Welcome... we're glad to have you as our guests!
Essentials
Locally-owned, stocking essentials, local items as well as some organic foods.
Frisbee's Piggly Wiggly
Locally-owned, stocking essentials, local items as well as some organic foods.
Locally owned drug store with first aid supplies and other personal care essentials.
McDowell Family Pharmacy
40 W Main StLocally owned drug store with first aid supplies and other personal care essentials.
OLD FORT BIKE SHOP
Need a bike repaired or serviced? Years of experience and service with a smile!
Food Scene
Abbiocco Pizzeria @ Whaley Farm Brewery
Definitely a favorite! New options regularly and so fresh!
Fabulous ice cream made on-site. Standard and unique flavors. Tip: you can buy this at Frisbee's local grocery store too!
10 locals raden deze aan
Artesana Ice Cream
76 S Main StFabulous ice cream made on-site. Standard and unique flavors. Tip: you can buy this at Frisbee's local grocery store too!
This diner-style cafe right across from the Arrowhead monument serves lunch, dinner and ice cream!
Black Beary's Cafe
This diner-style cafe right across from the Arrowhead monument serves lunch, dinner and ice cream!
The food is excellent and the atmosphere wonderful. Sit inside or out.
55 locals raden deze aan
Black Mountain Bistro
203 E State StThe food is excellent and the atmosphere wonderful. Sit inside or out.
Best biscuits around! Love the breakfast entrees as well as the HUGE cinnamon rolls! Get there early!!!
88 locals raden deze aan
Blue Ridge Biscuit Company
601 W State StBest biscuits around! Love the breakfast entrees as well as the HUGE cinnamon rolls! Get there early!!!
They have a great lunch menu and more cheesecake options than I can count! The food really is fabulous!
13 locals raden deze aan
Bruce's Fabulous Foods
63 S Main StThey have a great lunch menu and more cheesecake options than I can count! The food really is fabulous!
Serving breakfast and lunch - we love this place! Great food and the customer service is outstanding!
Cousins Cuban Cafe
Serving breakfast and lunch - we love this place! Great food and the customer service is outstanding!
My favorite coffee - it's available at Gibbs Hardware in downtown Old Fort too!
70 locals raden deze aan
Dynamite Roasting Company
3198 US-70My favorite coffee - it's available at Gibbs Hardware in downtown Old Fort too!
The Dripolator Coffeehouse
221 W State StGreat coffee and fabulous desserts and pastries!
Love their pizza, salads and pasta! Great friendly atmosphere too!
90 locals raden deze aan
Fresh Wood Fired Pizza and Pasta
100 S Ridgeway AveLove their pizza, salads and pasta! Great friendly atmosphere too!
Enjoy scrumptious cinnamon rolls - in several flavors - all hand made and coffee from an area roaster! Doesn't get much better for breakfast!
Gogo's
212 East Main StreetEnjoy scrumptious cinnamon rolls - in several flavors - all hand made and coffee from an area roaster! Doesn't get much better for breakfast!
Headwaters Kitchen
Great food, local ingredients, vegetarian options - one of our favorites!
Recently featured in "Our State" magazine, they serve a variety of burgers and specials made with local ingredients.
22 locals raden deze aan
McDowell Local
23 N Main StRecently featured in "Our State" magazine, they serve a variety of burgers and specials made with local ingredients.
Purdy Good Pies
Sweet stuff the owners and their hand-made pies!
Sweetest little coffee shop! Good coffee, nice atmosphere - great way to start the day!
Seeker Coffee
Sweetest little coffee shop! Good coffee, nice atmosphere - great way to start the day!
Sightseeing
They have visitor information, maps, trail guides, etc. for the area and region.
McDowell Tourism Authority
91 Catawba AveThey have visitor information, maps, trail guides, etc. for the area and region.
Parks & Nature
CLOSED UNTIL SPRING 2024.
It's gorgeous! The trail is relatively easy for most folks.
216 locals raden deze aan
Catawba Falls
530 Warren Mountain DrCLOSED UNTIL SPRING 2024.
It's gorgeous! The trail is relatively easy for most folks.
Local hike, about six miles of trail if hiking both the east and west sections. Beautiful view to west from the ridge!
Copper Ridge Fonta Flora Trailhead
Local hike, about six miles of trail if hiking both the east and west sections. Beautiful view to west from the ridge!
Miles of trails in the Curtis Creek Recreation area/Pisgah National Forest. Hike, bike, fish, etc. some trails are handicapped accessible.
Old Fort Gateway Trailhead
Miles of trails in the Curtis Creek Recreation area/Pisgah National Forest. Hike, bike, fish, etc. some trails are handicapped accessible.
Stunning views from the top! Trailhead is just up the road from Railway Rest and a little more than 3 miles from Mary Ida’s. Paved trail for hiking or cycling - no motorized traffic allowed.
6 locals raden deze aan
Point Lookout Trail, Ridgecrest Trailhead
Mill Creek RoadStunning views from the top! Trailhead is just up the road from Railway Rest and a little more than 3 miles from Mary Ida’s. Paved trail for hiking or cycling - no motorized traffic allowed.
Arts & Culture
Western branch of the state museum system. Featuring numerous exhibits, area history and a beautiful setting on the banks of Mill Creek. Fish in the creek for $5! Free admission, donations gladly accepted.
10 locals raden deze aan
Mountain Gateway Museum
24 Water StWestern branch of the state museum system. Featuring numerous exhibits, area history and a beautiful setting on the banks of Mill Creek. Fish in the creek for $5! Free admission, donations gladly accepted.
Shopping
Great one-of-a-kind pieces by local and area artisans and craftsmen. They also offer a variety of workshops and classes.
8 locals raden deze aan
Arrowhead Gallery & Studios
78C Catawba AveGreat one-of-a-kind pieces by local and area artisans and craftsmen. They also offer a variety of workshops and classes.
Located right downtown across from the fire department, find a good selection of locally made crafts including quilts, jewelry, wood working, etc. They also have locally made food items - jelly, sauces, coffee as well as meats and farm fresh eggs.
The Davis Country Store & Cafe
Located right downtown across from the fire department, find a good selection of locally made crafts including quilts, jewelry, wood working, etc. They also have locally made food items - jelly, sauces, coffee as well as meats and farm fresh eggs.
If you're a book lover, this place is for you! Just up the mountain, they carry a wide selection of books for all ages and an upstairs full of kid stuff - books, toys, etc. Make sure you get some coffee and a snack onsite!
17 locals raden deze aan
Sassafras on Sutton
108 Sutton AveIf you're a book lover, this place is for you! Just up the mountain, they carry a wide selection of books for all ages and an upstairs full of kid stuff - books, toys, etc. Make sure you get some coffee and a snack onsite!
Maggie Jones has been making pottery for almost 50 years and her pieces are lovely! An easy drive to her showroom which is open most Saturdays and by appointment.
Turtle Island Pottery
Maggie Jones has been making pottery for almost 50 years and her pieces are lovely! An easy drive to her showroom which is open most Saturdays and by appointment.
Drinks and Eats
Taprooms, Breweries, etc. - also serving food
We love it! Very spacious, right on Mill Creek - outdoor seating (indoor too) great food and beer! Oh, and did we mention it’s about a mile from Railway Rest and a few blocks from Mary Ida’s?
Hillman Beer Old Fort
We love it! Very spacious, right on Mill Creek - outdoor seating (indoor too) great food and beer! Oh, and did we mention it’s about a mile from Railway Rest and a few blocks from Mary Ida’s?
Grab a craft beer or shop from their farm store. Great atmosphere and the owners are so welcoming! Seating indoors or outside. Abbiocco Pizzeria is on-site!
Whaley Farm Brewery
Grab a craft beer or shop from their farm store. Great atmosphere and the owners are so welcoming! Seating indoors or outside. Abbiocco Pizzeria is on-site!