Valle Crucis, located in the mountains between Boone and Banner Elk, North Carolina, is approximately 2 ½ hours from campus. The Valle Crucis Conference Center, established in 1842, is a facility open to educational gatherings. Overlooking a valley in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this renovated historic center has a large fieldstone fireplace, outside rocking chairs on the front porch, and comfortable sleeping accommodations. Ashby Residential College students and faculty have visited Valle Crucis as a biannual tradition for over 35 years.

The purpose of the Valle Crucis retreat is to promote a positive interaction between faculty and students. It is a retreat in which people get to know each other, take in beautiful scenery, and participate in group activities scheduled to help promote a community atmosphere. Highlights of the trip include games, performances, trips to the Mast General Store (oldest in the country) and the Mast Candy Barrel, hikes to the waterfalls, s'mores, and good conversation.

For more information, check out the Valle Crucis Conference Center website at http://www.highsouth.com/vallecrucis