Explore Burnsville launches digital passport

Burnsville and Yancey County, located in Western North Carolina, offer fresh mountain air, endless outdoor experiences, iconic American charm, and starry, dark skies. We spoke with Christy Wood from the Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of Commerce about their new digital passport on LoyalBrew.

Western North Carolina is a special part of the country. Most people are familiar with Asheville, but there are so many other beautiful places nearby like Burnsville and Yancey County. What do you recommend people see and experience in Burnsville and Yancey County when they visit?

Burnsville is special for so many reasons; Mount Mitchell – Highest peak East of the Mississippi, 100+ miles of public hiking trails, huge population of artists.  One thing you should see when you’re in Burnsville is our dark skies.  Burnsville is a certified dark sky community, and there’s no where better to see those dark skies than the Bare Earth to Sky Park which has the largest public telescope in North Carolina and the Glenn & Carol Arthur Planetarium. 

Tell us about the Explore Burnsville passport. What is it all about? What types of stamps are on it?

The Explore Burnsville passport is a guide to hiking in Yancey County.  It features 12 hikes that range from easy to difficult.  The passport will lead you to waterfalls, through deciduous rainforest, and even to a ghost town.

What will one receive if they complete the Explore Burnsville passport?

If you complete the passport, you get a “Hike Yancey County” patch, a token for a free beverage at Homeplace Brewery, and a coupon for a free beverage at Birdfoot Taphouse.

What is your favorite hike in the region?

My favorite hike in Yancey County is Lost Cove.  This 5.5 mile out and back hike takes you to what used to be the Lost Cove community.  The last family left the settlement in 1957 but you can still see remnants of their homes, cemetery, vehicles, and outbuildings.