Known as "The Land of the Clouds" since 1876 from a book by the same title, Asheville is quickly becoming touted as a favored spot for both visitors and new residents of the gay and lesbian community. Renowned for its tolerant and diverse attitudes, Asheville has become a gay Mecca of the twenty-first century while maintaining the ambiance of another era. Reflecting the many diverse factions that make up a cosmopolitan area, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities converge together to create Gay Asheville. Dubbed the "happiest place in the United States" by author Eric Weiner in his 2008 publication The Geography of Bliss, Asheville is enjoying a resurgence of energy in both professional and leisure opportunities. Gay Asheville has boldly stepped to the forefront in areas of commerce, art and regional development.
The accolades that Asheville has received in recent years are proof that the gay world is taking notice of this mountainous hamlet turned progressive Shangri-La, although locals chuckle at this fresh attention to what they already knew. Asheville is not only a city of progression but of integrity and fortitude, with a strong sense of community. This devotion to fellow citizens extends from such far reaching corners as the Asheville Quaker church, which gained recent headlines in its support of gay rights, to the Chamber of Commerce and the promotion of city diversity. Strength in the face of adversity is a quality that all gay men and women must call upon in daily life, and Gay Asheville exemplifies this determined survivor mentality. Being the hardest hit region per capita during the Great Depression after a period of prosperity, Asheville drew itself up by the proverbial bootstraps, refused to admit defeat and paid back the debt over a period of fifty years. The up-side to this period of slow economic recovery was a compilation of Art Deco buildings that were left virtually unaltered...picture a piece of Miami on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Life in Gay Asheville can be whatever a resident wants to make of it, be it a young professional on the rise or a retiree in pursuit of the good life. The atmosphere is one of cultural cohesion, a live and let live attitude that seems to draw itself from the harmony of the surrounding vistas. There is not only unity within the gay community but throughout all of Asheville, and these different facets share the common goal of making their home an idyllic place in which to live. Asheville remains an optimistic city in an era of pervasive pessimism, and residents are apt to take some time for a long lunch at an outdoor café or tweak a busy work calendar for an afternoon of kayaking.
Gay Asheville is also tuned into entertainment and the arts, with numerous outdoor festivals, cultural soirees and seasonal events. There is a time for work and a time for play, and no one knows this better than a resident of Asheville. Locals and tourists alike take in the thriving live music venues, street performances, as well as the theatre, dance and opera. There is a thriving gay club scene, but many choose a romantic dinner in one of Asheville's numerous restaurants and cafes. The Asheville Film Festival grew out of the increasing use of the area by film companies, and local production groups have begun to flourish. An abbreviated list of major film releases that took advantage of the Asheville region are Dirty Dancing, Nell, and Last of the Mohicans.
Part of the forward thinking attitude that Gay Asheville residents exhibit is staying informed on issues and events that are important to the gay community. The gay population also consists of discerning consumers, with 89% actively seeking out and purchasing premium goods and services that reflect their needs and support their lifestyles. Gay men and lesbians have higher than average incomes, spend more of their disposable funds, and are smart and fiercely loyal consumers.
The premise of developing a burgeoning technological community snuggled within the Appalachians may have been about as obvious as its destination for the gay community, but companies have begun to make Asheville a hub of hi-tech "knowledge-based" activity. There is an entrepreneurial spirit in Gay Asheville that matches the zest for living of its residents, and this attitude applies as much to a new vegetarian eatery as it does to a global communications company. Buncombe County's municipal area is home to a population of around 400,000, yet it boasts a financial system of $13.2 billion through a varied but solid business structure. Again, the commerce of Asheville mirrors the attitude of its residents; the image of a "Corporate Suit" having lunch at an outside table with a "New Age" bohemian. No matter what your background or interests, there is something for a gay man or woman in this fair city. Labels that might imply boundaries in other cities are not particularly ascribed to in Asheville.
Of course, any description of Asheville would be incomplete without mentioning the magnificent Biltmore Estate, which draws over a million visitors yearly. No other structure in America symbolizes the epitome of the Gilded Age quite as well, but what makes the site of the largest privately owned home in the country stand out is the choice of locale. History tells us that the youngest son to the W. H. Vanderbilt fortune, George Washington Vanderbilt II, wished to emulate his older brothers and sisters in creating his own concept of the ideal summer estate but veered far south of their choices of New England. With the help of his mother, George scouted for the ideal milieu as the backdrop to his unique vision. How perceptive young George was, left to his own intellectual pursuits, to chose Asheville as the setting for his personal dream.
Whatever your idea might be of the perfect location, Gay Asheville has something to appeal to every member of the gay community. See for yourself why it is being called the "New San Francisco of the Southeast." GayAshevilleOnline.com remains dedicated to a professional and quality work ethic of a bygone era combined with the forward thinking of entrepreneurship. Before making a consumer decision, turn to us for businesses and services that support you and your lifestyle.
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