With so many Bryson City area attractions,
no Smoky Mountain vacation is long enough

Bryson City’s central location makes it the ideal home base for an event-filled Western North Carolina vacation. Here are some of the great things to do while staying in Swain County. (The website links below will open in a new window.)


Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway Association

P.O. Box 453

Asheville, NC 28802

The Blue Ridge Parkway begins in Swain County and provides spectacular views of the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains. An ideal place for picnics and bicycling. A vacation map and guide is available at the address above, or by contacting the Swain County Chamber of Commerce at 800-867-9246. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Cherokee Heritage Museum
and Gallery

Saunooke Village

Cherokee, NC

828-497-3211

The Museum highlights Cherokee’s past through displays of art and cultural items such as masks, crystals, the uketena and more. Includes a gallery of Native American crafts and art. Open daily April through November  $2.50 (11 years and older), $1.50 (6-10 years), under 6 free. Photo courtesy of Saunooke Village.

Cherokee Indian Reservation

Cherokee Visitor Center

US 441 North

PO Box 460, Cherokee, NC 28719

828-497-9195 or 800-438-1601

An information resource on all there is to do in Cherokee. Photo courtesy of the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

Fontana Dam

Hwy 28 west of Bryson City, NC

828-498-2234 (May thru September) or

828-498-2251 (off season)

480 feet high, Fontana is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. Constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority during the early 1940s to supply electricity to fuel the war effort during World War II. Open for visitors May thru September. Free. Photo courtesy of Philip Hamm.

Great Smoky Mountains
National Park

Headquarters & Tennessee main entrance

Sugarlands Visitor Center

107 Park Headquarters Road

Gatlinburg, TN

423-436-1200
 

North Carolina main entrance

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

US 441 North

Cherokee, NC

828-497-1900

With sixteen peaks over 6,000 feet and more than a half-million acres of pristine primitive wilderness, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the nation's most-visited national park. Clingmans Dome —the highest point in the Smokies — and Cade's Cove are the most popular landmarks.

Half of the Park is in North Carolina, and most of that is in Swain County. Popular areas include Deep Creek, Lakeview Drive ("Road to Nowhere"), Mountain Farm Museum, Mingus Mill, Smokemont, Clingmans Dome, Cataloochee Valley and the north shore of Fontana Lake. Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 

This website is a service of the
Swain County Chamber of Commerce
210 Main Street
P.O. Box 509
Bryson City, NC 28713

Karen Wilmot, Director

800-867-9246 toll-free
828-488-3681 local
828-488-6858 fax

Download Brochure (2 MB pdf)

 

 

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

PO Box 1490

Bryson City, NC 28713

828-586-8811 or 800-872-4681

The Nantahala Gorge Excursion from Bryson City is a 4 1/2 hours, 44 miles round trip ride. The train travels to the Nantahala Gorge and returns. This magnificent trip offers highlights like the Horseshoe Curve, Fontana Lake Trestle, Tennessee River and the Nantahala River. Passengers ride in comfortable, reconditioned coaches, crown coaches, club cars, dining cars, cabooses, and open cars, which are ideal for viewing and picture taking. Special excursions and group rates are available. Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino

Highway 19

Cherokee, NC

800-427-7247 or 828-497-7777

24-hour casino fun, featuring 2,700 video gaming machines, three great restaurants, live entertainment, a gift shop, a culturally-themed educational child care facility and all the friendly, first-class service that has made Harrah's famous. 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. A new 15-story, 252-room hotel opened in 2002. Photo courtesy of Harrah’s.

Mountain Farm Museum

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Oconaluftee Visitor Center

US 441 North

Cherokee, NC

828-497-1900

An outdoor collection of historic log, farm buildings that is open year-round. Walk at your leisure through the house, barn, and outbuildings including a blacksmith shop and chicken coop. Gardens and orchards feature heirloom plants. Easy walking trail by the Oconaluftee River. There are 2 festivals each year, one in June that features the role women once played on mountain farms and The Mountain Life Festival in September. Photo courtesy of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian

PO Box 1599

Cherokee, NC 28719

828-497-3481

By combining high-tech wizardry and an extensive artifact collection, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian is fun for the entire family and an exciting, educational event. Open daily at 9 am except closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children, and free for children under age 6. Photo courtesy of the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

 

 

Nantahala Gorge Ruby Mine, Inc.

11900 U.S. 19/74 West

Bryson City, NC 28713

828-488-3854

Professional Gem Stone evaluation and cutting is available onsite through our gemologist, Gene Elliott. Gene has received local and national recognition for his honesty, fairness, and expert craftsmanship. Season: Mid-May through Mid-October. Photo courtesy of Nantahala Cabins.

Oconaluftee Indian Village

Drama Road

PO Box 398

Cherokee, NC 28719

828-497-2111 or 828-497-2315

Recreated Cherokee Village of the 1750s. Regular tours by Cherokee guides present history, crafts, early homes and mountain forest demonstrations of beadwork, pottery, blowguns, and much more in a beautiful forest setting. Open from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm daily, May 15th thru October 25th. Adults $13.00; Children: (6-13) $6.00 Photo courtesy of the Cherokee Historical Association.

Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual

Hwy 441 & Drama Road

Cherokee NC 28719

828-497-3103

Established in 1946, it serves mainly as a cooperative mutual for 300 Cherokee craftspeople, the facility has a large display area for those interested in historical baskets, masks, pottery, fingerweaving, wood carving and more. Hours - June through August 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. September through October - 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. November through May 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. No admission fee. Photo courtesy of Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual.

Santa's Land Fun Park and Zoo

571 Wolftown Road

Cherokee NC 28719

828-497-9191

Located 3 miles east of Cherokee on US 19. See Santa and his elves, browse through gift shops and exhibits, and visit the domestic and exotic animals in the zoo. Santa's Land also features rides, picnic facilities, and eating establishments. Open daily 9 am to 5 pm from March 31st through October 31st. $16.59, children under 2 free. Photo courtesy of Santa’s Land Theme Park and Zoo

 

 

Smoky Mountain Jet Boats

22 Needmore Road

Bryson City, NC 28713

888-900-9091

Our 12-passenger Jet Boats take all ages for an exhilarating and scenic ride on beautiful Lake Fontana. Along the way you will do the unique Hamilton spin, view a 50-foot waterfall and possibly a Bald Eagle or family of otters. Ask about our combination hiking trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Allow an hour. Photo courtesy of Smoky Mountain Jet Boats.

Smoky Mountain Trains

100 Greenlee Street,

Bryson City, NC 28713

Mission: To share the spirit of model railroading with individuals of all ages. Smoky Mountain Trains is more than an ordinary museum. With its collection of 7,000 Lionel engines, cars and accessories, impressive operating layout, children's activity center, and gift/toy shop, Smoky Mountain Trains has something for everyone. Open 7 days a week, schedule varies by season. Adults $9.00; children under 12 - $5.00; children under 3 - Free. Owned and operated by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Photo courtesy Smoky Mountain Trains.

Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center

121 Schoolhouse Road
Robbinsville, NC 28771
828-479-3364

 

Located just 30 minutes west of Bryson City off Highway 28, the old Stecoah School has been given new life as an arts center. Experience the arts and culture of the mountains year 'round with festivals, concerts and an Artisans Gallery. In the Gallery you'll find original artwork and fine crafts from the Stecoah Artisans Guild. An Appalachian Evening, the summer concert series offers an ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and old-time mountain music by award-winning artists.

 

"Unto These Hills" Outdoor Drama

Mountainside Theater / U.S. 441 North

PO Box 398

Cherokee, NC 28719

866-554-4557

Recognized as one of the top outdoor dramas in the United States with over 5,000,000 visitors since its opening in July 1950. The Drama tells the history of the Cherokee people from about 1540 through their forced removal from this area in the late 1830's. 8:30 pm daily except Sundays (pre-show entertainment begins at 7:45 pm) Mid-June through mid-August. General admission seating: Adults $16.00 - Children (6 through 13) $8.00. Reserved seating (all ages): $18.00 Photo Courtesy of Cherokee Historical Assn.

Whitewater Rafting

The Nantahala, Oconaluftee, and Little Tennessee Rivers provide whitewater fun for all ages. The most challenging is the Nantahala River, which is dam controlled and features Class III rapids. For a list of Whitewater outfitters and other information, visit the Rafting section of this web site. Photo courtesy of the NC Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development.           

       
 


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