Upcoming Events - Stay Tuned
Hands-on Craft Weekend
Try your hand at glass, ceramics, painting, and more. Learn from some of the region's talented craftspeople.
Apr. 10 - 11
Burnsville Plein-Air Festival
Take out your paintbrushes and sense of adventure for Burnsville's first Plein-Air Festival.
May 12 - 16
Glass Blowing Demo Weekend
Watch the region's best glass blowers and take the opportunity to blow your own piece of glass.
Feb. 27 - Mar. 1
About the Tourism Development Authority (TDA)
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North Carolina’s legislature dictates that local TDAs manage occupancy tax funds to promote tourism through the development of events, visitor materials, activities like marketing, advertising, and public relations, etc. While state-level policy is responsible for the framework, specific guidelines vary by local TDAs.
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Understanding the occupancy tax
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An occupancy tax is a state-imposed fee placed on short term rentals, whether hotel, bed and breakfast, Airbnb, VRBO. The tax is paid by the guest, collected by the owner/operator, and forwarded to the appropriate tax authorities. The tax only applies to short-term stays, typically defined as less than 30 nights.
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Local residents do not pay occupancy tax unless they are staying in a short-term rental.
Yancey County Tourism Development Authority Announcements​
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Upcoming Meeting Dates:
- December 15, 2025
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*Meetings are held at the Yancey County Senior Center at 5:30pm.
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Getting to know TDA Director, Sue Wasserman
As unusual as it may sound, the Toe River Arts Studio Tour changed my life. The year was 1998 and I was a weekday morning swimmer at the Ashford Dunwoody YMCA in Atlanta, GA. During the post-swim locker room banter, my friend Pam invited a few of us to participate in the twice-annual tour, which none of us knew anything about. She told us it would “make our want-to hurt bad.” I had no idea what she meant, but she certainly piqued my curiosity. A freelance writer, I pitched the tour to several magazines and got a few assignments.
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I remember thinking The Celo Inn, our lodging for the weekend, looked like a fairy tale cottage in the woods. That first night, given unseasonably warm temperatures, Pam and I stretched out on the lawn, looking up at the stars. Just as I was thinking I’d never seen stars shine as bright, a shooting star flashed across the sky, the first I’d ever seen. I felt all tingly.
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That tingly feeling turned into awe the next morning as we began visiting various participating artists’ studios. The moment we walked into Billy
and Katie Bernstein’s glass studio, I knew exactly what Pam meant. It did make my “want-to hurt bad.” I wanted it all!
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As a freelancer, I had written about art before but had never been to a hot-glass studio and never seen such whimsically wonderful work as theirs. I was hooked.
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While my initial introduction to the region was through the arts and artists, and I continued to write about them and even lead a program about promoting their work, over the years I spent more time wandering along local trails, photographing nature, meeting farmers, healers, local business owners. I like to say I recognized this place as my soul’s home, and, when a corporate job ended in 2011, decided it was time to make it permanent (I also lived in the area from 2001 – 2003.)
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Let me tell you a little bit about my background. After college (communications degree from The Ohio State University) I went to work for small advertising agencies before moving over to corporate communications and public relations. In my last corporate role, I was the public relations manager for a large company in Atlanta with 26 offices around the country. There, in addition to writing and pitching articles, I coached co-workers and clients on how to respond to the media. I also created a nationally recognized community outreach program and was the go-to person when it came to brainstorming program ideas and solutions for various issues.
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As a freelance writer, I’ve written for publications such as the New York Times (I wrote about the Energy Xchange when it first opened in Burnsville and the Bare Dark Sky Observatory for Our State when Mayland shifted the property’s gears), Southern Living, American Style, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Asheville Citizen Times, and more. In 2022, I was the Steve Kemp Writer in Residence in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and had the time of my life writing about the people and places of the Smokies.
As far as the Toe River Arts Studio Tour goes, not only have I been a visitor over the years, I’ve also been one of the participating artists and have served on the PR committee to promote the event. The studio tour will forever be near and dear to my heart.
I’ve led youth programs for the AMY Library system, Penland School of Crafts, and Western Carolina University. I’ve coached a few local clients in writing books and have self-published three of my own (Walk with Me: Exploring Nature’s Wisdom, A Moment’s Notice, Even Goats Take Catnaps: Adventures of an Unexpected Critter Sitter).
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Two of my favorite projects in recent years:
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- promoting Toe River Crafts’ 50th anniversary
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- creating and leading The Wonder of Water for the AMY Library System
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I believe my collective work experiences coupled with my love for the people and places of Yancey County make me well suited for my role as Travel and Tourism Director. Please feel free to reach out if I can answer questions and feel really free to reach out if you’ve got ideas you think might help us help visitors realize Burnsville is the place to BE. —