Banner Elk Hotel

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Just past the Dugger house across the street, these pale yellow townhouses mark the former location of the Banner Elk Hotel. Robert and Eva Banner Lowe purchased a home from his uncle, Dow Lowe in the 1890’s. Tourism was already becoming a thriving business when they added two wings to turn their home into a hotel which soon became a hub of much community activity. In its heyday (Image 2-c. 1901), there were 20 rooms to rent, long porches, and a large dining room where dances were held every night but Sunday. Activities organized for guests also included hiking, fishing, and various crafts. The register still exists and it pays witness to the fact that visitors came from as far away as California and Florida and even includes the name Vanderbilt. During the winters, the hotel served as a sort of community center. It housed the town’s first telephone and radio. The hotel closed in 1960 (Image 3) and fell into disrepair. A local developer purchased the property to build these 22 townhomes. Continue on the brick sidewalk down the hill to be alerted for the next tour stop which is the small, unpainted wood building on your right.