 Knight Street Robbinsville, NC

Thank you to our co-sponsors Robbinsville, N.C. , Robbinsville Tourism Authority NC and Lynn's Place Restaurant .

08/24/2026

Shout out to Historic Tapoco Lodge Resort for this WLOS ABC 13 coverage. A great overview of the history of Cheoah Dam and the Lodge.

Also, thank you Erik, for helping our visitors with the pronunciation!

If you are a history buff or a weekend warrior who loves to explore new and exciting places in our mountains, look no further than the Tapoco Lodge.

08/18/2026

From the heights of the Cherohala Skyway to the depths of Santeetlah Lake, Robbinsville, NC holds an incredible amount of beauty and excitement for the adventuring traveler.

We were excited last year to have Robbinsville be recognized as one of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine's Top 100 Adventure towns for outdoor enthusiasts. We are thrilled to announce its nomination again this year — one of 25 nominees in the Tiny Towns category.

Round 1 voting is open now.

If Robbinsville is your homebase for adventure, whether you are a local or a visitor, vote now with the link below to ensure we comes out on Top in 2026.

https://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/toptowns/

08/12/2026

Fontana Village Resort & Marina may be a tiny marina in the smallest town in North Carolina but it makes big waves. It was recently featured by Travel + Leisure magazine, in a top ten list of most beautiful marinas in the country — the only NC marina on the list.

This recognition was based on TripAdvisor reviews of marinas which included words like “beautiful”, “gorgeous” and “scenic”. Small marinas across the US outperformed large coastal harbors based on reviews.

Fontana Marina may not be large but it is a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and a beacon for outdoor recreation. Visitors to the marina can —

⚓️ Take a Fontana Lake History Tour aboard the Miss Hazel

🚤 Rent a pontoon, fishing boat, canoe, kayak or paddle board

🎣 Catch a shuttle to Eagle Creek, Hazel Creek and the North Shore

📍 Situated in the north end of Graham County, Fontana Village Resort is only minutes away from the marina just off NC 28. Guests are a short drive from Robbinsville, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and the Cherohala Skyway.

08/11/2026

Don’t forget to include a visit to Stoney Hollow Farm when you’re planning your weekend trip!

Fresh flowers & produce, small batch gourmet foods, honey, handmade soaps, vintage finds and antiques.

The farm is also a beautiful backdrop for photos!

Open Friday & Sunday — call ahead and pick up orders are available.