Pineola, North Carolina
Pineola is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina. Its boundaries, in general, span a three-mile radius from the intersection of U.S. Route 221 and NC 181. The area was known as "Saginaw" until the early 20th century.
Pineola is the site of several businesses, including a concrete plant, a building supply and lumber company, a Campground, an asphalt plant, a general store, a sawmill, a boutique Salon, and a hotel. In the center of Pineola is the hundred plus years old Pineola Presbyterian Church, which is an architectural landmark and historically significant to Avery County. A number of choose and cut Christmas tree farms dot the community for seasonal visitors. The Linville River flows through the area, and is impounded by a dam into what was the original Anthony Lake for several resort communities. The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through the southeast portion of the area.
During the early 1900s, Pineola was the site of a large logging operation and sawmill, owned by the W.M. Ritter Company. The East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad operated in the community until 1939, when it received permission from the Interstate Commerce Commission to abandon Pineola.
American singer Lucinda Williams released the song "Piñeola" on her 1992 album "Sweet Old World," as well as her 2005 album "Live At The Fillmore."
