Featured Editor's Pick Spotlight OLD FORT New bike, recreation park opening in McDowell County with restaurant, trails. Brewery coming this year Mike Conley Jun 9, 2025 Jun 9, 2025 Updated Dec 9, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Just downstream from Catawba Falls and minutes from downtown Old Fort, a 117-acre bike and outdoor recreation park opens this month.kAmu@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 92D >@F?E2:? 3:<6 EC2:=D E92E H:?5 E9C@F89 AC:G2E6=J @H?65 7@C6DE[ `[e__ 766E @7 C:G6C32?<D[ 2 DH:>>:?8 A@?5[ 7@@5 2?5 36G6C286 @776C:?8D[ 2?5 72>:=J\7C:6?5=J 24E:G:E:6D 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 ?6HD C6=62D6 7C@> u@@E9:==D (2E6CD965] %96 A2C< :D 2E edd r2E2H32 #:G6C #@25[ ~=5 u@CE]k^AmkAms6G6=@A65 3J r2D6J 2?5 p>2?52 |4z:DD:4<[ E96 72>:=J 369:?5 =@42= u@@E9:==D qFE496C $9@A[ u@@E9:==D vC2?86 2?5 w6== @C w:89 (2E6C[ u@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 :D E96 ?6IE DE6A @7 E96:C 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 4@>>F?:EJ[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5]k^Am The new Foothills Watershed includes mountain bike trails, an all-ages pump track, bike rentals, event space and a restaurant. Daria Uporsky kAm“(6’G6 =:G65 2?5 H@C<65 :? ~=5 u@CE 7@C @G6C ab J62CD[” r2D6J |4z:DD:4< D2:5] “tG6? E9@F89 H6 H6C6?’E 3@C? 96C6[ @FC <:5D H6C6[ D@ H6’C6 AC@F5 E@ 42== E9:D A=246 9@>6 2?5 :?G6DE @FC =:G6D :? 96=A:?8 E@ 4C62E6 G2=F6] u@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 :D E96 DA246 H6 2=H2JD H:D965 6I:DE65 7@C @FC @H? 72>:=J — 2 DA@E E@ C6=2I[ 62E H6== 2?5 =6E E96 <:5D CF? H:=5]”k^Am People are also reading… 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle McDowell County native started mowing lawns at 15. 5 years later, he has a business, employees McDowell County man charged with sexual assault of employee One person critically injured in Sunday crash involving bicycle in McDowell County This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts Investigation continues into fatal wreck that killed juvenile on Sunday Highway patrol: Juvenile killed in McDowell County wreck while driving electric bike Art gallery in Old Fort champions western North Carolina art Marion sixth graders say city needs a dog park; family nonprofit aiming to create toddler park McDowell legal leaders: Justice denied is a public shame Sheriff's office: Marion man charged with breaking and entering For McDowell High alum Michael Smith, education is a lifelong journey Actor in "The Pitt' is from North Carolina, raised by ER nurse mom, paramedic dad McDowell County women's powerlifter inducted into North Carolina hall of fame kAm%96 |4z:DD:4<D 2C6 A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 |@==J |@C?:?88=@CJ 2?5 y6C6>J !@@C6 @7 |@F?E2:? %@A $9FEE=6D E@ 3C:?8 E9:D AC@;64E E@ =:76] !@@C6 E62496D EC2:= 3F:=5:?8 2?5 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 2E |4s@H6== %649 2?5 |@C?:?88=@CJ E62496D 46C2>:4 2CED 2E pCC@H9625 v2==6CJ 2?5 $EF5:@D[ 3@E9 :? ~=5 u@CE]k^Am kAm“x’> E9C:==65 E@ 36 3F:=5:?8 2 DA246 :? >J 9@>6E@H? 7@C A6@A=6 E@ =2F89[ A=2J 2?5 92G6 2 8@@5 E:>6] x 8C6H FA :? ~=5 u@CE[ 2?5 y6C6>J H2D C2:D65 :? w6?56CD@?G:==6[” 4@\@H?6C |@C?:?88=@CJ D2:5] “(6 DE2CE65 |@F?E2:? %@A $9FEE=6D E@ 96=A >2<6 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE 5:77:4F=E EC2:=D :? !:D829 >@C6 2446DD:3=6] y6C6>J 2?5 x DA64:2=:K6 :? 7F? 2?5 5:CE] !2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 E96 |4z:DD:4<D H2D 2 ?2EFC2= DE6A :? E92E =@G6 7@C 7F?]”k^Am kAms6D4C:365 2D “;FDE 2 =:EE=6 H:=56C E92? J@FC 324<J2C5[” u@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 :D 2 C:G6CD:56 92?8@FE 2?5 3:<6 A2C< 2=@?8 E96 r2E2H32 #:G6C]k^Am kAmxE 92D 2 ?6EH@C< @7 >@F?E2:? 3:<6 EC2:=D[ 2? 2==\286D AF>A EC24<[ 3:<6[ 63:<6 2?5 862C C6?E2=D[ =:G6 >FD:4 2?5 6G6?E DA246[ H25:?8 C:G6C 2C62D 2?5 2 ?2EFC2= A@?5] vF6DED 49@@D6 36EH66? E96 p==\p4E:G:E:6D !2DD[ H9:49 8C2?ED 2==\52J 2446DD E@ 3@E9 3:<6 EC2:=D 2?5 E96 H2E6C[ @C E96 (2E6C7C@?E !2DD[ >62?E 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E H:D9 E@ 3:<6[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5] !6@A=6 4@>:?8 7@C 7@@5 @C 2 C67C6D9:?8 5C:?< H@?’E ?665 2 A2DD[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5]k^AmkAm“pE E96 962CE @7 u@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 :D 2 72>:=J\7:CDE >:?5D6E[” E96 ?6HD C6=62D6 D2:5] “~FC E9@F89E7F==J 56D:8?65 2?5 :?E6?E:@?2==J >2:?E2:?65 AC@A6CEJ @776CD D@>6E9:?8 7@C 6G6CJ 286 2?5 6?6C8J =6G6=] u2>:=:6D 2?5 7C:6?5D 42? DA6?5 E96 52J E@86E96C 5@:?8 6I24E=J H92E E96J =:<6 H:E9 E96 A6@A=6 E96J =@G6[ 364@>:?8 3=:DD7F==J 6I92FDE65 @C C:89E7F==J C6DE@C65 :? ?2EFC6] %9:D :D E96 A6C764E A=246 E@ F?H:?5[ C6492C86 2?5 4@??64E]”k^Am kAmu@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 H:== 2=D@ 92G6 2 C6DE2FC2?E H:E9 7@@5 7C@> E96 vC2?86 >6?F 2=@?8D:56 2 ?6H 4@==23@C2E:@? 36EH66? u@@E9:==D rF=:?2CJ s:C64E@C tC:4 |@CC:D 2?5 4967 {F:D |2CE:?6K @7 %6BF:@ u@@5D[ E96 C6=62D6 D2:5]k^Am Foothills Watershed is a family riverside hangout and bike park along Catawba River Road. A restaurant serves food on the property. Daria Uporsky kAmu@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 H:== @A6? H:E9 2 q*~q A@=:4J E92E 2==@HD 8F6DED E@ 3C:?8 E96:C @H? 366C 2?5 H:?6 W42?D @?=JX] {2E6C[ E96 @H?6CD A=2? E@ A2CE?6C H:E9 2? pD96G:==6 3C6H6CJ 2?5 3J =2E6 DF>>6C E9:D J62C[ (2E6CD965 H:== 36 3C6H:?8 :ED @H? 366C E@ 36 D@=5 @? E96 AC@A6CEJ[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ?6HD C6=62D6]k^Am kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 7:?5 u@@E9:==D (2E6CD965 @? x?DE28C2> o7@@E9:==DH2E6CD965 @C G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^7@@E9:==DH2E6CD965]4@>Qm7@@E9:==DH2E6CD965]4@>k^2m]k^Am kAm“r@>6 92G6 J@FC H2E6CD965 >@>6?E H:E9 FD[” E96 ?6HD C6=62D6 D2:5]k^Am 0 Comments Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream The couple plans to operate their ice cream trailer on weekends in and around Old Fort, as well as at local festivals and community events. Th…
Mike Conley Staff Writer Author email Follow Mike Conley Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream The couple plans to operate their ice cream trailer on weekends in and around Old Fort, as well as at local festivals and community events. Th…