Franklin and the Cowee Valley anchor a Macon County STR market built on gem mining tourism, Nantahala National Forest recreation, Cullasaja Gorge waterfalls, and Highlands-Cashiers spillover demand — all at the lowest acquisition costs in the WNC mountain corridor. This report covers the gem mining demographic, scenic drive networks, the Appalachian Trail connection, every submarket zone, seasonal pricing patterns, competitive positioning, and a detailed value-investment fram