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Old Fort, North Carolina
In existence as a village since 1869 and originally a fort built by the colonial
militia before the Declaration of Independence,
Old Fort NC was a settlement that served for many years as the
western outpost of the early United States. In the center of town at 25 West Main Street is a hand-chiseled
 rose granite
arrowhead, 14 feet tall, erected in 1930 to honor
the peace finally
achieved between the pioneer settlers and the Native Americans. At
the unveiling, over 6,000 people attended including chiefs from both
the Catawba and Cherokee tribes. These two tribes had never smoked a
pipe of peace together until that day.
Old Fort is also known for its weekly
Mountain Music Concerts, which draw a large audience and many
musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each
Friday evening at 7. The
performances are held in the Rockett Building on Main Street.
Other historic and cultural highlights include the
The Appalachian Artisan Society Gallery, which showcases the work
of over 60 local craft persons and artists,
Davidson's Fort,
a replica of the original,
Revolutionary War era fort built in 1776,
the
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center
and the
Old Fort Railroad Museum. 
Of interest, located just outside of Old Fort is the locally famous
man-made
Andrews Geyser. The geyser's water comes from a lake located on
a mountain high above it, and comes with enough pressure to produce
a stream of water 80 feet high.
Resources
City Website: Old
Fort:
Town Hall,
38 South Catawba Street, Old Fort NC 28762; 828-668-4244
Location: Foothills, 30 minutes east of Asheville
County:
McDowell County: County Offices, 21 South Main Street, Marion NC
28752; 828-652-7121
Elevation & Population: 1,447 feet, 900+
County
Visitor/Welcome Center:
McDowell Tourism Development,
Historic Depot,
25 Highway 70 West, Old Fort NC 28762; 888-233-6111
City
Chamber of Commerce:
Old Fort Chamber of Commerce,
25 West Main Street, Old Fort NC 28762; 828-668-7223
County Chamber of Commerce:
McDowell Chamber of Commerce, 1170 West Tate Street, Marion NC
28752; 828-652-4240
Newspaper:
The McDowell News, 136 Logan Street, Marion NC 28752;
828-652-3313
Movie Theatres:
(Nearest)
McDowell Twin Cinemas,
520 North Main Street, Marion NC 28752; 828-652-8368
High School:
McDowell High School, 334 South Main Street, Marion NC
28752; 828-652-4535
Colleges and Universities: (Nearest)
McDowell Technical Community College, 54 College Drive, Marion
NC 28752; 828-652-6021
Hospitals: (Nearest)
The McDowell Hospital, 100 Rankin Drive, Marion NC 28752;
828-659-5000
Area Major Festivals: Pioneer Day
(April), Oktoberfest
(October),
Area
Natural Attractions: Andrews Geyser,
Pisgah National Forest
Area
Cultural Attractions:
Davidson's Fort,
Historic Carson House,
Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center,
Mountain Music Concerts,
Old Fort Arrowhead Monument,
Old Fort Railroad Museum,
The Appalachian Artisan Society Gallery
Private Mountain Communities:
Gateway Mountain
Real Estate
ERA Mountain View Properties: 25 East Main Street, Old Fort NC
28762; 828-447-3891
Dining
Casual & Family Dining
Four Oaks Fish Camp:
(Country) 104 Jolly Road, Old Fort NC 28762; 828-668-4929
Cafes & Grills
Catawba Vale Cafe: (Cafe) 32 East Main Street, Old Fort NC
28762; 828-668-9899
Whistle Stop Pizza & Subs: (Cafe) 27 West Main Street, Old Fort
NC 28762; 828-668-7676
Pizza
Whistle Stop Pizza & Subs: (Pizza) 27 West Main Street, Old Fort
NC 28762; 828-668-7676
Coffeehouses
Catawba Vale Cafe: (Coffeehouse) 32 East Main Street, Old Fort
NC 28762; 828-668-9899
Accommodations
Hotels, Inns & Lodges
Rivers Ridge Lodge: (Country Lodge) 506 Sunrise Bluff Drive, Old
Fort NC 28762; 828-243-5762
Bed & Breakfasts
The Inn on Mill Creek: (B&B) 3895 Mill Creek Road, Old Fort NC
28762; 828-668-1115
Cabins, Cottages & Chalets
Sky Island Retreat and Campground: (Home & Cabin) 88 Flatlander Drive, Old Fort
NC 28762; 828-668-4928
Campgrounds
Catawba Falls Campground: (Campground) 35 Peggy Loop, Old Fort
NC 28762; 828-668-4831
Cove Creek RV Park: (RV
Campground) 1784 Davistown Church Road, Old Fort NC 28762;
866-668-7605
Curtis Creek Campground: (US Forest Service Campground)
Curtis Creek Road, Old Fort NC 28761; 828-652-2144
Sky Island Retreat and Campground: (Campground) 88 Flatlander Drive, Old Fort
NC 28762; 828-668-4928
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