North Carolina

[FAST FLIGHT OPTIONS LLC]

Looking to fly to NC to rent a cabin and see some snow towards the end of Dec.  Want to fly there and not have to drive to far after landing. Hoping for some recomendations?

[GeorgePerry]

Try GEV near West Jeffersen.  I have a place there...It really is God's country.  The snow is hit or miss even in Dec for Western NC.  Ashville is also very nice and you'll have some more "big city" immenities.

[Steve65E-NC]

I suggest a call to the FBO at Spruce Pine, Avery County, 7A8, for snow clearing of runway and Blue Ridge Parkway and maybe possible nearby cabin rentals and car rental.  Five thousand foot run way.  Needs a little care on departure because of rising terrain but easy to turn away from.  Reasonably near Grandfather Mountain and Linville.  Also check out the Penland School for the arts.  Airport is very near the Blue Ridge Parkway (sometimes closed in winter).  Visit Mt. Mitchell, maybe Ashville, the Highland Art Guild store on the Parkway.  Another possibilty is the private airstrip at Elk River, but I don't know much about it.  

[Dale]

If you are interested in western North Carolina I would recommend Bear Lake Reserve, in Tuckasegee North Carolina.  A really nice community between Sylva and Cashhiers, North Carolina on Highway 107.  This is about 45 minutes to an hour west of Asheville.  Two airports are nearby: Jackson County Airport, 24A, elevation is about 3000 feet and the airstrip is about 3000 feet long.  There are no instrument approaches to this airport but again it is a fairly high altitude airport.  There is self-service fuel and tie downs and you can get a cab or Enterprise rent a car to the cabins from this airport.  This airport is about 10 minutes from Bear Lake Reserve and Tuckasegee.  It is at the top of the mountain right near Western Carolina University. 

If you need a nearby airport with a longer runway then I would suggest Macon County Airport, 1A5, in Franklin, North Carolina.  It is about 20 to 30 minutes from Tuckasegee and it has longer runway, 4,400 feet, but i believe they finished lengthening that runway to over 5,000 feet, this past summer. They have fuel, tie down, hangars, rent a cars and courtesy cars at the Airport.  It is a nice alternate airport.

There is a lot to do at Bear Lake Reserve and the surrounding areas.  Trail Hiking, outdoor fire hearths, using the pontoon boat, canoes or kayaks out on Bear Lake; eating, using the exercise room, or using the hot tubs at the Bear Lake Reserve Clubhouse overlooking the lake.  There is snow skiing at Cataloochee or Saphire Valley, which are about 30 to 50 minutes away.  It is a really nice area with lots to do.  Lots of cottage rentals in Bear Lake Reserve.  See http://www.vrbo.com/216056

This area is really a nice getaway in the winter or summer.  Good luck.

[laytonl]

Morgantown, MRN, is good and is close to grandfather man and the slopes.  Lee

[Jeff_S]

I'll second the notion for Sylva (24A). Flown in there several times as my in-laws live right there in Cullowhee. It can have some crosswinds, but always been manageable for me.