Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center

Throughout Western North Carolina sit dozens of public schools abandoned by time, consolidation, and changing demographics. In their heyday, they were community epicenters and veritable second homes for thousands of students. Today, some are boarded up, while others await imminent demolition and replacement by new state-of-the-art facilities. But there are also a handful of old schoolhouses tucked away in various corners of the mountains that have found new purpose as community centers, concert venues, historical beacons, and artists’ studios. Here’s a look at the past and present of eight of them.

Autumn is upon us, and you can park yourself in the backyard and watch the leaves put on a show.

From appearances by George Jones to performances of Madame Butterfly, WNC stages offer a wonderfully eclectic lineup