WNC Magazine Digital Edition
Summer 2025
The experience of discovery is a powerful force. Over the years, many have traveled Western North Carolina in search of that combination of wonder, excitement, and satisfaction. Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto traveled though WNC in the sixteenth century in search of gold, and Japanese photographer George Masa’s passion for exploring our expansive mountain ranges led to the creation the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Miners have even discovered rare emeralds in our mountain caverns (read more about this in “Hidden in Hiddenite” on page 38).
Spring 2025
Readers, welcome back to WNC magazine—I’m thrilled to be sharing stories from the mountains with you once again. After pausing our print production in Winter 2025, we’ve returned to the page this spring with newsy updates, local makers and artisans, history lessons, travel guides, events, and more.