Relocation/Retirement Information
Burke County is located in the beautiful Catawba
River Valley and in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Residents
in Morganton and Valdese can look south for spectacular views of the
South Mountains and to the north at Table Rock and Hawksbill Mountains
with elevations of 3,400 feet located on the rim of the Linville Gorge,
the “Grand Canyon of North Carolina.” These mountains are covered with
hardwoods and pines and provide spectacular scenery in the fall when
leaves turn yellow and crimson before dropping from their branches.
Wildlife, including bald eagles, falcons, hawks, deer, bears, turkey and
other species abound in these remote areas.
In the lower elevations, visitors find bustling communities that stretch
along the 25 miles of Interstate 40 that bisects the county. The City of
Morganton and the smaller towns of Glen Alpine, Valdese, Drexel,
Rutherford College, Connelly Springs and Hildebran each have a
particular charm that makes visitors feel welcome and want to stay
around for awhile. The area was selected by Readers Digest to be
one of the top ten places in the nation to raise a family and it has
always been ranked by Retirement Lifestyles Magazine in the top
five retirement locations.
There is ample housing of all types and styles and in all price ranges
to meet the needs of anyone relocating or retiring in the area. The
average cost of a three bedroom house is $125,000. Homes on Lake James
range from $300,000 to over $1million depending upon size and location.
Waterfront houses are selling in the neighborhood of $800,000 and up.
Duplexes, condominiums, patio homes, single and two story homes are also
available at reasonable prices. Numerous apartment complexes are
scattered throughout the County. The average cost of a two bedroom
apartment is $460 to $480 per month. Some apartment complexes have
swimming pools, tennis courts, and exercise rooms. The Chamber of
Commerce maintains an apartment guide for those seeking that type of
housing.
Attractive town homes and apartments are being built within walking
distance of the Morganton Central Business District. Some of these
townhouses are built above quaint retail stores. Across the street, an
old textile mill is being refurbished to house luxury apartments. A
large assisted living complex will soon be built across from the City of
Morganton Municipal Auditorium. It will have 66 apartments, 13
townhouse/condominiums and there will be 40 units in an assisted living
center. It is expected that this facility will be completed in late
2007.
Recreational Opportunities - Recreation abounds throughout Burke
County. Golf enthusiasts have the choice of four challenging courses
which include Quaker Meadows, Pine Mountain, Silver Creek Plantation and
Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Club (private). Boating, camping, sailing,
skiing, fishing and relaxation are available at Lake James, a 6,500 acre
man-made lake in western Burke County. The Catawba River offers
opportunities for trout fishing, rafting, tubing and canoeing. A five
mile paved Greenway parallels the Catawba River where joggers, bikers
and walkers can enjoy the natural sites and wildlife. The Phifer
Wellness Center and Body Tech Fitness Center offer exercise equipment
and classes to keep users healthy and in shape. Other fitness centers,
including Curves for women, are also located throughout the county.
Clear, icy cold mountain streams maintain both native and planted trout
for those wishing to venture into the wilds for a full day or afternoon
of fly fishing. Morganton and Valdese have enclosed swimming pools and
an exercise pool is available at the Phifer Wellness Center. Many
residents take advantage of bicycling on the roads around Lake James or
mountain biking in the South Mountain State Park and on bike trails in
the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cross county and downhill
snow skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains is less than an hour away in the
upper elevations near Boone, NC. Burke County boasts the largest State
Park in North Carolina (South Mountain). Hiking trails take visitors
along side and near some of the most picturesque waterfalls and streams
in North Carolina. Equestrian trails and camping are also available. A
new 3,000 acre State Park is currently being developed at Lake James.
The new park will offer camping, bike paths, walking paths, nature
trails, picnic facilities and equestrian trails. Education and nature
centers will be built in this new park along with cabins and a lodge
that will be used by visitors to the area. Walking trails also abound at
Linville Falls and in various locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway
which cuts through the northern part of Burke County. The Mountain to
the Sea Trail passes through Burke County near the Linville Gorge.
Tennis courts are sprinkled throughout the County in both parks and
private residential communities.
Senior centers in Morganton and Hildebran (Eastern Burke County) offer
exercise programs, craft classes through Western Piedmont Community
College, senior choir, covered dish luncheons, libraries, pool tables
and card games. Tax preparation counseling, insurance counseling,
Medicare counseling and health screening programs are offered at both
locations. The Morganton location has a complete wood shop.
Senior group tour programs are offered through the Morganton Recreation
Department.
Cultural Opportunities – Burke County offers a wide variety of
attractions and entertainment appealing to all ages and interests. The
county has a strong arts culture, from musicians to painters, potters,
to sculptors. Several arts galleries are housed in downtown Morganton
and Valdese that feature the works of local, regional and national
artists. The annual Tour d’ Art, held in downtown Morganton, is a fine
arts show that includes visual, performing and culinary arts.
A Friday night concert series takes place in both Morganton and Valdese
during the summer months. These free programs attract hundreds of music
lovers who enjoy everything from bluegrass to symphonies. Both Morganton
and Valdese hold annual festivals that attract thousands of spectators
in August and September. The City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium (CoMMA)
offers a wide variety of entertainment ranging from theatrical
performances to the best in “foot stomping” Celtic music and dance. This
modern 1,058 seat auditorium boasts many “sold out” performances. It is
also the location of Ben Long’s latest fresco, “Sacred Dance & the
Muses” which is painted on the ceiling in the atrium. The Old Rock
School in Valdese has a 473 seat auditorium. This is the location for
musical programs, blue grass music and theatrical presentations by the
local Old Colony Players drama group.
Low Crime Rate – The crime rate in Morganton is 380.6 compared to
the national average of 465.5 (The rate is computed on 100,000
population. The program uses current resident population counts in
computing crime rates.)
Civic/Community Pride – Most people who visit Morganton and
Valdese for the first time remark favorably about the beauty and
cleanliness of the downtown areas and the appearance of the decorated
storefronts in the business districts. Morganton’s leaders pay special
attention to insure that debris is removed from the streets and
sidewalks on a daily basis. City work crews are also responsible for
trimming trees, spreading mulch and maintaining the flower beds and
planter boxes that are located on each corner and in mid-block planters
in the downtown areas. Entrances to the City of Morganton have welcome
signs, colorful flower beds and special fountain treatments which
further reveal the pride that the “City Fathers” have in the community.
A rose garden and seasonal plantings grace the lawn that surrounds the
historic court house that dates back to 1830. Flowers and fountains
enhance the downtown park in Valdese.
Beautiful Lake James is a diamond in the crown of Burke County. This
6,500 acre crystal clear lake is surrounded by mountains and lush
forests. The pristine water from Lake James is the primary source of
drinking water for every community in Burke County along the Catawba
River. Lake James has become the most sought after location by retirees
for property for building homes. Point lots overlook the water and
afford fabulous views of the mountains including Table Rock, Hawksbill,
Shortoff, Grandfather Mountain (40 miles away near Boone) and Mount
Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi – 6,684 ft.).
Houses of every size, type and quality can be found in the area. Fifty
percent of the homes on Lake James are less than 15 years old and more
than half of those have been lived in less than two years or are now
under construction. New developments continue to open to meet the needs
of those moving to the community or temporarily keeping a “weekend
get-away home” until they can retire permanently at the lake. New
developments are springing up throughout the county for those who are
not interested in lake living. Silver Creek Plantation offers an
alternative location for those interested in golf. Both single family
residences and condominiums are available for purchase at Silver Creek.
Older stately homes are located along quiet tree lined streets in the
northwestern portion of the city. Residences are also available to meet
the needs of those wishing to locate on a mountainside with fantastic
views of the outer limits of Morganton and a birds-eye view of Valdese.
Some mountain homes in the area adjacent to the South Mountain State
Park have skyline views of Charlotte, located approximately 90 miles to
the south east. Larger tracts are available for homeowners wishing to
get out into the county or mountains and surround themselves with the
natural beauty of the area. Most homeowners take pride in their property
by keeping their homes well maintained and their yards landscaped and
neatly trimmed.
It is not uncommon to see families with their pets walking together in
their neighborhoods or on the streets leading to the very vibrant
central business area. Outlying neighborhoods offer the same
convenience. Residents feel safe on the well lighted streets. Crime is
the least of concerns for most residents who enjoy their nightly
strolls.
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