Featured Attractions

Historic Sites

In Murphy visit the unique regal blue marble courthouse built of locally quarried stone from the nearby community aptly named Marble. At the Cherokee County Historical Museum you can freely view an extensive collection of Indian artifacts, early American tools, housewares and other exhibits of past mountain life. Nearby is the historic Harshaw Chapel and Cemetery, where many of our first white settlers are buried. The simple and beautiful old building, made of local handmade bricks, sits atop a hill overlooking the town.

Fields of the Wood

Visit the awe-inspiring Fields of the Wood, a Biblical theme park west of Murphy. Open from sunrise to sunset every day, this park provides an unforgettable experience set within the natural beauty of the area. An entire mountainside portrays the Ten Commandments written in stone. There is the All Nations Cross and replicas of the Jerusalem tomb of Christ and Golgotha.

Golf

Cherokee County features the 18-hole "Cherokee Hills" course at the Cherokee Hills Country Club facility in Murphy, North Carolina. The course boasts 6,324 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 70 and it has a slope rating of 113. Designed by William Wells, the Cherokee Hills golf course opened in 1969. Call (828)837-5853

Hiking

Located in the Western North Carolina Mountains, Cherokee County has several hundred miles of hiking trails within or adjacent to it's borders, including the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails. Click here for more information on these great hiking destinations.

Enjoy our Lakes

The county's mountain lakes are ideal for a variety of outdoor sports. Hiwassee, Appalachia and Cherokee Lakes offer boating, fishing, camping, and water-skiing. Marinas on Hiwassee Lake provide boat rentals, fishing supplies and launching ramps.

National Forests

The Nantahala National Forest offers hiking, camping, backpacking, trout fishing and picnicking. In Topton, the Nantahala River is nationally known for its whitewater rafting, canoeing and kayaking as it rushes through the spectacular Nantahala Gorge.

John C. Campbell Folk School

The John C. Campbell Folk School was established in 1925 by Olive Dame Campbell and Marguerite Butler and named for Mrs. Campbell's husband, John C. Campbell. More than 75 years later, it is still an important part of our community. Many people, locally and from around the world, gather at the Folk School for classes, workshops, dances, concerts, and other activities.

Since 1974 the Folk School has set aside the first weekend in October for the annual Fall Festival, a two-day celebration featuring craft booths and demonstrations, a variety of music on two stages, and lots of great food. Concerts featuring musicians, singers, and storytellers from around the region are presented on Friday nights throughout the year. Community contra and square-dances are held twice a month, with wonderful live music and dance callers from near and far.

The entire 372 acre campus has been designated as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. For a beautiful afternoon, tour the campus, peak in on a classroom where you might see pottery, basketry, blacksmithing, carving, weaving, or spinning, being taught, or spend some time in the gift shop. The Folk School requests that you start your tour in the gift shop where you can pick up a campus map and get a list of the day's activities and tips about the expected etiquette for peaking in a classroom. Or plan to spend a weekend evening at a concert or dance. The Folk School offers many ways to experience our culture during your visit.

For more information about the Folk School and its history, visit the John C. Campbell Folk School web site, send email to maryw@folkschool.org, or call them at 1-800-folksch or (828) 837-2775.

Day Trips

Let one of the Welcome Center's Information Specialists suggest one or more day trips to help make your mountain vacation more complete. A number of opportunities exist within a one to two hour drive, so that your family can headquarter in Cherokee County and explore our region. We can offer many suggestions from waterfall tours to casinos to aquariums and amusement parks and much more.

We offer a variety of half-day to day-long self-guided driving tours that take you on a loop starting and ending in our parking lot and leading you mile by mile on scenic highways, through national forests, over beautiful mountains and along our winding rivers. Stop by the Welcome Center to pick up one of our driving tour brochures.

Nantahala Outdoor Center

Since 1972, NOC has shared the outdoors with millions of guests. Located in Western North Carolina near the Great Smoky Mountains, NOC is within easy driving distance of Atlanta, Charlotte, and Knoxville. Our world-class staff leads whitewater rafting trips on seven Southeastern rivers, including the Chattooga, Cheoah, French Broad, Nantahala, Nolichucky, Ocoee, and Pigeon, Learn to paddle from the best in our renowned canoe and kayak paddling school. We also offer mountain biking, group programs, ropes courses, kayak touring, flyfishing and hiking.

To find out more about the Nantahala Outdoor Center, visit the NOC web site.

Fairs, Festivals, and Special Events

Fairs, festivals, and other special events often take center stage in the county. America's oldest wagon train is the highlight of the Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration in Andrews. As autumn colors arrive, the National Appalachian Jeep Jamboree in Murphy, and the Antique Car Show in Andrews are popular events.