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You know that feeling you get when you’re traveling to the mountains for vacation or a weekend excursion, and you get your first glimpse of the peaks and ridges…The awe of the beauty of the mountains, the building anticipation as you look forward to slowing down, unplugging & taking it easy. Well, you’re in good company. Tourists have been flocking to the mountain towns in western North Carolina since the late 1800’s.
In this episode, we sit down with Michele Fleming, Chair of Explore Tryon Tourism Development Authority, to talk about how the Town of Tryon quickly grew as a resort town, bringing tourists to the area to enjoy the mountain views and good climate. Many artists, writers and crafters chose to stay – at least for a while – including the stage actor William Gillette, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The equestrian roots run deep in this community thanks to Carter Brown, who organized the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club and the first Blockhouse Steeplechase in the 1940s. And, Tryon was even once well known for its table and wine grapes. Due to prohibition, these family businesses dried up over time, but beginning in the early 1990s, this interesting part of Tryon’s history was revived. About a dozen vineyards now lie about 10 miles to the east in the Tryon foothills.
Many of the historic buildings on Trade Street, as we know it today, were in place by 1900, and have contributed to Tryon receiving the designation of historic district by the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, Downtown Tryon has a nice selection shops, art galleries and restaurants along Trade Street. It’s a vibrant town, and you’ll soon understand how Tryon lives up to its name as the “Friendliest Town in The South”
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Explore Tryon
First Peak Of The Blue Ridge
Tryon International Equestrian Center
Wineries & Vinyards
Tryon Riding & Hunt Club
Harmon Field
