GUIDE: Winter and Holiday Happenings at the First Peak of the Blue Ridge in 2024 and beyond. Welcome to the holidays at the First Peak of the Blue Ridge! Our small towns of Historic Tryon, Saluda and Columbus, North Carolina are decorated and ready to greet you. Have a look at our at our quick-glance list of all the fun events in our area. We can help with information and plans. Call us at 828-894-2324, e-mail us at visit@firstpeaknc.com or message us from our Facebook page. Sign up to receive our weekly e-newsletter here. IMG_1846 IMG_7566-adj IMG_2499 IMG_5336 IMG_1949 Restaurants - Open for Business Lodging - Open For Business Things to Do - Open for...
STATUS & GUIDE: How to Visit the First Peak of the Blue Ridge in Spring/Summer 2025 and beyond. Welcome back to the First Peak of the Blue Ridge! Your day trips and overnight stays are so important for our local businesses. Our small towns of Historic Tryon, Saluda and Columbus, North Carolina are open, plus most surrounding areas. Here’s the key to visiting:Nearly everything is open for business. Just for clarity, we’ve created lists of businesses that are Confirmed Open or Temporarily Closed. Watch for these status icons on each individual business page, under the main photo – no icon means we haven’t heard yet. Confirmed Open:We welcome you to visit our entire area. Shop, eat and stay local using the links below. Live music and events are happening so come and have some fun! Updates are made often. All Lodging Confirmed Open – sort by location and amenities All Restaurants Confirmed Open – sort by location. View the current hours. All Things To Do that are Confirmed Open – Attractions, trails, adventures, etc. – sort by location. All Shops Confirmed Open – sort by town. All listings Confirmed Open – mix of everything on the list, sorted alphabetically. Events happening – our events calendar is loaded with fun things to do each week – check it out! Temporarily Closed:Reference our list of Temporarily Closed places – attractions, lodging and businesses that aren’t open for visitors yet. Updates are made often. Please avoid all areas marked as closed – including trails, the middle section of Hwy. 176 (the Pacolet River Scenic Byway) and the upper parts of the...
GUIDE: Earl Scruggs Music Festival 2024 It is time to get geared up for the annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, NC. The 3-day festival brings together an all-star line-up of bluegrass, Americana, and roots music to celebrate the contributions of North Carolina’s own Earl Scruggs to the rich musical culture in the area. Earl Scruggs, born in nearby Shelby, NC, is a musical icon known for radically redefining old time and string band music. He developed a new playing style with picking rolls and timing patterns. He crossed musical boundaries, bridged generations, and his “Scruggs style” spread rapidly. Earl Scruggs has dozens of awards and Hall of Fame accolades. Learn more at the Earl Scruggs Center. The 3rd Annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival will be held from August 30-September 1, 2024. This year’s line-up includes dozens of amazing musicians, including Tanya Tucker, Old Crow Medicine Show, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Peter Rowan & Sam Grisman Project, Yonder Mountain String Band and The Steeldrivers. For more information on this year’s festival and to purchase tickets, visit earlscruggsmusicfest.com. Get your festival tickets, then pick out a great place to stay close to the festival venue. Browse our lodging listings or use our interactive map to find someplace to make the weekend even better. Within the festival at TIEC you can enjoy several musical spaces, from the main stage to a jam session pickin’ pavilion. Each stage is a short walk to the other, but positioned so you hear who you came to enjoy. Past attendees liked the fact that it’s...
Enjoy this fun and unique Green River Gaggle Summer Improv Series at Green River House. Featured players include Tara Massey, Michelle Daigle, Tyler Graeper, Charlotte Epley, Mike Yow, and more. This is a 21+ event. Cocktail hour 6-7pm including a full heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet. Show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $34.50 and are available by calling 828-286-1461. *This is a 21 and older show. No one under 21 will be admited. The Green River Gaggle is an IMPROV group. The Summer Series is being in June and July at the Green River House in the Gate House Facility on different dates. Free Hors d’oeuvre Buffet with ticket price. Overmountain Vineyards will be selling wine. Cocktail Hour from 6:00pm – 7:00pm with the IMPROV Show afterwards. Address Location: 6333 Coxe Road Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828) 286-1461. Advance tickets required at: https://thegreenriverhouse.com/special-events...
Enjoy this fun and unique Green River Gaggle Summer Improv Series at Green River House. Featured players include Tara Massey, Michelle Daigle, Tyler Graeper, Charlotte Epley, Mike Yow, and more. This is a 21+ event. Cocktail hour 6-7pm including a full heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet. Show starts at 7pm. Shows will be 6/14, and 7/19 Tickets are $50 and are available by calling...
In honor of Valentine’s Day, on Saturday, February 17, the entrance fee will be 2 for the price of 1, plus children are free. Bring the ones you love on a woodsy adventure. Admission: $5 adults, $1 ages 6-12, and under 6 is free. Winter Hours: Daily 10am-5pm (gate closes at 4pm) – No dogs are allowed...
GUIDE: Earl Scruggs Music Festival It is time to get geared up for the annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival at the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Mill Spring, NC. The 3-day festival brings together an all-star line-up of bluegrass, Americana, and roots music to celebrate the contributions of North Carolina’s own Earl Scruggs to the rich musical culture in the area. Earl Scruggs, born in nearby Shelby, NC, is a musical icon known for radically redefining old time and string band music. He developed a new playing style with picking rolls and timing patterns. He crossed musical boundaries, bridged generations, and his “Scruggs style” spread rapidly. Earl Scruggs has dozens of awards and Hall of Fame accolades. Learn more at the Earl Scruggs Center. The 2nd Annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival will be held from Sept 1-3, 2023. This year’s line-up includes dozens of amazing musicians, including Emmylou Harris, Greensky Bluegrass, Del McCoury, and Della Mae. For more information on this year’s festival and to purchase tickets, visit earlscruggsmusicfest.com. Get your festival tickets, then pick out a great place to stay close to the festival venue. Browse our lodging listings or use our interactive map to find someplace to make the weekend even better. Within the festival at TIEC you can enjoy several musical spaces, from the main stage to a jam session pickin’ pavilion. Each stage is a short walk to the other, but positioned so you hear who you came to enjoy. Past attendees liked the fact that it’s easy to park, catch a short shuttle and move around the festival. Amenities at TIEC are abundant with...
VIDEO: A Weekend in Tryon on NC Weekend PBS recently visited the town of Tryon, N.C. for the weekend. Take a video tour of all things Tryon, broadcast in June 2023, to discover Tryon’s myriad of arts, shopping, attractions and equestrian activities. Better yet, come see for yourself! In the video learn more about these featured attractions: Tryon Historical Museum, Tryon Toymakers and Woodcarvers, Tryon Painters and Sculptors, Tryon Arts and Crafts School, Tryon Fine Arts Center, Roger’s Park, Tryon Movie Theatre, Tryon International Film Festival, Harmon Field, Tryon International Equestrian Center, Pearson’s Falls and Glen, and local wineries. You can also check out these local shops and restaurants: The Tryon Bottle, Mountain Trail Soap Company, plus lots of options on site at Tryon International Equestrian Center. Have a look! Let us know if we can help you with your plans – here’s how to contact us. Watch the video below or view the video here on the PBS YouTube...
The First Peak of the Blue Ridge is a rural area filled with beautiful natural attractions – from waterfalls and wineries to scenic mountain drives and hiking. Here’s a list of some of our favorites, with links and information to help you discover more about this area. Pearson’s Falls – Learn More Pacolet River Scenic Byway – Learn More Shunkawauken Falls and Sunset Rock – Learn More Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) – Learn More The Gorge Canopy Zipline – Learn More Four Wineries – Learn More Looking Glass Creamery – Learn More Green River area – Tubing, Game Lands – Learn More We’re here to help you plan your day or a week-long stay, so call on us to help you make the most of your visit! Call 828-894-2324 or contact us. We’ll see you soon!...
