Mooresville, Statesville, Hiddenite, Wilkesboro, North Wilkesboro
In the foothills of North Carolina, an area that’s generally off the radar screen for many travelers, you can find an amazing array of interesting things to do. Like panning for emeralds? You can here. Love NASCAR? This area has race shops and transportation museums in abundance. Like history and folklore? Beautiful architecture? Bluegrass and folk music festivals? Nationally recognized art? Beautiful countryside perfect for a low-key scenic drive? Yes, yes, yes. All of that is here.
The geographically dispersed towns that stud the foothills include Mooresville, Statesville, Hiddenite, North Wilkesboro, and Wilkesboro. Because they’re a little bit off the well-beaten path, they haven’t lost the charm of days gone by. The sprawl and the fast-food eateries you see from the interstates are 180 degrees different from what the downtowns of Mooresville and Statesville look like. You owe it to yourself to get off the big roads and see what these little jewels have to offer.
Where to Stay
The Hidden Crystal Inn (800-439-1639; www.bnbinns.com/hiddencrystal.inn) in Hiddenite is the closest bed-and-breakfast to the area’s gem mines. The Kerr House Bed and Breakfast (877-308-0353; www.statesville-nc-lodging.com/), a late-Victorian mansion, is perfect if you’d rather stay close to downtown Statesville. Outside Statesville is the Gray House (800-796-4489; www.thegrayhouse.com).
Where to Eat
It’s easy to find franchise food, but if you’re looking for locally owned restaurants, consider Grill Works in downtown Statesville, where you can munch on the best homemade potato chips in the state. For something a little more upscale, try either Mayo’s Italian Ristorante or the Black Angus Grill, also in Statesville. If you think you know Southern cuisine, dine at Kudzu on South Broad in Mooresville.
Architecture
At the western end of Broad Street in Statesville sits the Mitchell College Historic District, one of the prettiest such districts in the state. Mitchell College opened in 1856 as an all-female institute. On the grounds are two of the oldest structures in town, the Friends Meeting House (c. 1875) and Congregation Emmanual Synagogue (1891). Fourth Creek Burying Ground is also located in the district, as are dozens of beautiful old homes. At the eastern end of Broad Street is the East Broad Street Historic District. It, too, is full of gorgeous old homes. Make sure you see the magnificent city hall. There’s not another building like it in the state. Altogether, downtown Statesville has 47 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Art
Ben Long’s newest fresco, Image at the Crossroads, adorns the Statesville Civic Center, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. If you admire Long’s work, you’ll want to see the way he captures the essence of life’s choices.
Gardens
Wilkes Community College is home to a collection of gardens that includes 600 rosebushes, native wildflowers, and the Merle Watson Garden for the Senses. In 1985, Eddy Merle Watson, son of the legendary folk musician Doc Watson, was killed in a tractor accident. Doc Watson founded the garden to honor his son and performing partner. The annual benefit for the garden has become known as MerleFest; see the “Festivals/ Events” section below. For more information, call 336-838-6100.
Gem Mining
Did you know that little Hiddenite has the moniker of “Gem Capital of the World”? To look for some of the area’s wealth of gems, visit Emerald Hollow Mines, located on Sulphur Springs Road (S.R.1001). Here, you’ll have several ways to mine for gemstones. You can sluice, which means you buy buckets of pre-dug dirt. You can also dig your own dirt. You can bring your own tools or rent from the mine. Or you can go creeking, which means sifting through loose gravel in a nearby creek bed. Prepare to get dirty! Prices vary depending on which method you choose. People in the know suggest that digging is the best way to find emeralds. The mine is open daily from 8:30 A.M. until sunset. For more information, call 828-632-3394.
Golf
In Statesville, the following courses are open to the public: Sycamore Shoals Golf Course (704-872-2766), Fox Den Country Club (704-878-9990), North Carolina National Golf (704-873-4653), and Twin Oaks Golf Course (704-872-3979).
Heritage
Curious about where the North Carolina frontier once sat? It was at Statesville. You can learn about frontier days at Fort Dobbs, built in 1756 to protect colonists from Indian raids. Though the fort is long gone, you can walk the grounds and visit a museum at Fort Dobbs State Historic Site. Be sure to note the British flag; this was a British fort, not an American one. Located at 438 Fort Dobbs Road, off U.S. 21 North, the fort is open state hours. For more information, call 704-873-5866 or visit www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/dobbs/dobbs.htm.
Love Valley, a town north of Statesville boasting dirt streets, a saddle shop, and a trading post, is intended for horse lovers. To see the town, you must either bring your own horse, rent a horse, or walk. No joke! For more information, call 704-592-7451 or visit www.lovevalley.com.
Kid Stuff
The Lazy 5 Ranch, located on N.C. 150 nine miles east of Mooresville, lets you take a 3.5-mile safari in your own car to see 400 animals from around the world. It’s rumored that Santa’s reindeer vacation here during their long off-season. The ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 9 A.M. until one hour before sunset and Sunday from 1 P.M. until one hour before sunset. An admission fee is charged. For more information, call 704-663-5100.
Museums
Though it’s not exactly a museum, the First Flight Bike Shop on Center Street in downtown Statesville contains one of the best collections of antique bicycles in the state. Step inside to admire the adaptive reuse of the building, to admire the bikes, and, if you like, to pick up some gear. You’ll also enjoy ClockWorld, a clock shop beyond compare. If you need a special clock, you can probably find it here. The shop is on West Broad Street in Statesville.
The Old Wilkes Jail in Wilkesboro, now a museum, is famous for having held Tom Dula, popularized by the Kingston Trio in the ballad “Tom Dooley.” The museum is open variable hours Monday through Friday and by appointment on Saturday. For information, call 336-667-3712.
Tidbits
Hiddenite the town is named for a brilliant yellowish, bluish, greenish stone found by W. E. Hidden in 1879. Until discoveries of hiddenite stone were made in Madagascar and Sweden, it was exclusive to this area. Other stones—sapphires, garnets, tourmalines, amethysts, aquamarines—have been found here, too. According to mine workers, the mica here has certain pigments in it that, when subjected to geologic heat and pressure, form some 63 types of gemstones. A $100,000 Tiffany emerald—a 13.14-carat beauty—was discovered at Hiddenite in 1971.
NASCAR
Do names like Dale Earnhardt, Penske Racing, Ray Evernham, A. J. Foyt, and Robert Yates mean anything to you? If so, come to Mooresville—the aptly self-proclaimed “Race City USA”—and make a weekend out of visiting museums and speed shops! Fourteen NASCAR teams are located in the area, as are 18 Busch Grand National teams. I recommend stopping first at the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame to see over 35 racecars of note. Located at 119 Knob Hill Road, it is open Monday through Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Sunday from 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. An admission fee is charged. Call 704-663-5331 or visit www.ncarhof.com. After touring the museum, pick up an area map to discover where other shops of note are located. A must-see, even if you don’t like racing, is Dale Earnhardt Enterprises, located on N.C. 136. The displays inside the “Garage Mahal”—the media’s affectionate name for the building—are simply breathtaking, like the man and his exploits. The garage is open Monday through Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Saturday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Call 877-334-9663. Another museum is Memory Lane, located at Exit 36 off I-77. In addition to having a large collection of racecars, the museum houses displays of props used in the movies Days of Thunder, The Color Purple, and Driving Miss Daisy. During the summer, it is open Monday through Saturday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Sunday from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.; hours vary during the winter. An admission fee is charged. For information, call 704-662-FORD or visit www.memorylaneautomuseum.com. If you don’t want to spend your time looking for the shops and museums, Wilber French, the operator of Race Tours, can arrange a custom tour. Call 704-664-3717.
Outdoors
W. Kerr Scott Reservoir, located outside Wilkesboro on N.C. 268, was built by the Army Corps of Engineers to help control the Yadkin River, which caused major flood damage in 1899, 1916, and 1940. Today, the area includes picnic areas, campgrounds, and marinas. Amid all the pleasant recreation, it’s hard to believe that the yellow rushing water of the Yadkin once inundated the area. For information, visit www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nra/ace.nc_wkerr.htm.
Scenic Drive
The Upper Yadkin Byway, which follows N.C. 268 between North Wilkesboro and Lenoir, passes through Happy Valley, an area rich in stories. In 1780, this road was traveled by the Wilkesboro contingent of the Overmountain Men. After hoofing their way along the Yadkin River bottom land to Morganton to rendezvous with a group of frontiersmen from Johnson City, Tennessee, the Overmountain Men marched onward to Kings Mountain, where they engaged the British in battle and successfully turned the course of the Revolutionary War. The gathering point in Wilkesboro before the march was an oak tree that stood outside the Old Wilkes Jail. Tom Dula also lived in Happy Valley. Convicted on circumstantial evidence for the murder of Laura Foster, Dula was hanged in 1868. His body was brought to Happy Valley and buried about 1.5 miles off N.C. 268. It’s a quick side trip to visit his lonesome grave. Near the end of N.C. 268 is Fort Defiance, the former home of Major General William Lenoir. It contains many of its original furnishings. Lenoir, originally from Edgecombe County, joined the North Carolina militia in 1776. His leadership potential earned favorable notice from high-ranking officers. Lenoir was wounded twice in the Battle of Kings Mountain. After the war, he served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Other Points of Interest
The Hiddenite Center, formerly the Lucas Mansion, is operated by Appalachian State University. Events here include arts-and-crafts showings and workshops, square dances, concerts, and theatrical productions. For more information, call 828-632-6966 or visit www.hiddenite.appstate.edu.
| April | Johnnie Tilley Memorial Bluegrass Festival in Statesville |
| Late April | Begun as a one-day show attended by 4,000 people, the four-day MerleFest has become one of North Carolina’s premier outdoor music festivals. You can hear bluegrass, country, blues, Cajun, and Americana tunes. Nearly 80,000 now come to enjoy both local and celebrity talent perform on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro. For information, call 800-343-7857 or visit www.merlefest.org. |
| May | For 75 years, the granddaddy of bluegrass festivals has been the Ole Time Fiddler’s and Bluegrass Festival, held at Union Grove. For information, call 704-539-4417 or visit www.fiddlersgrove.com. |
| September | The second-oldest such event in the nation, the National Balloon Rally in Statesville features food, music, crafts, and balloon rides. |
| Murray’s Mill, an authentic gristmill located near Hickory, hosts the Harvest Folk Festival. | |
| December | Holiday Tour of Homes, Statesville |
More Resources
For information about Statesville, contact the Statesville Chamber of Commerce by calling 704-837-2892 or visiting www.visitstatesville.org.
For information about Mooresville, contact the Mooresville Chamber of Commerce by calling 704-664-3893 or visiting www.mooresvillenc.org. You can also visit www.racecityusa.org.
For information about Wilkesboro, contact the Wilkesboro Chamber of Commerce by calling 336-838-8662 or visiting www.wilkesnc.org.