Since 1869 travelers through these mountains looked for the familiar sight of a spouting manmade geyser and a resort hotel tucked away at the base of the Blue Ridge this signaled the start of the long climb to Asheville through some of the most scenic sights in North Carolina. When the train passes through this town again (plans call for passenger rail service to resume in coming years), travelers will stop at the tall, hand-carved arrowhead next to the depot, signaling a stop in the historic town of Old Fort. A town committed to preserving it’s heritage, and having some fun along the way. As one of the oldest towns in the region, Old Fort prides itself on it’s historic roots. Originally a fort built by the colonial militia before the Declaration of Independence, the settlement served for many years as the western outpost of the early United States.

You’ll feel a change the minute you arrive in Old Fort. Our down-home southern welcome can bring a smile to even the most stressed-out face. Our winding roads and mountain vistas are world renowned for untying knots in overworked shoulders, and we’ve yet to meet a pair of feet that could resist the toe-tapping sounds of our mountain music. In Old Fort, you won’t find tourist glitz or overdeveloped sprawl. Just real people, real beauty and real fun.