The town of West Jefferson, in northwestern North Carolina, may take a while to get to from where you are, but trust us: you won’t be disappointed. With a year-round population of a little more than 1,300 residents, this tiny town in North Carolina is already a regular stop for tourists making the trek to the mountains of North Carolina. The fact that the historic and tourist district is so intimate could have something to do with that. This part of town is so walkable, you can park your car and see the whole town on foot. Take a look:
One of the biggest attractions in West Jefferson is the Ashe County Cheese Factory. For a while, this was the only cheese factory in the Southeastern US. Visitors love to pose with the giant cow tanks along Main Street.
You can pop into their showroom at your leisure and watch workers making cheese right through a huge window overlooking the whole process. Then, walk across the street to their retail store.
You'll find a whole bevy of Ashe County Cheese products here, including many varieties of cheese and even homemade butter! The store also features some locally made products by other vendors, as well as an entire room filled with barrels (and barrels!) of candy.
We've stated that West Jefferson is a "mountain town," however, it's actually located in a valley between two huge mountain peaks. You can drive a short distance out of town to Mount Jefferson State Natural Area for an outstanding view of the valley.
On the fringe of the historic district, you can take a hard turn onto a side road that leads to one of the most visited (and beloved) points of interest in W. J. One of North Carolina's Churches of the Frescoes is open to the public to worship and view the famous frescoes painted by NC resident Ben Long in 1974.
Long spent years in Italy acquiring the knowledge and skills of painting in fresco style. He came back and adorned this church with three spiritual masterpieces. St. Marys is visited by thousands of people each year.
West Jefferson is located in Ashe County in the northwestern part of North Carolina. When you're ready for a change of pace — from rushed to relaxed — this is the place to go.
Enjoy your day (or weekend) in West Jefferson! When you’re ready to venture a little further into nowhere, head to this destination eatery in Shatley Springs to the north of West Jefferson.
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