Did You Know?
The Blue Ridge Parkway was designed to connect the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks.
The Old Fort Train Station and Railroad Museum, circa 1881 Photo by Carol B. Price
Location
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McDowell County Tourism Development Authority
Old Fort, North Carolina
888.233.6111
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http://www.mcdowellnc.org
Near milepost 350
Old Fort, a picturesque town framed by the lush Pisgah National Forest, is easily accessible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Landmarks include the circa 1881 Old Fort Train Station and Railroad Museum (pictured), Mountain Gateway Museum, Curtis Creek Recreation Area, Point Lookout Trail, and Catawba Falls.
Historic downtown Old Fort includes four restaurants, an art gallery, a model train shop, an old-fashioned hardware store, and a depot. Inside the depot, you will find area tourism information plus the railroad museum. The museum is free of charge and interprets the railroad period between the late 1880s and mid-1900s.
The most prominent feature of downtown Old Fort is possibly the world’s largest arrowhead. During the pioneer era, the Cherokee maintained the border between the British and local residents. This border was where the Blue Ridge Parkway is today. A well-known landmark, the Old Fort Arrowhead stands in the middle of town honoring the peace between the Native American Cherokee and Catawba tribes in 1930. The 14-foot rose granite arrowhead mounted atop a 15-foot granite and concrete base is indeed a remarkable sight!
Annual festivals include Pioneer Day, Railroad Day, and Oktoberfest. Summer is filled with musical performances and arts and crafts demonstrations during Mountain Gateway Museum’s Blue Ridge Traditions. All of these events are free of charge!
Outdoor enthusiasts will be eager to find the newly opened Point Lookout Trail – a new on-road bicycle and hiking trail. This trail, which ascends approximately 900 feet between Old Fort and Ridgecrest, will satisfy the adventurous bicycle rider or hiker. The paved route features stunning valley views and railroad tunnels. This is the first leg of a much longer trail planned to link the Town of Old Fort with Mount Mitchell.
You don’t want to miss one of the area’s beautiful waterfalls – the 340-foot Catawba Falls. Head waters for the Catawba River begin here at the top of the trail. Public access is available at the trail base, located at the end of Catawba River Road. Visitors also enjoy Andrews Geyser. The man-made geyser was an attraction for tourists in the 1800s and was so popular it was preserved and functions today as a public park near the banks of Mill Creek.
Curtis Creek Recreation Area joins the parkway close to Milepost 350 and is just minutes from downtown. This area includes thousands of lush acres in the Pisgah National Forest along with hiking and waterfall trails. The two native trout streams, Newberry Creek and Curtis Creek, are picture postcard examples of rushing mountain streams. Tent and RV campsites as well as a handicapped fishing pier are also available. This tract of land was the first to be purchased by the U.S. Forest Service after the Weeks Act became effective. It was also the site of two Civilian Conservation Corps camps between 1933 and 1942.
Each year, the Off Road Assault on Mount Mitchell begins in Old Fort. During this race off-road warriors climb in and out of tiny trails through the Pisgah Forest, ascending to Mount Mitchell and returning to the grounds of Mountain Gateway Museum.
- McDowell County Tourism Development Authority
- North Carolina Division of Tourism
- Discover Nearby Communities
How We're Doing Our Part
The Blue Ridge Parkway is the number one reason visitors come to Old Fort and McDowell County. Our community events interpret and preserve local culture. Preserving our natural resources is critical to the continued growth of this foothill community. Its unique geographical placement creates a special niche in the Pisgah National Forest. The community has kept the mountain music here alive for over 20 years with Old Fort Mountain Music. Mountain Gateway Museum interprets not only pioneer-era history but hosts a summer series of events titled Blue Ridge Traditions, which focuses on the traditions and culture shared by Old Fort residents and other parkway communities. Last year, the Town and Mountain Gateway Museum partnered with Mast General Store to host the Ride to Mast, raising much-needed funds for area non-profits. Old Fort is working with HandMade in America to create more economic development opportunities for local residents. With our Old Fort Mountain Heritage Alliance, we are further promoting the Town through the arts, music, and other local cultural events and activities. For residents along the parkway, the railroad was vitally important. This history is also interpreted through the Old Fort Depot and Railroad Museum in addition to those exhibits at Mountain Gateway Museum.
