Right across the stateline, residents from Elizabethton and Carter County are no strangers to catching some air during the winter season.

As Roan Mountain continues to grow into a tourist-heavy attraction for Northeast Tennessee, Beech Mountain, nestled in North Carolina, does its part to help attract individuals from the Tri-Cities to the regional border between the Tarheel State and Roan Mountain.

According to the town’s website, Beech Mountain, working with an elevation of 5,506 feet, is the highest town in Eastern America and serves to be an “ideal vacation spot in North America’s Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Niki Lyons is no stranger to seeing the traffic coming through. The owner tows both lines by serving as the owner of Beech Meadows Ski Shop but knows what the tourist attraction can offer locally with her Carter County ties.

“We really do see a lot of people from Northeast Tennessee, especially Elizabethton and Carter County,” Lyons said. “That is something unique about Beech Mountain. We want to encourage people to stop by and see what we have to offer.”

Utilizing resources in Beech Mountain can even provide a bit of an economic boom for both states. While residents can go across the border to tear up the slopes, coming back through Roan Mountain provides some eye-catching restaurants and other attractions to keep monies coming into Carter County.

“It definitely is a positive for everyone,” Lyons said.

And providing an enjoyable experience for visitors is the prime narrative for Beech Meadows, Lyons said. To go along with the positive atmosphere, Beech Meadows serves as a low-cost shop for different winter wear and ski/snowboard rentals.

“This is really our busy time of the year,” Lyons said about the current status of Beech Mountain. “We have a lot of people that are coming in from different states. Our ability to create snow has been important in keeping the interest and popularity of Beech. Ryan Costin does a great job of keeping both of our runs open and making things enjoyable for visitors.”

With the new year on the horizon, Lyons added low-cost rentals and ski/snowboard trips will be highlighted to commemorate Beech Mountain’s 50th anniversary.

“I would definitely encourage people to stop by after the first of the year,” Lyons said.

For more information about the status of the mountain and news from Beech, call (828) 387-4777 or visit the Beech Meadows Ski Shop Facebook page online.