mountains. Black Mountain is a picturesque and beautiful place.”Tourism is a cornerstone of the town’s economy, where the scenery, outdoor amenities, quaint downtown shops, restaurants, and lively arts scene draw visitors from near and far. RECREATION DESTINATION As a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, the town has recently completed an outdoor recreational plan.The goal is to promote Black Mountain as a destination for activities such as mountain biking in Pisgah National Forest, trout fishing in nearby streams, and exploring the many hiking opportunities in the area. “We want to make Black Mountain the home base where you stay, relax, and restore at the end of the day.We are working on this idea that we’re not the day trip from Asheville anymore, we are the destination for these folks,” depicts Assistant Town Manager Jessica Trotman.This strategy focuses on supporting local businesses tied to the outdoor economy, such as outfitters and bike shops, strengthening community relationships, and marketing the town to a broader group. “Black Mountain has enjoyed a significant organic tourism growth over the years. We want to be more intentional about certain market sectors that we bring into our community, to enjoy not just eating here, but also staying here and enjoying all the fun things to do around us,” she says. Black Mountain participates in initiatives such as the Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program, offering public access to fishing along the Swannanoa River. “We are trying to leverage our resources with our publicly accessible waterways, our local communities that relate to that, as well as our parks and recreation department who offer programming,” maintains Trotman. “We’re trying to bring together these different resources in a more organized way. We want to make it more attractive for businesses to be here and people to visit.” CONNECTING COMMUNITIES Recently, a feasibility study was completed for an 41 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 09 BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC
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