Trains and stories just go together, don’t they? There’s a relationship there, and a history. In McDowell County, that history lives on in places where you can do more than simply hear about the past. This One-Tank Adventure takes you from railroad history to some of the people, places and traditions that shaped the county, with hands-on experiences along the way. And if you happen to be a train buff, consider that an added bonus. Come along for a day that makes history something you can see, explore and even try for yourself.
A note before you go: Several historic attractions along this route have limited or seasonal operating hours. Check current hours before setting out and plan your stops accordingly.
One-Tank Adventure at a Glance
- Round-Trip Distance: Approximately 26+ miles
- Drive Time: About 1 hour, not including stops
- Plan For: A full day, depending on the experiences you choose
- Primary Route: U.S. 70
- Road Note: Check operating days and hours for museums, historic sites and hands-on experiences before setting out.
Adventure Stops
Start in Old Fort: Follow the Railroad Story
It’s hard to tell the story of Old Fort without the railroad. Begin at the Historic Old Fort Train Depot Museum, housed in the original depot built in 1880. Inside, historic railroad artifacts help tell the story of the trains and people that connected this mountain community to the world beyond. Outside, you can’t miss the bright red Southern Railway caboose built in the 1940s.
Just down Catawba Avenue, the Mountain Gateway Museum expands the story beyond the railroad. The westernmost branch of the N.C. Museum of History explores Appalachian life through exhibits on folk medicine, moonshining, traditional crafts, mountain music and other chapters of regional history. Historic structures and hands-on learning opportunities make this a stop worth taking your time with.
Before leaving Old Fort, make the short drive to Andrews Geyser on Mill Creek Road. Built in 1879 as a tourism attraction for visitors arriving by train and staying at the nearby Round Knob Hotel. After the hotel burned in 1903, the geyser was popular enough that an admirer paid to have it moved across the creek to its present location.
Today, visitors can stop at the same spot and, when the geyser is operating, enjoy a spectacle that was entertaining mountain tourists nearly 150 years ago. The site also includes a N.C. Civil War Trails marker telling the story of an April 1865 clash at Swannanoa Gap, one of the last Civil War skirmishes in North Carolina.
On to Marion: Stories Older Than the Railroad
From Old Fort, follow U.S. 70 toward Marion, where the story reaches even further back.
The Historic Carson House is one of the oldest standing structures in the area, dating to the late 18th century. Over its long history, the house has served as a stagecoach inn, courthouse and private residence. Today, tours and special events help bring the people and traditions of the region’s past to life.
From there, head into downtown Marion, where historic buildings have found new lives as locally owned shops, restaurants and gathering places. Give yourself some time to wander Main Street and see what catches your eye.
If your adventure falls on a weekend, consider brunch at the Blanton House, a meticulously restored Greek Revival mansion dating to the early 20th century. Original owner Albert Blanton commissioned architect Richard Sharp Smith, who also served as supervising architect at Biltmore Estate, to help create the home. Today, the historic setting houses a restaurant where Caribbean influences meet Southern comfort food on a seasonal menu. If the weather cooperates, try for a seat on the private balcony.
Traveler’s Choice: Put Your Hands on History
There are only so many hours in a day, so choose one more adventure before wrapping up your Trains & Tales journey.
Make It
At Appalachian Remedies in Marion, learn to weave a rag rug using heirloom looms. Allow about two hours for the experience, and you’ll leave with your own handmade piece inspired by an Appalachian craft tradition.
Strike It
Try your luck at Lucky Strike Gold & Gem Mine, a former commercial mine where visitors can pan for gold and gems. The owners warn that “gold fever” is a real thing, so proceed accordingly. Even if you don’t strike it rich, there are treasures to browse in the gift shop and, rumor has it, a mighty good burger waiting at the Miner’s Diner.
Make It an Overnight
For this particular adventure, Gold River Camp in Marion feels just right. Choose from full-service cabins, glamping cabins or primitive riverfront tent sites, then keep the day’s history lesson going by trying your hand at gold panning in the Second Broad River, part of North Carolina’s 19th-century gold story.
Gold pans, shovels and screens are available for guests to use free of charge at the public pavilion. Community picnic tables, fire pits, grills, decks and lounge areas give you plenty of ways to settle in after a full day of exploring.
And if gold fever followed you back from Lucky Strike? Well, you’ve got another chance.
