Alexander County is located in the beautiful foothills of western North Carolina, and has something to offer for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a scenic spot for a picnic; a hotspot for fishing; a unique ecosystem for hiking; a challenging course for 4-wheeling; or a taste of arts, culture, and history, Alexander County is the place to be.
Visit our tourism website for complete details: www.VisitAlexanderNC.com. There you’ll find a complete calendar of events, restaurant listings, accommodations listings, tourist destinations, and more.
Here’s a taste of what you’ll find in Alexander County!
Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area is one of the crown jewels for outdoor recreational opportunities in Alexander County. The 318-acre park, which opened in 2012, is a former rock quarry dating back to the early 1920s. Today, the former rock quarry area includes a new multipurpose building, a paved ADA walking track, a picnic shelter, restrooms, and park office. The quarry area features a sheer cliff face which is attractive for qualified rock climbers, with approximately 60 established climbing routes. Outside the quarry area, the park includes approximately five miles of hiking trails which will take hikers along the top of the quarry cliffs and to the mountain peak. The Vertical Mile Challenge (8 laps of this challenging route equals about a mile up and a mile down) has more than 3,500 participants as of 2017! In 2003, the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program signed an agreement that put Rocky Face Mountain on the North Carolina Registry of Natural Heritage Areas because of its unique qualities.
Alexander County Recreation maintains five public parks in its county park system: East Alexander Park (Hiddenite), Jaycee Park (Taylorsville), Town Park (Taylorsville), Bethlehem Park (Bethlehem) and Dusty Ridge Park (Wittenburg). The Town of Taylorsville maintains two parks: Matheson Park (playground, volleyball, walking/running trail, picnic shelters) and Town Park. Residents enjoy tennis, softball, ragball, football, baseball, basketball, soccer, horseshoes, hunting, boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, children’s playgrounds, and walking or jogging on track facilities. Additional recreation opportunities are also available through the county’s recreation department as well as the Alexander County Family YMCA.
For gemologists, precious stones and gems may be found in Hiddenite at the Emerald Hollow Mine.
Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park is a nationally-recognized off-highway vehicle park in Alexander County featuring more than 65 miles of trails in the Brushy Mountains for those who like to have some fun on their dirt bikes and four-wheelers.
The public can also enjoy golf at Brushy Mountain Golf Club and Player’s Ridge Golf Club. Private recreation facilities are available at the Northwood Park Swim Club, East Alexander Swim Club, Hiddenite Family Campground, and Hickory Cove Bible Camp. Or you can enjoy a cool swim at the unique Suncrest Water Park.
Moore Mountain in Alexander County is also a popular area for hang-gliding enthusiasts.
CULTURE
The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center is a folklife and cultural arts educational and exhibition center located in Hiddenite. A three-story Victorian/Edwardian house has been restored to accommodate art galleries and collection, as well as the Alexander County Visitor Center. The center is designed to afford experiential opportunities for western North Carolina and serves as a prism to capture the energies contained within the area.
The Alexander Central Auditorium seats approximately 1,000 people and is host to a variety of community events, including concerts, plays, dance competitions, community events, and much more. Keep up-to-date with the auditorium’s calendar and make plans to attend some of the upcoming popular performances.
Remember, to learn about everything that Alexander County has to offer, be sure to visit our tourism website at www.VisitAlexanderNC.com.