Old Fort, NC, is a charming small town that serves as a gateway to the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. In September 2024, we had the pleasure of visiting and exploring Old Fort, and experiencing all the wonderful things this small mountain town offers, including great restaurants, shopping, outdoor adventure and more.
As full-time travel bloggers and Blue Ridge Mountain locals hailing from Waynesville, NC, we’re always on the lookout for destinations that showcase the unique character of these mountains, and Old Fort did not disappoint. In fact, it surprised us with all that it offers visitors.
During our stay, we settled into a cozy cabin rental near downtown Old Fort that served as the perfect launch pad for our mountain adventures. We explored local shops, ate some delicious food at Old Fort’s restaurants, and hiked to discover some beautiful nearby waterfalls.
Old Fort has so much to offer and makes for a great mountain destination!
In this guide, we’ll share all the highlights from our visit and provide expert tips to help you plan your own tip to experience Old Fort, NC, and McDowell County.
Where is Old Fort, NC?
Old Fort is located just off I-40 at exit 73 in Western North Carolina. It's one of the last exits before making the climb up Black Mountain when heading east towards Asheville, NC. Old Fort is about 2 hours from both Charlotte and Winston- Salem NC, less than 30 minutes from Asheville, NC, and only 10 minutes away from Black Mountain.
This quaint and historic railroad town is part of McDowell County, which includes Marion, Little Switerland, and the popular Lake James.
The main downtown area is so close to I-40 that it is visible when passing by the exit. Because of this, it makes for a wonderful small mountain town destination when travelling along I-40.
Old Fort affects of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene caused significant flooding and damage to Old Fort. The main down area from I-40 to the historic train station was flooded as Mill Creek overflowed its banks. The massive amounts of water caused homes and businesses to be destroyed. This included the main Destination McDowell Welcome Center and other surrounding buildings.
When the waters receded, mud and sediment, over a foot deep, covered most of the historic downtown.
Restoration of basic services like power and water took over a week, and clean-up over 4-weeks.
While many businesses are still closed, many others are re-opening, as is the town of Old Fort itself, as of 11/1, welcoming visitors.
We had just visited Old Fort and spent over 4 days staying there, exploring the town and visiting businesses. We made many friends there during our visit, all of whom were affected by the flooding. In fact, the creek side rental cabin we stayed in was completely washed away and destroyed.
Like many small western NC towns affected by Helene, Old Fort suffered significant negative tourism impact during the peak fall season. We encourage you to visit and support the many wonderful and locally owned businesses!
Our Old Fort Guides
Things to do in Old Fort
Catawba Falls
One of the first things you'll want to do when visiting Old Fort is stop by the Destination McDowell welcome center to learn about current area events. You'll also find lots of brochures, maps, and information on things to do, local attractions and more.
Pisgah National Forest surrounds Old Fort, and as a result is nearby to many outdoor activities, including the popular Catawba Falls. You'll find many other hiking trails, waterfalls, and even fantastic options for mountain biking.
If you prefer shopping and trying out great local food, Old Fort has that as well, with several great local restaurants, quaint shops, and art galleries. They even have a fantastic brewery and winery that serves up in house crafted beverages and food.
See 21+ Things to do in Old Fort Guide.
Where to Eat in Old Fort, NC
Old Fort may be a small mountain town, but its food scene is surprisingly good and frankly unexpected.
During our visit, we discovered a variety of restaurants offering great food at very reasonable prices. They even have a brewery with great food, and one of the best coffee shops in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Seeker Coffee.
See our picks for the Top Restaurants in Old Fort, NC Guide.
Where to Stay when visiting Old Fort
When visiting Old Fort, you have several different options for where to stay.
During our visit, we stayed at a creek side stilt cabin by Greybeard Rentals and absolutely loved it. We enjoyed a roomy cabin, right next to downtown Old Fort, and across the street from Eudo Wine. We even had a hot tub!
Sadly, the cabin we stayed in, pictured above, was washed away and destroyed by the flooding. But the owners have other similar cabins that will be available for rent in the near future.
Also available are Mountain Appalachian Inn and Inn on Mill Creek (currently closed until 2025).
If you prefer to camp, Catawba Falls Campground is a great option. We stayed here many years ago with our kids during our first visit to Catawba Falls and really enjoyed it. The campground is currently closed, but is working to reopen.