Tryon, NC

Tryon, NC, offers many things to do for a small town of just 1,700 people. Known as "The Friendliest Town in the South," Tryon features a vibrant arts community with downtown galleries, picturesque vineyards in its wine country, and nearby world-class equestrian events and wineries. 

Horse lovers from around the world visit Tryon International (formerly called the Tryon Equestrian Center) in Mill Spring, about 13 miles east of downtown Tryon. Nearby Shunkawauken Falls is a great roadside waterfall.  Visit the First Peak website for current events and area attractions.

Like neighboring Saluda, Tryon is a "railroad town" that grew quickly in the late 1800s as tourists flocked to the area to enjoy the mountain views and good climate. Many artists, writers and crafters chose to stay for a while, including the stage actor William Gillette, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. This mix of locals, artists and retirees continues today, creating a vibrant community. See the video below, which was made prior to Hurricane Helene.

Downtown Tryon has a nice selection shops, art galleries and restaurants along Trade Street. Find a great selection of antique and vintage shops, and an independent bookstore. 4th Friday strolls, held monthly from February into November, transform Tryon's shops and social district into a themed street gathering (5-7 PM, free). 

Also, Downtown shops and galleries feature special demonstrations on Second Saturdays. About a mile south of downtown on US 176, find The Old Mill Market Square (151 Southern Mercerizing Rd) for antiques and more from vendors.

Catch a movie at the tiny, elegant Tryon Theatre or a performance at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. Next door, the Upstairs Artspace (49 South Trade Street) is a nonprofit contemporary art gallery with two and three-dimensional art and craft by leading artists of the Carolinas and Southeast. Many of the historic buildings on Trade Street were built before 1900.

Tryon Fine Arts Center (34 Melrose Avenue) has been a focus for entertainment and the arts since 1969. See outstanding performances, concerts, and theater productions throughout the year, and browse exhibitions in their gallery space. You can hear everything from Celtic to country and classical, rock, blues, and soul at the Fine Art Center as well as local wineries and small venues.

Tryon Arts & Crafts School: Tryon Arts & Crafts School (373 Harmon Field Road) is over 50 years old, and offers classes and workshops in pottery, jewelry, weaving and fiber arts, blacksmithing, glass, lapidary, woodworking, welding, and more. The school has exciting gallery shows throughout the year, a Heritage Collection showcasing the history of native mountain arts and crafts in the Tryon area, and a lovely gift shop featuring one-of-a-kind works by local artisans.

Nina Simone Plaza in downtown Tryon is a tribute to Eunice Kathleen Waymon, born in Tryon 1933. She grew up to become Nina Simone, who introduced the world to a unique musical infusion of pop, gospel, classical, jazz, folk and ballads, that she called "Black Classical Music." Her voice and music were instrumental in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Watch the ball drop first in Tryon on New Year’s Eve! Their Tryon Midnight celebration runs 7-10 PM with a ball drop at 10 PM and a DJ playing dance tunes by the clock tower. 

Horse Country
Morris the Horse, a well loved landmark standing on the corner of Trade and Pacolet Streets, has proudly represented Tryon since 1928. He is both a symbol of the community's love of horses and a replica of an era gone by when wooden toy horses just like him were made in Tryon and shipped to destinations all over the country. While there are no horseback riding stables in town, you can watch plenty of horse shows and races in the surrounding area. Block House Steeplechase in Columbus ushers in spring with picnics, sundresses, elegant hats, tailgating and racing thoroughbred horses. The impressive Tryon International (formerly called lthe Tryon International Equestrian Center) in Mill Spring, about 13 miles east of downtown, opened in 2015 and has weekly equestrian competitions much of the year and added musical events to its offerings. (More info below.)

At the nearby Tryon International in Mill Spring, watch a variety of equestrian competitions and dine in a variety of restaurants. On most Saturday nights in spring through fall, their big "Saturday Night Lights" includes plenty of activities and competitions - free to enjoy!  Read more.

See more of our Coolest NC Mountain Small Towns.