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Sugar Mountain (North Carolina) facts for kids

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Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain with sign.jpg
Highest point
Elevation 5,236 ft (1,596 m)
Prominence 1,160 ft (350 m)
Geography
Sugar Mountain is located in North Carolina
Sugar Mountain
Sugar Mountain
Location in North Carolina
Location Avery County, North Carolina, U.S.
Parent range Blue Ridge Mountains
Topo map USGS Newland

Sugar Mountain is a cool mountain located in the western part of North Carolina. It's part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and completely inside the Pisgah National Forest.

This mountain is super tall, reaching 5,236 feet (about 1,596 meters) high! It sits right on the Eastern Continental Divide. This means rain that falls on one side flows to the Atlantic Ocean. Rain on the other side flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Rivers like the Linville, Elk, and North Toe get their water from Sugar Mountain. A small village, also called Sugar Mountain, is nestled on its northern side.

Fun Things to Do on Sugar Mountain

Sugar Mountain is a popular spot for outdoor activities. There's something fun to do almost all year round!

Summer Adventures

When the weather is warm, you can enjoy two awesome golf courses. These are the Sugar Mountain Country Club and the Linville Ridge Country Club. They are open from late spring until early fall.

If you love exploring, you can also find many walking and mountain bike trails. These trails are open during the summer months. They offer great views and a chance to get some exercise.

Winter Sports Fun

When winter arrives, Sugar Mountain turns into a snowy playground! The Sugar Mountain Ski Resort opens up for lots of winter sports. You can go skiing, snowboarding, or even try snow tubing. It's a fantastic place to hit the slopes!

The Story of the Citadel Building

The Citadel, Sugar Mountain, NC Oct 2016
The Citadel building, seen from Grandfather Mountain.

In 1983, a large building called the Citadel was built on a part of the mountain known as Sugar Top. This big condominium complex can be seen from many miles away. Many people thought it looked out of place and wasn't very pretty. They called it an "eyesore."

Because so many people complained, the state of North Carolina decided to act. They passed a special rule called the Mountain Ridge Protection Act of 1983. This law makes sure that no other tall, similar buildings can be built on mountain ridges in the future. Students from nearby Appalachian State University in Boone even nicknamed the building "The Sugar Cube." They thought it looked like a strange, square block on the horizon.

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