Seven Devils, North Carolina Facts for Kids

Seven Devils is a small town located in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. It stretches across two counties: Avery and Watauga. In 2020, about 313 people lived here.

The town is well-known for Hawksnest, a popular winter resort. Hawksnest claims to have the largest snow tubing park on the East Coast! Many people who live in Seven Devils year-round work at this fun resort. Others are retired and enjoy the peaceful mountain life. Seven Devils was first created in the 1970s as a community for vacation homes. Because of this, many residents are seasonal visitors who come for holidays and enjoy the mountain air.

The Story of Seven Devils
Seven Devils' Location and Size
Seven Devils' Population Over Time
See also

The Story of Seven Devils

How Seven Devils Began

In the mid-1960s, seven friends from the Winston-Salem area had a big idea. They wanted to create a fun vacation spot in the mountains. These seven founders included four brothers: Herbert, Frank, Galloway, and Dan Reynolds. Their partners were George Kempton, Ray Smith, and Gardner Gidley.

They needed a special name to attract visitors. They chose "Seven Devils" for a few reasons. First, there were seven founders! Second, if you looked from the Blue Ridge Parkway, you could see seven distinct mountain peaks in the area. Finally, locals often joked that "the wind blows like the devil up there in the winter time."

Early Days and Growth

When Seven Devils first started, it offered many exciting activities. There was a campground where people could stay, a swimming lake, and even trails for horseback riding with stables. Visitors could rent cozy cottages and buy supplies at a general store.

In December 1968, the Seven Devils Golf & Ski Resort opened its doors. This new attraction brought even more visitors and residents to the area. The community grew, and on June 30, 1979, Seven Devils officially became a town.

Hawksnest Resort: From Skiing to Tubing

In the early 1980s, Jon Reynolds took over the ski area and renamed it Ski Hawksnest. It quickly became a favorite spot for local families and college students. The resort offered affordable tickets and even had a bar with live music. A special weekend night skiing session called "Nighthawk" ran from 10 PM to 4 AM, which was very popular!

In 1993, Leonard Cottom bought the ski area. He owned the nearby Hanging Rock Golf and Country Club. He changed the name to Hawksnest Golf & Ski Resort. Then, in 2008, under Lenny Cottom's ownership, Hawksnest stopped offering skiing. Instead, it decided to focus on snow tubing and ziplining, becoming the huge tubing park it is today.

Seven Devils' Location and Size

Seven Devils is a small town. It covers about 2.1 square miles (5.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a tiny bit of water. It's nestled high in the mountains, offering beautiful views and a cool climate.

Seven Devils' Population Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1980	54	—
1990	117	116.7%
2000	129	10.3%
2010	192	48.8%
2020	313	63.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

The town of Seven Devils has grown steadily over the years. In 1980, only 54 people lived there. By 2020, the population had increased to 313 residents.

In 2000, there were 129 people living in the town. About 62 households were counted. Most households were married couples living together. A small number of households had children under 18.

The population included people of different ages. About 14% were under 18 years old. The largest group, about 32.6%, was between 25 and 44 years old. About 16.3% of the residents were 65 years or older. The average age in the town was 43 years.

Seven Devils, North Carolina facts for kids

Contents