Activities and Attractions
Our Hidden Gems
There's much to see and do here. Whether your interests lie indoors or out, there is always something going on in the Tryon area. Most of these attractions are local gems and free of charge!
Equestrian
Photo Credit - Erik Olson
Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) has quickly become an international hub for many of the world’s top equestrian athletes. Guests are welcomed near year ’round to experience one of the premier riding facilities in the world built for the love of horses and our sport. TIEC is the home of the 2018 World Equestrian Games. https://tryon.coth.com/
Foothills Equestrian and Nature Center (FENCE) Historical equestrian pleasure and competition facility with year 'round nature, recreation and education programs including TROT, Therapeutic Riding of Tryon, a program that provides equine assisted activities to adults and children with physical, developmental and cognitive disabilities in a safe, friendly and supportive environment. an equine therapy. http://www.fence.org/
Harmon Field 36 acres along the Pacolet River, of ball fields, soccer fields, a quarter mile track, tennis courts, equestrian facilities including rings and stables, a playground, covered picnic area and a cabin for special events. Fishing deck, playground, horseshoe pits, track, walking tracks, tennis & basketball courts, baseball fields, par coure and horse show arenas. https://tryon-nc.com/services/parks-recreation/
Saturday Night Lights equestrian show jumping competition Saturdays in June at TIEC
Theaters
Tryon Fine Arts Center - An active part of the Tryon arts scene since the 1960’s, providing an unrivaled venue for fine performing and visual arts, indoor and outdoor https://tryonarts.org/
Flat Rock Playhouse – State Theater of North Carolina 30 min Organized in1937, the Vagabond Players worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. Moving from one playhouse into a larger playhouse, in 1952, the troupe made a new home on 8-acres in the Village of Flat Rock giving birth to the Flat Rock Playhouse. In 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. flatrockplayhouse.org
Tryon Little Theater - Started in the 1890's in a building on Melrose Avenue called The Opera House the drama troupe eventually evolved into the Tryon Little Theater. The first play by the new TLT was Booth Tarkington's The Trysting Place, presented in the Parish House on May 5, 1948. Offering exciting fine plays & music for 70 years. tltinfo.org
Tryon Theater – Historic 1932 fully renovated, ultra-modern movie theater, craft beers & wine 5 min tryontheatre.com
Tryon Parks
Bryan Park (510 Markham Road) 5 min
Depot Garden Park (10 Depot Street) 5 min
Greene Corner (51 Melrose Avenue) 5 min
Harmon Field - 36 acres along the Pacolet River, of ball fields, soccer fields, a quarter mile track, tennis courts, equestrian facilities including rings and stables, a playground, covered picnic area and a cabin for special events. Fishing deck, playground, horseshoe pits, track, walking tracks, tennis, pickleball & basketball courts, baseball fields, par coure and horse show arenas. https://tryon-nc.com/services/parks-recreation/
Park On Trade (10 West Howard Street)
Nina Simone Plaza (54 South Trade Street)
Rogers Park (55 West Howard Street)
Rotary Clock Tower Plaza (85 North Trade Street)
Vaughn Creek Greenway (884 New Market Road)
Hiking and Outdoor Adventures
Green River Adventures - greenriveradventures.com - kayak, tube & paddle board rentals, waterfall rappels and fishing
Green River Gamelands - 16 miles of trails from easy to strenuous. the primary purpose of NC Game Lands is wildlife conservation and management. The trails in this unique area are maintained to encourage and facilitate foot travel but are open to mountain bikers. http://www.rutherfordoutdoor.org/trails/green-river-game-lands
Lake Adger - lakeadger.com - fishing
Lake Lure - townoflakelure.com - water skiing, lake tours, fishing (highlight – have 2 boats docked there)
Norman Wilder Forest Trails - 14 miles of trails from easy to strenuous
Pearson’s Falls - pearsonsfalls.org - easy .5-mile hike to the impressive falls
Rumbling Bald (world class rock climbing)
The Gorge -11 ziplines America’s steepest fastest Ziplines. Zip from tree-top to tree-top on 11 ziplines spanning 1.25 miles, traversing a sky-bridge, and descending 3 huge rappels, all through stunning old growth forest, overlooking 18,000 acres of protected green river gamelands. thegorgezipline.com
Wilderness Cove - tubing nctubing.com
Arts and Museums
Asheville Art Museum (ashevilleart.com)
Carri Bass Photography (carribass.com)
Folk Art Center, Southern Highland Craft Guild Traditional and contemporary crafts – particularly the craft heritage of the Southern Appalachian region. Since 1930 (craftguild.org)
Green River Gallery (145 N. Trade Street)
Heartwood Gallery (heartwoodsaluda.com)
Millstone Gallery (themillstonegallery.com)
Tryon Arts & Crafts School (tryonartsandcrafts.org)
Tryon Depot Gallery (22 Depot Street)
Tryon Fine Arts Center, Jeanne Parker Gallery (tryonarts.org)
House of Flags Museum & Veterans Park (houseoofflags.org)
Polk County Historical Association Museum (polknchistory.org)
Saluda Historic Depot Museum (saludahistoricdepot.com)
Annual Events and Festivals
March – Super Saturday – lively arts for kids of all ages
March – Chase Away the Blues – non-stop music at three indoor venues
May – Block House Steeple Chase – “A” rated equestrian event since 1947
May – Saluda Arts Festival - local and regional artists and artisans
June through September – Summer Tracks – Free Friday night summer concerts
July – Fabulous Fourth – Since 1962, the quintessential small-town patriotic celebration
July – Coon Dog Day - fun, quirky street festival in Saluda
September - Art On Main – outdoor art festival in Hendersonville
October – Tryon Arts & Crafts Fall Festival – local and regional artists and artisans
October – Woodcarvers & Whittlers Festival – local and regional wood artists and farmer’s market
October – Tryon International Film Festival – films and filmmakers from around the globe
November – Beer Fest – craft beers, oyster roast, German foods
December – Christmas Parades and Strolls – events in Columbus, Tryon and Landrum
Miscellaneous Attractions & Activities
Biltmore House and Gardens – Biltmore.com – 1895 250-room chateau
Bullington Gardens – bullingtongardens.org – public garden & education center
Carl Sandburg Home – nps.gov/carl – his home Conmamera, goats, events and hiking
Chimney Rock – chimneyrockpark.com – 75-mile views, 404ft waterfall
Emerald Hollow Mine - emeraldhollowmine.com – open to the public for prospecting, home to sixty gems and minerals
Lake Lure Flowering Bridge – lakelurefloweringbridge.org – 1925 bridge repurposed as a year-round garden, 2000+ plant species from prairie to tropical.
Linville Caverns – linvillecaverns.com – open to the public since 1937
Looking Glass Creamery at Harmon Dairy – lookingglasscheese.com sample handcrafted cheeses, ice cream, hard ciders and more
Mill Spring Farm Store – millspringfarmstore.com – fresh local meats, vegetables and hand-crafted goods
North Carolina Arboretum – ncarboretum.org – 65 acres of cultivated gardens
Thomas Wolfe Memorial – wolfememorial.com – Wolfe’s boarding house
Tryon Country Club - tryoncountryclub.com – 1916 original Donald Ross links design
Shunkawauken Falls – drive over the falls on White Oak Mountain in Columbus
