North Carolina

Scenic drives in Western North Carolina open to see fall foliage

Published

1 year ago

October 24, 2024

Scenic drives in Western North Carolina open to see fall foliage

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – There are a lot of areas of Western North Carolina still in recovery mode and unable to welcome visitors quite yet. Some places like the Blue Ridge Parkway are going to require time and a lot of work to get to a place where it’s safe to allow people back.

But there are also a lot of spots which are back up and running and ready to welcome visitors. The fall is prime time for leaf-peeping tourists in these areas so now, more than ever, it’s important to shine a spotlight on where we can go to enjoy the beauty of the mountains.

Before you go, but sure check your routes to get there. You can use DriveNC.gov for the latest updates. And be sure to be cautious while traveling the byways. While these roads are open, it doesn’t mean there might not be areas down to one land or even some lingering debris in some areas. The goal is to enjoy the scenery and support local towns all while doing it safely.

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA TOWNS OPEN FOR VISITORS

CHEROHALA SKYWAY

The Cherohala Skyway is a National Scenic Byway in Great Smoky Mountains National park stretching from southeast Tennessee and southwest North Carolina. It connects the Cherokee National Forest to the Nantahala National Forest, hence the name “Cherohala.” Starting in the east, the skyway begins in Robbinsville, North Carolina, about 3 hours from Greenville and 2 hours west of Asheville. Robbinsville is a tiny mountain town with a big history. It‘s where the last surrender of the Civil War east of the Mississippi occurred. Grab a bite to eat before hitting the road and traveling 50 miles west to Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The Cherohala Skyway is a wide, paved two-lane road making for a pleasant drive to enjoy the changing of the leaves. The rides along the higher elevations from 900 to over 5400 feet reaching its highest point at the Tennessee-North Carolina border.

TAIL OF THE DRAGON

For the motorcycle and sports car enthusiasts, check out the Tail of the Dragon in Swain County. It’s a short 11 mile stretch of road, but it has 318 curves making for a thrilling ride. You can access Hwy 129 from Bryson City, just take US 74 west to NC-28 north and enjoy the scenery along the way.

FONTANA BYWAY

The Tail of the Dragon is part of the larger Fontana Byway which snakes its ways through the Great Smoky Mountains near the Little Tennessee River for 54 miles. The byway is one of the more rural routes which means there is a lot of uninterrupted fall foliage to see. It starts at Deals Gap near the Tennessee-North Carolina boarder and travels southeast through Swain, Graham and Macon counties, ending in Franklin which is about 2 hours an 15 minutes from Greenville and an hour and 15 minutes from Asheville. Along the way, you‘ll pass by Cheoah Lake and Fontana Lake as you weave through hills and farmland. There’s not many towns to stop in so make sure to plan ahead and pack a picnic. There are plenty of places to pull off to eat surrounded by the changing leaves. You can stop by Fontana Village, which is a resort community, for a bite to eat.

NANTAHALA BYWAY

The Nantahala Byway traverses 47 miles from Marble in Cherokee County through the Nantahala National Forest to the northeast, coming to an end east of Bryson City where it intersects with the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Greenville and 2 hours and 15 minutes from Asheville to get to Marble in the west. The road brings a variety of scenery from the Nantahala River to the farmland of the valleys to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and along the way you can catch glimpses of the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. The railroad is another great way to see the scenery of this gorgeous landscape while letting someone else do the navigating. The byway snakes through the Nantahala Gorge an area the Cherokee once referred to it as the “Land of the Midday Sun” for its deep valley and steep walls. Along the way you can stop in Andrews or Bryson City for snacks and shopping.

WATERFALL BYWAY

The majority of the Waterfall Byway is open to leaf-peepers. But before you go, be aware there is small section of the road closed in both directions east of Cashiers. There is a detour around the closure which takes about 12 minutes through a windy section of the mountains.

If you love a gorgeous waterfall surrounded by the stunning fall foliage, and who doesn‘t, check out the Waterfall Byway. This 98 mile stretch of road is named after the 200 waterfalls scattered along the route. The byway starts just west of Rosman in Transylvania County and travels west towards Murphy in Cherokee County. Rosman is located an hour from Asheville and an hour and 15 minutes from Greenville. Along the way, you can stop in several mountain towns to check out the shops and grab a bite to eat. Cashiers, Highlands and Franklin are all right along the route.

NEWFOUND GAP ROAD SCENIC BYWAY

Newfound Gap Road is located inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park giving leaf-peepers a stunning 33 mile show. The scenic byway starts just north of Cherokee near the Qualla Boundary which is two hours and 15 minutes from Greenville and one hour and 15 minutes from Asheville. It then travels northwest into Tennessee, ending in Gatlinburg. Along with the beautiful of the Smoky Mountains, historic landmarks along the byway illustrate the Southern Appalachian pioneer culture of the past. There’s not many food options along the way so be sure to stop in Cherokee to stock up for the ride.

WHITEWATER WAY

Whitewater Way is another great drive to drinking the fall beauty of Western North Carolina along side stunning waterfalls. The route is named for Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains rushing down 411 feet. Enter the road in Sapphire which about an hour and half from Greenville and an hour and 15 minutes from Asheville. The route continues past Gorges State Park and Upper Whitewater Falls, ending at the North Carolina-South Carolina state line.

SOUTH MOUNTAIN SCENERY

The South Mountain Scenery travels from the Piedmont of North Carolina into the mountains along a 34 mile road. It starts in Metcalf in the Piedmont which is about an hour and half from both Greenville and Asheville. The route travels northwest rolling through farmland and hills then moving into the steeper terrain of the South Mountains, ending in Marion. Check out Shelby, just south of the entry to the byway, for shopping and food. Or check out Polkville and Marion along the way.

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

The Blue Ridge Parkway is open on the Virginia side, but the majority of the Blue Ridge Parkway is closed in North Carolina. However, a small 20 mile portion of the Parkway is open around Blowing Rock. Milepost 285.5 at Bamboo Gap to milepost 305 at Beacon Heights is now open for tourists to check out the leaves. The north end is just southeast of Boone and travels southwest when you have to hop off near Grandfather Mountain State Park. Sites within this stretch that are open to visitors include Bass Lake, Moses Cone Manor House parking and carriage trails (no restrooms), Price Lake Picnic Area and the trails in between these mileposts. The National Park Service is reminding visitors to use extreme caution when hiking as the trails have not be completely assessed and there may still be debris, landslides and wash-outs over sections of the trails. Be sure to check with the National Park Service for the latest updates.

There are several byways which aren’t currently accessible due to extensive damage from Helene.

Appalachian Medley in Haywood and Madison cos.
Forest Heritage Scenic Byway in Haywood, Jackson and Transylvania cos.
French Broad Overview in Buncombe and Madison cos.
Drovers Road in Buncombe and Henderson cos.
Mount Mitchell Scenic Drive in Yancey and Madison cos.
Pacolet River Byway in Polk Co.
Black Mountain Rag in Buncombe, Henderson, and Rutherford cos.
Highlands of the Roan Byway in Yancey and Mitchell cos.

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North Carolina

How North Carolina Developed Its 2026 NFL Draft Class

Published

6 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

How North Carolina Developed Its 2026 NFL Draft Class

Last season, the North Carolina Tar Heels massively underwhelmed in Bill Belichick’s first season as the head coach. In the 73-year-old head coach’s inaugural campaign, North Carolina went 4-8 and finished 14th in the ACC.

While the Tar Heels were one of the most disappointing teams in 2025, they have multiple players expected to be selected at some point in the 2026 NFL Draft. In the upcoming draft, defensive backs Thaddeus Dixon and Marcus Allen are the most notable Tar Heels in this year’s class. Here is a look at how North Carolina has developed its players who have entered the 2026 NFL Draft.

Belichick’s Influence

Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick addresses the media after the second half of the game against NC State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Throughout Belichick’s career, he has developed elite defensive players, and while that wasn’t evident last season, his influence has extended to the coaching staff, with Steve Belichick as the defensive coordinator.

Dixon, who is projected as a Day 3 pick, spoke on Belichick’s impact and how his ideologies and practices on the defensive side of the ball are more advanced than those typically seen in college.

Sep 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte 49ers receiver Joven Nicholas (5) loses the ball pressured by North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Thaddeus Dixon (1) during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

“Being around a dude like that, with so much football knowledge, who could coach all 22 positions on the field – it was really a blessing,” Dixon said. “Coach Bill Belichick does a lot. He cares a lot about the game and about his players. I learned so much – stuff that can never be taken away from me, stuff I can take into the league.”

“He runs his program like an NFL team,” Dixon continued. “He treats us like men – not really as college athletes, but as grown men. He gives us the freedom to do what we need to do to take care of our business. Obviously, that freedom can be taken away at any time, but it’s about being a professional each and every day – the way he goes about his days, with afternoon practices and meetings and stuff like that. It really sets us up to be in position for stuff like this.”

Increased Opportunities

Nov 16, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Marcus Allen (29) reacts with defensive backs Kaleb Cost (21) and Antavious Lane (1) after intercepting the ball in the third quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

With a slew of injuries to the secondary, including Dixon, who missed seven games last season, North Carolina was forced to deploy multiple defensive backs out of position. In turn, Dixon also filled several roles in the depleted secondary.

As for Allen, he proved to be a sticky defender in man-to-man coverage, which is monumental at the next level. Defenses have shifted to operating more often in zone defenses, but in key situations and pivotal moments, defensive coordinators lean on cornerbacks to lock down their assignments in blitz packages.

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North Carolina

Family of former Miss NC Carrie Everett shares emotional tribute following her death at 22

Published

18 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Family of former Miss NC Carrie Everett shares emotional tribute following her death at 22

AUBURN, WASHINGTON (WTVD) — The family of Miss North Carolina 2024 Carrie Everett spoke exclusively with ABC11 just days after her passing, from their home in Auburn, Washington.

Her parents sat at the center, surrounded by Carrie’s grandmother and older siblings.

“It’s hard. We’re not going to pretend. It’s been the hardest moment of our life as a family,” said her mother, Mary Everett. The 22-year-old passed away the evening of Easter Sunday, surrounded by family, after an aggressive battle with signet ring cell carcinoma, which is an advanced form of cancer.

The family shared a video of loved ones singing Carrie’s favorite praise song, a tribute reflecting her Liberian roots. Her father, Bishop George Everett, says he continues to lean on his faith. He also shared one of his proudest memories from his daughter as she visited a church after winning the Miss North Carolina crown and choosing not to wear it inside.

“And she said, ‘I will not wear this crown in the presence of the King of Kings,’” he said.

Carrie was the youngest among her siblings, described by her family as both compassionate and bold. “She was never shy to tell the way she felt about things, sometimes not even sparing feelings, but that’s who she was,” said her older brother, Abenego Kondiano.

“In this battle, she would always say she didn’t set out to be an inspiration, but she wanted to fight to live so with her life she could love people,” said her sister, Rufina Everett.

The family says Carrie was multitalented and had a deep love for singing. She began her pageant journey after placing second in the Miss Auburn Outstanding Teen pageant. After moving to North Carolina for college, she went on to win Miss Johnston County and ultimately Miss North Carolina 2024.

She later chose to attend North Carolina Central University, fulfilling her dream of attending an HBCU. Her family calls her a true child of North Carolina.

“Thank you for loving her, supporting her, supporting her in prayer. It meant a lot,” said her mother. Memorial services for Carrie will be held in Washington on April 18th, with additional services planned in North Carolina at a later date.

Her remains will then be taken to Africa, where she will be laid to rest in Liberia. “Heaven gained an angel. That’s what she was to us,” her mother said.

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North Carolina

Drought worsens in central, NC farmers and rural communities feeling strained

Published

2 days ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Drought worsens in central, NC farmers and rural communities feeling strained

LOUISBURG, N.C. (WTVD) — Drought conditions across central North Carolina are creating growing challenges for farmers as they prepare to harvest some crops and plant others, raising concerns about yields and long-term economic impacts.

Fields in Franklin County show signs of prolonged dryness as farmers work through a critical point in the growing season. One farmer planting corn on Thursday said it is the driest he has seen in quite some time.

“Sometimes I just wonder how we do make it,” said Travis Nelms, a fourth-generation farmer at N&N Farms in Louisburg.

Nelms is among many farmers facing multiple pressures at once. Rising fuel and fertilizer prices have already increased production costs, and the dry conditions are adding further strain. Despite that, he said optimism remains part of the job.

“It kind of goes back to that farmer’s optimism. We’re optimistic folks because here we are in a drought like this, and trying to plant seed in the ground to make a crop in the dry time,” Nelms said.

The lack of moisture is evident in the soil itself. As Nelms planted, he pointed to uneven, clumped earth caused by the dryness.

“You can see all around out here, it just came up clumpy. This is just extremely dry right now,” he said.

The drought is also affecting crop yields. Nelms said wheat fields are already showing signs of reduced production.

“Right now it’s looking to be a 35-to-40-bushel crop. I’m about a half a crop is what I’m looking at right now,” he said.

Agricultural economists say farmers are being forced to make difficult decisions about whether to plant without enough moisture in the ground.

“It’s time to be planting crops, and so a lot of farmers are probably considering, should I plant? Do I have enough moisture? Will the plants germinate?” said Jeffrey Dorfman, an agricultural economics professor at NC State.

Dorfman said the drought compounds financial challenges many farmers already face.

“They’re getting less for their crops, and it’s costing them 65% more to grow them. It’s not a good situation. This is just sort of an insult to injury,” he said.

For now, farmers like Nelms say they are relying on hope for rain to arrive soon.

“As always, we just hope it rains in a timely manner. And if it don’t get a good staying, I don’t know what we’ll do,” he said.

Experts warn that if dry conditions continue, the effects could extend beyond farms. Less crop production can mean less income for farmers, which can reduce spending in rural communities and impact local economies across the region.

SEE ALSO | Lawn care companies navigate drought and rising fuel costs

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