Saluda, NC

Saluda, a tiny town of 700 residents, boasts a picturesque Main Street packed with an impressive selection of longtime restaurants, shops and galleries surrounded by beautiful scenery. It's been a popular mountain tourist town since the late-1800s and definitely one of our favorite towns to explore. Nearby is Pearson's Falls and the Green River Gorge. Visit the First Peak of the Blue Ridge website for details about the Saluda area. 

Just 35 miles from downtown Asheville, the one-street downtown hasn’t changed much since it was founded in 1878. Most buildings on Main Street have been added to the National Register of Historic places.

Saluda came about when the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad arrived, at the crest of the Saluda Grade, the steepest mainline standard-gauge track in the eastern United States. Businesses moved in, summer homes were built and tourists from South Carolina filled local boarding houses to escape the hot summers. Saluda developed the reputation of a cool mountain resort town that offered health benefits to those who came. See a Saluda Grade Diorama in the Depot, open Thursday-Sunday afternoons.

Pace's General Store is worth the visit. This old-fashioned hardware and general store was founded in 1899 and was featured on Our Vanishing Americana. Inside you will find everything from Pointer overalls, jams and jellies of every variety, garden items, hardware and much more.

Just down the street since 1892 is Thompson's Store and Ward's Grill. They have a great deli, the perfect place to pick up a picnic to take to Pearson's Falls!

Restaurants include The Purple Onion, with an emphasis on the Mediterranean's simple, healthful cuisine and a focus on freshness, as well as offering live music and outdoor dining. Green River BBQ is another delicious and casual choice. A short drive from downtown is the more upscale Newman's Restaurant inside the historic Orchard Inn, serving dinner Thursday-Saturday and Sunday brunch by reservation only. 

This is an arts town! Browse many galleries. Discover Appalachian artistry at Elm & Owl Gallery in downtown Saluda, where local artists carry on mountain traditions through handmade pottery, textiles, woodwork, glass, jewelry, and fine art. And don't miss the highly recommended Saluda Arts Festival each May.  

Pearson's Falls

The Green River Gorge offers a big variety of outdoor adventures, including inflatable kayak trips down the whitewater, stand up paddleboard rental, tubing, fishing, camping and even waterfall rappelling. Read more. 

Nearby, check out the amazing Tryon International Equestrian Center and the Tryon Foothills Wine Country.

See more of our Coolest NC Mountain Small Towns - including nearby Tryon and Hendersonville.

Directions from Asheville: Take I-26 East about 35 miles to Exit 59.