Did You Know?
Staffing levels at the Blue Ridge Parkway have decreased 30% since 2001 resulting in downed trees being cleared less frequently, vistas becoming overgrown, and a reduced quality of visitor experience.
Image is painting of downtown Marion by former McDowell County resident Craig Green
Location
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McDowell County Tourism Development Authority
Marion, North Carolina
888.233.6111
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http://www.mcdowellnc.org
Near milepost 330
Where Main Street Meets the Mountains is an accurate description of historic downtown Marion. Mount Ida is positioned at the end of South Main Street with a beautiful view of the Blue Ridge Mountain range to the north. Marion’s Mount Ida is an official site on the North Carolina Birding Trail as is Lake James State Park, located just minutes from downtown Marion.
The City of Marion’s local culture is preserved through weekly, monthly, and annual events, such as the Thursday Night Bluegrass Jam at the Historic Marion Depot. With June, comes the annual Livermush Festival celebrating famed livermush producer, Hunters Livermush – a family-owned and operated business in Marion. The McDowell Arts Council Association is an important part of downtown Marion, working with and promoting local artists and musicians. Each month a local artist is featured in the gallery alongside the newly created and artist-managed retail shop. The Greenlee Theater hosts local plays and musical performances. Twenty two years ago, members of the Arts Council began a long-standing tradition when they created the Appalachian Potters Market. Over 66 potters converge in the McDowell High School commons area and gymnasium the first Saturday in December. More details can be found on their Web site: http://www.mcdowellarts.org.
Downtown retail shops feature a local coffee house hosting local musicians each weekend, three very individual restaurants on Main Street, a specialty doughnut shop, and other retailers. The Marion Community Building includes an outdoor children’s park, splash pad, and tennis courts. You can enjoy an hour or a day in this picturesque hometown.
Many Marion residents have their roots based close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and many helped to build the parkway. During the 1930s and 1940s it was difficult to find work and a large number of locals were hired to construct the parkway. Families in the Turkey Cove, Little Switzerland, Altapass, and Linville Falls communities have had stories handed down through the generations about work and friendships associated with the parkway.
The railroad was an important asset to parkway communities. The Clinchfield Railroad’s 266-mile railroad provided access to the picturesque beauty of the Appalachian region and is probably best known for the Clinchfield Loops climbing the Blue Ridge Mountains between Marion and what was once the Altapass community. The state-of-the-art railroad engineering techniques, used to construct the loops, can still be seen from the Orchard at Altapass. Many railroad enthusiasts, some from around the world, visit the loops each year.
Marion preserves the mountain heritage of these families through sponsorship of local concerts featuring area bluegrass performers, cloggers, and the arts with its continual support of the McDowell Arts Council. The creation of an annual festival honoring a mountain food staple – livermush – comes with the history of how this unusual food was first created. The Marion Thursday Night Bluegrass Jam at the Marion Depot provides an opportunity for area musicians to get together and hone their skills.
- City of Marion, NC
- McDowell County Tourism Development Authority
- North Carolina Division of Tourism
- Discover Nearby Communities
How We're Doing Our Part
Marion’s goals of preserving its natural resources, promoting and preserving local culture, and preserving its historic sites mirror those goals of the Blue Ridge Parkway. With the recent purchase of Mount Ida, Marion created a new site to partner with the North Carolina Birding Trail. Their inclusion as a partner with the McDowell Trails Association to create a county-wide greenway project further proves their interest in preserving natural resources and providing the public with new outdoor recreation opportunities. Recently, the City of Marion partnered with the McDowell Tourism Authority and McDowell County to preserve one of the most important local historical sites – the Joseph McDowell House. Marion’s downtown area is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors to Marion are most interested in visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway during their stay. The parkway is easily accessible via either Highway 221 North at Linville Falls, Highway 226 merging with the Parkway at the North Carolina Museum of Minerals, or by way of Highway 226A joining the parkway just below the community of Little Switzerland and passing the spectacular retreat – Wild Acres – also part of McDowell County.
