18 Jan Travel + Leisure Names Erwin One of The State’s “Most Charming Small Towns”
A big honor came in January from one of the world’s top publications on travel that is sure to add more tourists to Erwin and Unicoi County. Travel + Leisure magazine’s website listed Erwin as one of Tennessee’s most charming small towns.
“We’ve known about the joys of living here for a lifetime,” says Lee Brown, Unicoi County’s Chairman of the Economic Development Board. “Now, we are getting the rightful recognition for the beauty and charm that we offer visitors here.”
Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure’s author of the article ranked Erwin, along with the likes of Gatlinburg, Lynchburg, and Jonesborough among eight of the most charming in the state. The article noted Unicoi County position along the Appalachian Trail nestled within the Cherokee National Forest. Along with great hiking, fishing, and rafting available on the Nolichucky River, Sherman noted an “adorable downtown area with a quality coffee shop, pottery studio, outdoor supply store” as attributes that made Erwin worthy of the list.
“The county’s rich history and stunning beauty makes visiting here a worthwhile endeavor,” says Brown. “Tourism has a significant and important economic impact for the county and this latest article will no doubt help grow tourism in 2022.”
A recent study on the economic impact of tourism in the county was released in August by the State of Tennessee. It found that tourism generated $12.4 million for Unicoi County in 2020. The report noted that visitors generated The most $1.6 million in state and local taxes which is equivalent to $136 in tax saving for every household in the county.
