9 Best Things To Do In Taylorsville, NC: Adventure Awaits

Adventure

1. Golf at Brushy Mountain

The Brushy Mountain Golf Club offers fun for all skill levels of golfers, with a driving range and an 18 hole course, a 9 hole course is also available. There is a different rate for doing all the holes vs half the course. There is a full-service restaurant at the club that offers views of the course, and the club also offers lodging on the property for those golf lovers. Golf lessons are available, as well as access to a golf pro shop.

Brushy Mountain Golf Club

Address: 300 Golf Course Lane, Taylorsville, NC

Price: Golf Rates - Monday to Thursday 18 holes daytime: 35 USD, evenings: 25 USD, 9 hole: 20 USD Seniors 28 USD. Friday to Sunday 18 holes: 45 USD, evenings 35 USD, 9 holes: 25 USD. Golf Lessons: Non-Members 40 USD Junior Lessons 25 USD

Website: Brushy Mountain Golf Club

2. Rock Climbing at Rocky Face Mountain

The Rocky Mountain Recreation Area, where rock climbing is available, is in the south-central portion of the Brushy Mountains. There are over 5 miles (8 kilometers) of trails in that offer great views here.

Rocky Face Mountain

Address: 3451 Rocky Face Church Rd, Hiddenite, NC

Website: Rocky Face Mountain

3. Recreation at Hiddenite Education Center

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center is a non-profit organization, located in Alexander County, providing quality arts and cultural heritage programming to the people of North Carolina. Founded in 1981, the center has made an impact, inspiring generations of artists who want to develop their talent.

Hiddenite Education Center

Address: 316 Hiddenite Church Road, Hiddenite, NC

Website: Hiddenite Education Center

Museums & history

4. Alexander Railroad Company

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Alexander Railroad Company started in 1946. The railroad itself was built in 1887 and was known as the “Statesville & Western”, an extension of the Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio, which ran between Charlotte and Statesville, North Carolina. It was given another nickname, “the Junebug Line” and was born in the North Carolina State legislature during a debate between two senators. When the vote for the railroad’s charter came to be taken, the first senator polled announced that “he voted for the Junebug Road!” and the nickname was born. The railroad is run by the Zachery family, who have owned it for three generations since it started.

Alexander Railroad Company

Address: 51 2nd Avenue N, Taylorsville, NC

Website: Alexander Railroad Company

5. Old Jail Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Old Jail built in 1913, which had an addition in 1930, has retained a remarkable degree of original detailing from that time. This is one of the oldest public buildings in Alexander County and the oldest jail in the state. The Old Jail houses a small museum concerning the former jailers and their families who lived in the jail supervising the prisoners. It also houses The Alexander County Ancestry Association, formed in 1983 (originally Alexander County Genealogical Society). During 1986-87 this group published the Heritage Of Alexander County. The jail had more restorations in the 1990s.

Old Jail Museum

Address: 72 Main Ave Drive, Hiddenite, NC

Website: Old Jail Museum

6. Lucas Mansion

The James Paul Lucas Mansion, a three-story Victorian/Edwardian home, is the only site in Alexandria County on the National Register of Historic Places. He was known as “Diamond Jim,” and made his living as a diamond and gem trader. The museum is located on the first floor of the Hiddenite Center, and features rooms restored to reflect family life the 20th-century with furnishings similar to those Diamond Jim may have owned in his life.

Lucas Mansion

Address: Church St., Hiddenite, NC

Website: Lucas Mansion

7. Emerald Hollow Mine

The Emerald Hollow Mine is the only emerald mine in the world open to the public for prospecting. In the foothills of the beautiful Brushy Mountains, there are over sixty naturally occurring gems and minerals here, including many rare gems including emerald, aquamarine, sapphire, garnet, topaz, amethyst, citrine, rutile, and tourmaline, along with an abundance of smoky and clear quartz crystals.

Emerald Hollow Mine

Address: 484 Emerald Hollow Mine Drive, Hiddenite, NC

Open Hours 8:30 am to 8 pm. Earlier in winter and later in summer. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas

Website: Emerald Hollow Mine

Day trips

8. Fort Defiance

Fort Defiance was previously a home built in 1788 by General William Lenoir for his family, and it was completed in 1792. Lenoir was a teacher who got his teacher’s certification at 18, he also worked as an apprentice to a surveyor and was certified in 1773, bringing him to North Carolina. He first lived with his family in Fishers Creek (now Wilkesboro) post-Revolutionary War 1775. They then moved to a log cabin in Happy Vally along the Buffalo Creek, which is a mile (1.6 km) west of where the fort is now.

He spent his remaining years in the fort; his mansion. The fort was in the family for six generations and a residence until 1961 when it was signed over as a historic property and restored. The property has more than 300 original furnishings and artifacts. In the fall there is a program for schools where children can learn about frontier life and the revolutionary war. Photography is prohibited inside the house museum.

Fort Defiance

Address: 1792 Fort Defiance Drive, Lenoir, NC

Open for Operation: April to October, Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1pm to 5 pm. November to March, Saturday and Sunday noon to 4 pm

Cost: Adults 7 USD, Children 5-15, 5 USD, Children under 5 free

Website: Fort Defiance

9. Fort Dobbs

Fort Dobbs was the only permanent frontier fort in North Carolina and was a military headquarters and home for settlers. By 1761 with Britain winning the war, the colony leaders disbanded troops and removed supplies from the fort. By 1766 it was in ruins and neglected. It was excavated in 1967 and the exact location of the ford was discovered a year later, with the excavation lasting through the 1970s. There is now a visitors center, picnic area, trails and a gift shop on site.

Fort Dobbs

Address: 438 Fort Dobbs Road, Statesville, NC

Open for Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm for tours

Cost: Free for general admission, a fee for field trips

Website: Fort Dobbs

Come and visit Taylorsville

Taylorsville has something for all visitors: the history of the area, museums to visit, and sports like golf and rock climbing. Come see all that this area has to offer!