Mount Airy, North Carolina

Welcome to Mount Airy, North Carolina

Small town America lives on in a natural tourism destination named Mount Airy, nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. As more families and mature adults are looking for a travel experience that features a break from the fast pace and predictability of huge resorts and theme parks, Mount Airy is enjoying a resurgence of tourism in the late '90s.

The beautiful blue hills and lush mountain valleys surrounding present-day Mount Airy, North Carolina, were originally settled by a mixture of English, Scots, Irish and German farmers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Set in the rolling foothills along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the area offered balanced weather, ideal growing conditions, and ample natural resources.

Today Mount Airy offers visitors a glimpse of that original beauty and the area's rich heritage, along with the up-to-date comforts and amenities, which make small-town tourism so appealing to families and mature adults. The town folk continue to work hard in maintaining that special feeling for the Mount Airy of the 21st Century. Mount Airy was even named All America City in 1994 for its projects aimed at improving essential services for the needy through a privately-funded clinic and projects working to improve recreation and beautification efforts.

Mount Airy was also honored as #36 in a listing of America's 100 Best Small Towns in 1996, recognizing both the quality of life and the health of the local economy. A recent poll by North Carolina's oldest lifestyle magazine, The State, showed that Mount Airy was the favorite small town destination of readers throughout the state. These recognitions add weight to the growing interest in the small town experience for all tourists, whether for a short day-long trip or a long festival weekend.