Fabulous Foothills
Fabulous Foothills: The Great Staycation
(Left) Orchard Inn; (right) Canopy Ridge Outdoor Adventure Park.
Rolling farmland lies on the eastern edge of the Foothills counties of McDowell, Polk, and Rutherford. Moving west, elevations rise, and the hills grow until they meet the Blue Ridge. This predominantly rural region has remained largely undisturbed by urban development, resulting in natural beauty, small towns, and the opportunity to explore it all.
Fun and Fortunes
Take to the trees for heart-pounding fun at Canopy Ridge Farm Outdoor Adventure Park. Ziplining through 60 acres within the Hickory Nut Gorge, thrill seekers catch eagle-eye views while speeding through forests and over gorges. The park also offers utility terrain vehicle tours through a wild course that weaves through hardwood forest, dodging natural obstacles.
Gold is among the natural bounty of the Foothills, and the precious metal has played a role in the region’s rich history. Here the discovery of gold deposits in the early 1800s attracted prospectors to the region during the country’s first gold rush.
To learn more about this fascinating facet of the state’s past, visit historic sites within the region. In Rutherfordton, the Bechtler Mint Historic Site Park centers on a mine shaft from an original mining operation. The nearby Bechtler House Heritage Center contains belongings of Christopher Bechtler, who mined gold and minted the first one dollar gold coin in the country 17 years before the US mint.
From the Bechtler House, follow The Gold Mile, marked with replicas of the Bechtler one-dollar gold coins. Along your walk through the Main Street business district, you’ll pass the new America Nature’s Horizon National Mural Mosaic, a dynamic depiction of the Appalachian landscape that represents the strength of the community.
In Marion, the Historic Carson House was built in 1793 for Colonel John Carson, a gold miner, land speculator, farmer, and proprietor of a stagecoach stop and inn. Famous guests at the inn included Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett.
Emerald Village near Little Switzerland incudes the NC Mining Museum, where you can walk under veins of smoky quartz while touring the Bon Ami mine. Afterward, try your hand at panning for gold or gem mining at the flumes. Another mine to check out is Thermal City Gold Mine, which focuses on providing authentic gold and gem mining experiences.
After an afternoon of exploration, sink into a cushy balcony seat at the beautifully restored Tryon Theatre. When the short silent film starts before the feature, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into the 1930s.
Local Flavors
The Foothills have novel options for tasty meals and thirst-quenching beverages. For example, at Looking Glass Creamery, you can enjoy a cheeseboard and a glass of wine from a patio on the farm. The fromage blanc, aged cheddar, and Green River Bleu are made with milk from cows who were raised and live on the farm.
A visit to Keeper’s Cut Meadery allows you to imbibe an unusual beverage: mead, alcohol made from fermenting honey. Try Zues’ Gold, their traditional mead, or flavored varieties like Pomenade, a semi-sweet mead with pomegranate. Order a Carolina Cubano Panini to go with your drink and make it a meal.
Since 2018, Yellow Sun Pizza and Pints in Rutherfordton has served up artisan pizza with creative topping combinations. The sweet and salty grape and goat cheese pie comes with walnuts, roasted onions, spinach, bacon, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Restful Repose
Within downtown Rutherfordton, the former town hall and fire station has been transformed into The Firehouse Inn. The renovated, luxuriously decorated inn has six rooms, a spacious courtyard, and a finely appointed living room for guests to enjoy. A stay at Orchard Inn Restaurant & Spa includes mountain views, breakfast, and rocking chairs on the wide porch. Visitors can also opt for an elegant dinner at Newman’s, the on-site restaurant.
Resources
Destination McDowell (828) 668-4282; destinationmcdowell.com
First Peak of the Blue Ridge (Polk) (828) 894-2324; firstpeaknc.com
Rutherford County TDA (800) 849-5998; visitncsmalltowns.com
Canopy Ridge Farm Outdoor Adventure Park
7115 US 64/74A Hwy., Lake Lure
(828) 625-4500; canopyridgefarm.com
Bechtler Mint Historic Site Park
342 Gilboa Church Rd., Rutherfordton
(828) 351-9575
Bechtler House Heritage Center
130 W 6th St., Rutherfordton
(828) 351-9575; visitncsmalltowns.com
Emerald Village
331 McKinney Mine Rd., Spruce Pine
Tryon Theatre
45 S Trade St, Tryon
(828) 859-6811; tryontheatre.com
Looking Glass Creamery
115 Harmons Dairy Ln., Columbus
(828) 222-0751; lookingglasscreamery.com
Keeper's Cut Meadow
175 W Henderson St., Marion
(828) 527-6326; keeperscut.com
Yellow Sun Pizza and Pints
127 Trade St., Rutherfordton
(828) 375-0089; Facebook: Yellow Sun Pizza and Pints
The Firehouse Inn
134 N Washington St., Rutherfordton
(828) 286-9030; thefirehouseinn.com
Orchard Inn Restaurant and Spa
100 Orchard Inn Ln., Saluda
(828) 827-5370; orchardinn.com