Columbus, NC

The tiny town of Columbus (population 999) is for perfect basecamp for horse and wine country in the foothills. In the historic downtown, see one of the oldest courthouses in North Carolina and grab lunch or dinner at a number of restaurants. It's an easy 42-mile drive from Asheville via I-26 East. It's just 4.5 miles east of Tryon and about 12 miles south of Lake Lure. Note that the video below was produced prior to Hurricane Helene. 

The four-block downtown area has some great local restaurants and some shops for browsing. Go to Iron Key Brewing Company (135 Locust St, Columbus) for a meal and local brews in their historic building, plus enjoy live music and flight nights. Stop by the First Peak Visitor Center at 20 East Mills Street for plenty of local information.

Enjoy two parks in the middle of tiny Columbus! Stearns Park with its lovely gazebo hosts many events. It's a great place to picnic while enjoying the mountain views. Behind the courthouse is Veterans Park with a fountain and memorial. 

Columbus Farmers' Market is open nearly year round, with both a winter and spring/summer version in separate locations on Saturday mornings. You can visit vendors outdoors in the spring/summer and indoors in winter with local, homegrown food and handcrafted art.

Just eight miles east of downtown Columbus is the Tryon International  with international horse jumping competitions, restaurants, shops and many free events. Read more. 

Since this area is located in the "Thermal Belt" with mild temperatures and climate perfect for grapes, visit several wineries in the Tryon Foothills Wine Country. Read more!

White Oak Mountain Road is one of our favorite scenic drives in the North Carolina mountains. From downtown, drive five miles up the twisting road to the top and gain about 2,000 in elevation. Stop at Shunkawauken Falls, a roadside 150-foot tall waterfall. Then end your journey with panoramic views from Sunset Rock. Read more.

Columbus is the county seat for Polk County. The historic 1857 courthouse is one of the oldest still in use in North Carolina and has been restored. Take a look inside!

Tour the only flag museum in the country! The House of Flags (33 Gibson Street) has 300+ different flags including reproductions of military, international and religious flags. It has merged with the Polk County Historical Museum, which tells the local history with fascinating photos and artifacts. Both museums are open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 AM-1 PM and Saturdays 10 AM-4 PM.

Columbus is located in the middle of so much to see, located about 18 miles from all of these fun small towns: Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Hendersonville, Flat Rock and Rutherfordton.