Location: Old Fort
Top Things to do in Old Fort
10 Things to do in Old Fort That You Shouldn't Miss
Old Fort is a town in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 908 at the 2010 Census.
Restaurants in Old Fort
1. The Catawba Angler
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 36 reviews
The Catawba Angler is a fishing guide service that specializes in catching trout and smallmouth bass around Asheville, NC. With half and full day trip offerings, we can customize your trip into an experience of a lifetime. From targeting native brook trout in the Pisgah National Forest to smallmouth bass on the French Broad River, we are your go to guide service for making memories on the on the river.
2. Mountain Gateway Museum
3. Old Fort Picnic Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By jmpncsu - Raleigh, United States
Old Fort Picnic Area is a forest service area along Swannanoa Creek just west of Old Fort. Besides the secluded little picnic area, it provides access to a couple of trails, open to both hiking and mountain biking. Youngs Ridge Trail leads from the picnic area steeply up to Kitsuma Peak with nice views looking west towards Asheville. The summit is forested but some cliffs just to the north provide an overlook. The other trail is Point Lookout Trail. There's no trailhead at the trail though. From the picnic area, hike back to Old US-70 and go right about a quarter-mile to the trailhead where the road is gated. It's all private property up to the trailhead, so park at the picnic area, not along the road here. Formerly the route of US-70, the paved greenway trail leads to Point Lookout, a viewpoint for the Royal Gorge. I hiked a loop of the two trails for a challenging 10 mile circuit but great views and nice hike.
4. Catawba Falls
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 158 reviews
Reviewed By R84W - Charlotte, United States
About a 2 mile round trip, and an easy walk to a beautiful waterfall along the river, with lots of mini waterfalls along the way. A bridge or two along the path and the trail is long and wide. Perfect place for a stroll and there are bathrooms onsite too.
5. Arrowhead Gallery and Studios
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
6. Davidson's Fort Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Davidson's Fort was built in 1776 by North Carolina Militia soldiers for the defense of settlers against the Cherokees. How is Davidson's Fort Historic Park supported today? Davidson's Fort is owned and operated by a nonprofit organization, Davidson's Fort Historic Park, Inc. Its oversight lies with the Board of Directors, the members of which serve as volunteer staff and have been responsible for a great deal of the work done to build the site. Davidson's Fort is funded entirely by private funds from grants and donations; it receives no state or federal funding. We are pleased to inform the public that a Docent will be at Davidson's Fort on Saturdays from 9am to noon to give information about our history. Each third Saturday a Colonial Living History will be presented with hands on demonstrations of the 18th Century. This event will have a gate admission of $2.00 per person 6 and older. Major events will be presented 4 times a year, please see our Web Site for more detail. As always the fort is available for viewing and photographing 7 days a week. For group tours or to book the Fort for your special event please contact us through Face Book Davidson's Fort Historic Park
Reviewed By dansP9318TO
The staff were very informative with regards to the history as well as their ancestors who lived in the area when the fort was first built. They were friendly and it was apparent that they really enjoyed rebuilding the fort along with the surrounding area.
7. Old Fort Monument
8. Old Fort Railroad Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 14 reviews
Many items from the old railroading days are featured at the museum.
Reviewed By MHP8473 - Rocky Mount, United States
I was expecting to learn abit about the railroad history here in Old Fort. But it was closed and did not look like it had been open in quite awhile. The caboose was locked up so did not get to visit that either. There is an office at one end of the so called museum but they were not there either. Expected more and got less. I did find a geocache there at the museum so all was not lost.
9. Andrews Geyser
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 67 reviews
Recently restored, the geyser is located about five miles from town.
Reviewed By Charlottheelian
The geyser today is worth seeing, but the experience is much more interesting if you read the background information, found on several sources, about the building of the railroad around it and construction and purpose of the geyser itself. When I was a boy, living in Asheville in the '40s, we took the train a good number of times to and from Winston-Salem. The highlight of every trip was the opportunity to see the geyser several times from different vantages as the train wound up or down the mountain to and from Old Fort. The passenger train was pulled by one or more steam engines. Going toward Asheville the one-engine train would pause for awhile while a second engine was attached to the train to pull it up and over the mountains. From Old Fort the rails were often on the side of the mountain and passed through several tunnels. We would get as close to the windows as we could to see the engines puffing and pulling ahead of our car as we wound around sharp curves and into and out of the multiple tunnels. I suggest readers of this review Google the geyser and read the accounts about the geyser and the pictures of it from earlier times.
10. Grant's Indian Museum
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 2 reviews
Museum houses more than 150,000 Native American artifacts, some dating back to 8000 BC.
