Banner Elk,
North Carolina

Alpine Ski Center opened its doors in Banner Elk in 1976, in the building that used to be the Hub Pub Club (yes, Jimmy Buffett played here), back when skiing was still a new sport in the Southeast and most of our customers were first-timers. Fifty years later, Alpine lays claim to the oldest ski & snowboard shop in the area. The Banner Elk store is the original store and is the heart of Alpine Ski Center.

Located on Tynecastle Highway right at the entrance to Sugar Mountain and on your way to Beech Mountain, the Banner Elk store is built for skiers and snowboarders who want expert advice. Our staff here spend their days off on the slopes, and plenty of them grew up in this shop as shop kids. They know the conditions, the terrain, and exactly what gear you need, and every one of them can fit a boot.

From a big selection of gear from skiing and snowboarding's top brands to rentals, tuning and repairs, you can't beat Alpine Ski Center.

Michael Baldwin, Store Manager. Lees-McRae alum and a boot fitter at heart. Michael first worked here in the late ’80s and early ’90s and came back in 2025.

Bert Stirton, Repair Manager. A tuning wiz who’s been at it since the ’90s and with Alpine since 2010. If it’s a ski or snowboard, he can fix it.

Alex Bach, Retail Manager. Boone native and snowboarder. Alex started in 2020, one of the craziest seasons we’ve ever had, and learned the ropes fast.

From new gear to rentals & repairs, the Banner Elk store handles it all — so you spend less time worrying about gear and more time on the mountain.

A handpicked selection from the brands our staff use everyday on the slopes. If we carry it, we believe in it.