For more than a century, the historic North Carolina towns of Saluda, Tryon and Columbus have been a haven for visitors seeking to escape the daily grind and soak up the comforts of small-town life.
In the late 1800s, residents of Charleston, South Carolina, and the surrounding low country would spend their summers in the cool mountain community of Saluda and nearby Tryon and Columbus. The trio of towns is now known as the First Peak of the Blue Ridge because the southernmost edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains is visible to travelers coming from the south and east.
Today, the region still charms travelers with historic bed-and-breakfast inns and more than 150 cabins and cottages offering cozy lodging – not to mention the many one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and galleries.
“We’re a rural community of about 20,000 residents,” says Melinda Massey, Polk County’s travel and tourism director. “It’s a very peaceful place to rest and rejuvenate. We have dark skies, quiet nights, no traffic, locally owned stores and no parking hassles. Here, you can truly relax, sit on a porch, hear the crickets and see the stars. You have much of Western North Carolina within an hour’s drive, so you can still do everything you want while leaving frustrations behind.”
Make the First Peak Visitor Center in Columbus your first stop to discover a wealth of information and travel resources. Autumn brings breathtaking fall foliage, and the drive through Polk County boasts pristine views.
“The best time for fall color in Tryon and Columbus is around the first week in November,” Massey says. “Because we have an elevation change from mountains to rolling farmland, we get three weeks of peak color – the leaves start changing colors around Saluda earlier, and it works its way down. Sometimes, we still have fall color at Thanksgiving.”
Go Chasin’ Waterfalls
Hike a quarter mile through rich forests to take in the beauty of picturesque Pearson’s Falls, one of Polk County’s top natural attractions. Located off Highway 176 between Tryon and Saluda, the 90-foot waterfall is surrounded by a 268-acre botanical preserve, which contains more than 350 species of wildflowers and plants.
Prefer to drive? Visit the 150-foot-tall Shunkawauken Falls by driving up White Oak Mountain Road, which has plenty of curves and scenic views to keep things interesting. The drive up to Shunkawauken Falls takes about 20 minutes, and there are even more gorgeous views from nearby Sunset Rock.
Make Time for Wine
Polk County’s four wineries are located within a few miles of one another, making it easy to visit them all in one weekend. Check out Mountain Brook Vineyards, Overmountain Vineyards, Parker-Binns Vineyard and Russian Chapel Hills Winery, all of which dot the landscape of the rural area known as Green Creek.
“They’re gorgeous, and they offer tours and tastings, picnic space, and events facilities,” Massey says. “Our wineries are fun for couples, families, even pets. Each place has a different feel and style, and there’s a cool variety. Vineyards help keep our county green while providing economic vitality.”
See more: Fall for the Blue Ridge Parkway
Embrace the Outdoors
Love the outdoors? The North Carolina-managed hunting and fishing area known as the Green River Game Lands offers 16 miles of designated hiking trails, with the Green River attracting travelers who enjoy fly-fishing, tubing and kayaking.
Feeling really adventurous? The Gorge Zipline is America’s steepest, fastest zip line canopy tour, featuring 11 zip lines, a skybridge and three big rappels.
“You launch off the back deck of the outpost and enjoy beautiful treetop views of the mountains as you zigzag your way down into the amazing, deep gorge,” Massey says. “The narrow and rocky Green River runs right through the gorge. It lends itself perfectly to the outdoorsman and the adventurer.”
See a Free Horse Show
The Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) draws equestrian athletes from around the world, and guests can watch riders and horses compete from comfortable arenas and shaded viewing areas. Horse shows are free and open to the public and parking is complimentary, too. TIEC hosts equestrian events during most of the year, with special events such as festivals and concerts held in between. Guests can also dine and shop at the property’s many restaurants and boutique stores.
“You don’t have to know about horses to enjoy the Equestrian Center,” Massey says. “The venue is gorgeous, and there are lots of places to eat and sit and look at the mountain views. You can watch the equestrian events and be amazed, even if you don’t know about equestrian sports.”
On many Saturdays from May through October, TIEC hosts Saturday Night Lights, a family-friendly event surrounding the thrilling Grand Prix competition with live music, food, free carousel rides and entertainment.
Camp with Style
Emberglow Outdoor Resort opened in May 2020 in Mill Spring, providing visitors to the First Peak of the Blue Ridge with another unforgettable lodging option. The campground-style resort offers a “glamping” experience, perfect for city folks and seasoned campers alike. Travelers can look forward to Emberglow’s fully restored vintage and retro-style campers from the 1950s era, as well as yurts, glamping pods and treehouses for overnight accommodations.
“Emberglow has really unique and creative housing options – and a fire pit area perfect for making s’mores,” Massey says. “It’s a great place to explore the outdoors with the family, and it’s an easy mountain experience. Many units have their own bathrooms, and there are hiking trails and a dog park on the property.”
See more: Why You Should Explore Lexington This Fall
Say Cheese
Cheese doesn’t get any fresher than at Looking Glass Creamery, a farm-based cheese-making facility where the milk is produced by dairy cows on site. Located 12 miles southeast of Columbus, guests can sample handcrafted cheeses, snack on fresh cheddar cheese curds, peek into the cheese production room and walk through a field to enjoy one of the best mountain views in the area. Looking Glass Creamery also makes a rich dulce de leche caramel sauce called Carmoolita and serves locally made ice cream. The creamery is open on Fridays and Saturdays, but visit lookingglasscheese.com to check hours and learn more about their cheese varieties.
Soak Up the Small-Town Life
Polk County is big on small-town charm, and Saluda, Tryon and Columbus each have their own personalities. The county seat, Columbus, serves as a local gathering place chock-full of history and heritage. It also hosts the county’s main farmers market and has restaurants, a courthouse and two museums.
The county’s largest town, Tryon, is best known for equestrian-related activities and its arts scene, with galleries and crafts galore.
“Tryon has been a retirement mecca for architects, artists, equestrians and engineers for 100 years, so it’s a very eclectic group of people,” Massey says. “Tryon has a great Main Street with an awesome, fully restored movie theater built in the 1930s. It’s a really fun experience.”
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Saluda is Polk County’s smallest community, nestled in the mountains and home to 700 year-round residents. That number doubles in the summer, when it attracts people from the low country who have summer houses there.
“There’s nothing cookie-cutter about Saluda,” Massey says. “It’s a tiny downtown made up of about three blocks and it’s very charming. Since Saluda is at the top of the mountain, it connects with the Green River Gorge. Saluda is the first mountain town of the North Carolina Blue Ridge, so historically when visitors wanted higher elevations and cooler weather, people found Saluda and stayed.”
