Burke County Tourism
Out on the Town
Tourism is alive and well in Burke County. You’re invited to take off your hat and stay a while. Take time to leisurely explore the county, touring its panoramic back roads. The shopping experience in Burke County is enlivened by the many opportunities for both casual and fine dining, often in the atmosphere of one of the county’s exciting festivals, which add music and art to the leisurely strolls through our business districts.
This charming small-town experience can readily be enjoyed in Morganton and Valdese with the numerous antique shops, art galleries, and vendors of items from jewelry to books, from outdoor equipment to homes. The real thrill of shopping here is the dazzling variety of locally produced arts and craft ware; items with their own distinct flavor, such as pottery and woodcarving that sprang from the vision and skill of individual artisans.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Some of the most breathtaking scenery on this national scenic drive lies at the northern edge
of Burke County. Just a short drive from Morganton is Mount Mitchell, the tallest peak in the eastern United States. To its south, toward Asheville, Craggy Gardens yearly
produces a spectacular display of the native Catawba rhododendron. Further north, the
modern engineering marvel, the elevated Linn Cove Viaduct sweeps around the slopes of Grandfather Mountain, making visitors feel airborne as they gaze out over the rolling Carolina piedmont a thousand feet below. Hiking and picnicking opportunities abound.
Grandfather Mountain
The highest peak in the ancient Blue Ridge Mountain Range, this rugged world-famous mountain has been recognized by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve. Here the annual Highland Games and gathering of the Scottish clans is held. The privately owned park features the renowned Mile High Swinging Bridge as well as bear, cougar, otter, eagle and other wildlife habitats. One can hike in the preserve or motor the Parkway viaduct at its base.
Benjamin F. Long IV Fresco Trail
Let Morganton’s Municipal Auditorium with its Sacred Dance & the Muses ceiling fresco by internationally famous artist Ben Long be your starting point on the Fresco Trail.
A trail map available at CoMMA will direct you to both sacred and secular subjects painted by a process of applying pigments to damp plaster. Long’s frescos can be found in small, out-of-the-way places such as West Jefferson and Glendale Springs and in larger urban centers such as Charlotte and Statesville.
Pisgah Loop Scenic Byway
Experience a great back-to-nature scenic loop that goes from Morganton high into the Blue Ridge Mountains and back. You can pause to picnic at the historic Bark House on highway 181, view Brown Mountain, home of the famous Brown Mountain Lights, and circle the rim of the rugged Linville Gorge Wilderness Area while gazing down at Lake James far below as you descend to the piedmont area and head back to your starting point in Morganton.
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
Quaker Meadows, north of Morganton, was the gathering place on September 30, 1780 of the Overmountain Men who met there to plan their strategy for the Battle of Kings Mountain. Revolutionary War leaders convened under a huge tree, the “Council Oak.” The public motor route designated by the National Park Service leads west and east of Morganton to significant waypoints on the 1780 march, such as Gillespie Gap near Spruce Pine and Fort Defiance near Lenoir. Captain Charles McDowell’s 1812 house still stands at Quaker Meadows and nearby is the Quaker Meadows Cemetery.
Historic Sites
Burke County is rich in its heritage thanks to a farsighted vision of the future and an abiding dedication to preserving the past. Morganton, the county seat, is divided into nine national register districts with a variety of architectural styles including Gothic and Georgian Revival, Art Deco, Victorian, and Romanesque styles. Driving and walking tours might include the Old Burke County Courthouse, the North Carolina School for the Deaf, the Senator Sam Ervin Library, and Bellevue, Creekside, and Mountain View residences. Visits to Valdese could take in the Waldensian Heritage Museum, the Trail of Faith, model train exhibit, and Village Park and mural.
Lake James Cellars
Wine touring is the latest recreational day trip event in the Western Carolina Foothills. Visit the Lake James Cellars, a family-owned winery operating in a restored 1915 textile mill building in Glen Alpine, a short drive from Morganton. The winery has a gift shop and a tasting room, and is adjacent to the Old Mill Antiques store.
Waldensian Heritage Wines
Located in historic Valdese, the winery is housed in an old 1930’s barn, constructed from local field rock and timber. Waldensian Heritage Wines offers visitors an opportunity to sample wines derived from centuries of experience in the Cottian Alps of northern Italy. Tours and tasting are available at the facility, which offers a bocce court and a covered seating area.
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