Sounds like rural mountainous south is for you--WV on down to Alabama. Get some regional magazine subscriptions about the Blue Ridge, the Smokies. Some of these areas have turned resort and have gotten expensive. Having what you want and a thriving night/restaurant scene will be very difficult--I visit these types of places for overnights like in Asheville, Greenville and at one time Atlanta (I can't handle Atlanta even for pleasure visits anymore). North GA, North Carolina, Southwestern Virginia. Just follow the lines of the ridges.
Any specific thoughts on nice places to begin looking?...since you have actually been to most of these places, it seems.
I used to live in Asheville. It wasn't for me.