At an elevation of 5,506 feet Beech Mountain is the highest incorporated town east of the Rockies. The Town has a full time population of 350, but the population swells to as high as 10,000 during the winter and 5,000 in the summer. People flock to Beech Mountain in the winter to ski at SkiBeech and in the summer to take advantage of the mild climate and numerous recreational opportunities.

Even though there are only 350 full time residents on Beech Mountain, there were at last count over 1800 dwelling units on the mountain. Beech Mountain has become a popular location for vacation and 2nd homes for many people from North Carolina to Florida.