[Updated May 22, 2023]
Located about halfway between Bryson City and Asheville, Maggie Valley NC is a small mountain town with something of a split personality.
The town has been home to colorful characters such as bluegrass legend Raymond Fairchild, bootlegger Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, and Deliverance actor Herbert “Cowboy” Coward (who got his start at the Ghost Town theme park).
It’s a homespun sort of town where folksy art galleries and craft stores sit comfortably alongside clogging/square dance venues, country style restaurants, and a motorcycle museum that draws bikers and antique automobile aficionados alike.
But thanks to its proximity to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it’s also the sort of town where wealthy retirees pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for fancy cabins high up in the surrounding hills.
It’s hard to picture those ritzy retirees attending the annual motorcycle rallies, the Hillbilly Jam (held July 21-22, 2023), or the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival (Oct 28, 2023).
But these and other major Maggie Valley events attract visitors from all across the country.
Read on for our guide to the 15 Best Things to Do in Maggie Valley NC, including Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum, driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, Stompin’ Ground, Soco Falls, and more!
READ MORE: The 25 Best Western NC Small Towns To Visit (and Live In!)
Best Things to Do in Maggie Valley NC Guide
- Dale’s Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum
- Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
- Enjoy Appalachian Culture at Stompin’ Ground
- Explore Downtown Maggie Valley
- Explore the Haywood County Art Scene
- Hit the Slopes at the Cataloochee Ski Area
- Sample the Best Maggie Valley Restaurants
- See Cataloochee Valley Elk
- See Relics From Ghost Town In The Sky
- Spend a Day at Lake Junaluska
- Take a Guided UTV Tour
- View the Spectacular Soco Falls
- Visit Cherokee NC
- Visit Downtown Waynesville NC
- Wine Tastings at B&C Winery
READ MORE: The 20 Best Things to Do in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
1. Dale’s Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum
Our first stop in Maggie Valley was Dale’s Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum, which was made famous by TV shows like American Pickers (on the History Channel).
The popular Maggie Valley attraction was founded in 2002 by Dale Walksler, who was known as “The King of Old Motorcycles” for his incredible collection of antique vehicles.
Unfortunately, Dale passed away after a long battle with Cancer in 2021. But before he did he assembled one of the world’s largest collections of rare American motorcycles, memorabilia, and an array of unique “one off” automobiles.
Located 5 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 38,000 square foot museum houses a collection of 350+ rare machines, including vintage bikes from Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Yale, Crocker, and many more.
The museum is a must-see for anyone with an interest in the evolution of American motorcycling and automotive history.
READ MORE: 10 Great Train Rides in North Carolina
2. Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway
Maggie Valley is less than 5 miles east of the Blue Ridge Parkway, so there are numerous great overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls that can be easily accessed from the town.
Some of our favorite Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks in the area include the Woolyback Overlook (Milepost 452.3), Thunderstruck Ridge Overlook (MP 454.4), Big Witch Overlook (MP 461.9), and the Thomas Divide Overlook (MP 463.9).
Popular Blue Ridge Parkway hikes nearby include the 0.6-mile Waterrock Knob Trail (MP 451.2), the 1.47-mile Richland Balsam Trail (MP 431), and access to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from Soco Gap (MP 455.7 ).
There aren’t as many great Blue Ridge Parkway waterfalls in this area as you’ll find in the sections around Asheville.
But you could easily tackle Soco Falls (2 miles from the Parkway), Mingo Falls (5 miles), and the 3 Deep Creek waterfalls inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11 miles) in one day.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Blue Ridge Parkway Hotels & Cabin Rentals in NC
3. Enjoy Appalachian Culture at Stompin’ Ground
Growing up in the heart of Atlanta, with family roots in small town Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, I had virtually no interest in my ancestral traditions.
I can still remember in 7th grade, when our class was forced to learn square dancing, making fun of it the whole time. Now, 40 years later, I learn I’m related to Haywood County’s Sam Love Queen, “the Square Dance King!”
So it was with a relatively newfound appreciation of traditional Appalachian culture that we attended the recent UCA World Clogging Competition at the legendary Stompin’ Ground Dance Hall in Maggie Valley.
What the Grand Ole Opry is to old-time country and bluegrass music, the Stompin’ Ground is to clogging, square dancing, and other styles of Appalachian dance.
There are exhibits in the lobby about the history of mountain dance, a stage for live music concerts, a massive 60- by 80-foot dance floor, and plenty of seating for those who want to watch (or just catch their breath).
The dance hall features music and dancing every Friday night during the peak summer season, and it’s always easy to find new friends who can help you learn the basic steps.
READ MORE: 40 Facts About the History of the Banjo (From Africa to Appalachia)
4. Explore Downtown Maggie Valley
Unlike NC mountain towns such as Blowing Rock, Bryson City, and Hendersonville, Maggie Valley doesn’t have that classic, easily walkable downtown square.
But the best restaurants, parks, and shopping in Maggie Valley are all located along the main road through town, US-19 S (a.k.a. Soco Rd).
The road is surrounded by massive mountains on both sides, so there is picturesque scenery pretty much every which way you turn.
Some of our favorite Maggie Valley shops include the upscale Cabbage Rose gift shop, the eclectic assortment of items at Maggie Mountaineer Crafts, the Barn Tin Boutique, and more.
If you’re looking for a lovely little spot for a picnic, check out the pavilion at Mary Rathbone Rich Park, which also features a tranquil creekside garden with exceptional mountain views.
READ MORE:The 10 Best Things to Do in Winston Salem NC
5. Explore the Haywood County Art Scene
Since 1977, the Haywood County Arts Council has been pursuing its mission to build a community-driven cultural scene by promoting artists, art education, and innovation in the arts.
Although the Council is based in Waynesville, the town of Maggie Valley is home to numerous HCAC members and several shops that showcase Appalachian artistic influences.
As a percussionist, I loved Different Dummer Pottery, the working studio/gallery where Terance Painter has been crafting gorgeous ceramic drums, dishes, and decor for 40+ years now. Son Caden joined the business in 2018.
If you like the carved bear statues that are so popular in the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll love Mountain Mike’s Whetstone Woodworks, which is part of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails.
We also loved the impeccable craftsmanship of Mike McKinney Woodturning. McKinney specializes using local reclaimed wood like maple, cherry, and walnut to make natural-edge bowls, urns, ornaments, and more.
READ MORE: 30 Fascinating Facts About the Appalachian Mountains for Trivia Buffs
6. Hit the Slopes at the Cataloochee Ski Area
Consistently ranked among the best places for snow skiing and snow tubing in North Carolina, the Cataloochee Ski Area is the Haywood County haven for winter sports and recreation.
There are no lodging accommodations here, but there are plenty of rental cabins, hotel rooms, and even cool treehouses to choose from nearby.
The Cataloochee Ski area includes 18 different slopes and trails, with a total vertical drop of 740 feet on the property. The vast majority are designed for beginners and intermediate skiers, but there are a few more challenging runs for experts.
They offer ski lessons for newbies, as well as “slow skiing areas” for everyone who’s still trying to master the fine art of staying vertical while sliding down the side of massive North Carolina mountains.
The Cataloochee Ski Area season typically lasts from mid-December through early March, and it’s usually open daily from 9 AM to 10 PM during those months.
READ MORE: The 10 Best North Carolina Mountain Resorts to Visit
7. Sample the Best Maggie Valley Restaurants
If you come to Maggie Valley expecting the culinary diversity of larger towns like Asheville, Boone, and Roanoke, you may find yourself sorely disappointed.
Don’t get me wrong: There are some great Maggie Valley restaurants. But most of them stick to the burgers/BBQ/country fare you’ll find in similarly small towns like Banner Elk and Burnsville.
Our favorite restaurants in Maggie Valley included the down-home Southern cooking of The Valley House (which reminded me of my Tennessee-bred Granny’s cooking) and the upscale Italian fare of Cafe Italiano Restaurant & Pizzeria (a great place for a romantic dinner in Maggie Valley).
We also enjoyed the creative assortment of pancakes at Joey’s Pancake House (a local favorite since 1966), the excellent Po Boy and barbecue sandwich we had at Pop’s Place Biscuits, Burgers & BBQ, and the Appalachian Flatbread at the BearWaters Brewing Company (which has two breweries in Haywood County).
We’ve also heard excellent things about the luxury dining experience at The Swag, an all-inclusive Maggie Valley resort, but their restaurant appears to be for guests only.
READ MORE: The Best Romantic Getaways in North Carolina
8. See the Cataloochee Valley Elk
Located about 20 miles north of Maggie Valley, the Cataloochee Valley is home to a cool collection of historical buildings and expansive meadows, where you can spot an array of wildflowers and wildlife.
The area’s biggest draw is the Cataloochee Valley Elk, which were part of an important project to reintroduce the massive mammals into Great Smoky Mountains National Park back in 2001.
From the original herd of 52 animals, the Elk population has grown exponentially over the last two decades, both inside and outside the national park’s boundaries.
But we also saw several Elk in Maggie Valley proper, including several along Soco Rd and the road leading up to our cabin rental.
The Cataloochee Valley also offers primitive camping, trout streams for fishing, and great hiking trails such as the Boogerman Trail and the Little Cataloochee Trail.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
9. See Relics From Ghost Town In The Sky
Opened in 1961, Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town In The Sky theme park became the most popular of the Maggie Valley attractions. At its peak, it drew 500,000+ visitors a year and attracted celebrities ranging from Lassie to Burt Reynolds.
The park featured themed sections such as “Indian Village,” “Mining Town,” and “Mountain Town,” with a Wild West shootout show, saloons with dancing girls, rides, carnival-style games, and more.
By the 1990s, rides started breaking down. After visitors got stuck on the chairlift in 2002, creator R.B. Coburn closed the park and put it up for sale. Millions were spent on renovations after it sold in 2007, but it closed again two years later.
Original co-owner Alaska Presley bought the park back in 2012, with plans to transform it into “Ghost Town Village.” But the gates have been closed to visitors for many years, and Presley passed away in April, 2022.
A team of investors are trying to reopen a reimagined Ghost Town. But there are some locals who want it to stay closed permanently, despite the tourism revenue and jobs the redesigned park could bring to Haywood County.
The theme park’s gates have been closed to visitors for many years now.
But the parking lot at the corner of Fie Top Rd and Soco Rd allows you to get a close-up look at the park’s old train, stagecoach, ski lift, and a stone memorial to the famous actors who appeared there (including Reynolds, Bonanza‘s Dan Blocker, and Lost in Space star Veronica Cartwright).
READ MORE: The Hickory Ridge Living History Museum and “Horn in the West” in Boone NC
10. Spend a Day at Lake Junaluska
Located 9 miles east of Maggie Valley, Lake Junaluska was named after the Cherokee leader who saved Andrew Jackson’s life in the War of 1812.
Owned by the United Methodist Church since 1916, the lake is a popular place for conferences, group retreats, and family vacations.
The property includes two hotels with meeting spaces, dozens of vacation rentals, and the Lake Junaluska Campground (which offers tent and RV sites with hook-ups).
Other amenities include a lovely lakeside walking trail, mini golf, an outdoor pool, and kayaking or paddleboarding (with rentals available seasonally). Inspiration Point is a fantastic place to watch the sunset over the water.
There’s also a Lake Junaluska Fitness Center, several gardens, concerts and special events at the Stuart Auditorium, and several good restaurants on the property.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Lakes in the North Carolina Mountains to Visit
11. Take a Guided UTV Tour
Despite its rather nondescript name, Scenic Tours & Rentals in Maggie Valley offers a variety of excellent ways to explore the lesser-traveled roads of the Smoky Mountains around Haywood County NC.
In addition to renting Jeeps, Slingshots, and UTVs, they also offer half- and full-day guided tours led by co-owner Bryan Hickman, who is part Cherokee and grew up in the area.
Our wild UTV tour took us along hidden backroads and portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with lots of scenic stops and tales about Cherokee culture and history along the way.
Some of our favorite stops included the Thomas Divide Overlook, a gorgeous trout fishing stream in the Qualla Boundary (a.k.a. Cherokee Reservation), and spotting 8 Elk in the middle of the Oconaluftee River.
It’s a great way to explore a rarely-seen side of the region. But the open vehicle and dirt/gravel roads make it a VERY dusty experience, so dress accordingly!
READ MORE: Where are the Blue Ridge Mountains? A State-by-State Guide
12. View the Spectacular Soco Falls
Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, less than 6 miles west of Maggie Valley, Soco Falls is consistently ranked among the best waterfalls near Asheville NC.
It’s actually a pair of twin waterfalls that tumble over rocky cliffs and join together in a pool surrounded by mossy boulders, and it delivers remarkable ROI for a very short hike.
There’s two ways to see Soco Falls. The easy trail is just a short foot path located right off US-19, leading down to an observation deck that’s for perfect for viewing the falls from a slight distance.
More hardy and adventurous hikers can also take a somewhat steep trail that descends from the deck directly to the bottom of the falls. Note that the short trail down tends to be very muddy, with slippery roots and stones.
But there are ropes to hold onto as you make your way down, and in our experience the view from the bottom was totally worth the effort.
READ MORE: The 50 Best North Carolina Waterfalls to Visit
13. Visit Cherokee NC
Although many of the Cherokee people in NCwere removed on the tragic Trail of Tears, those allowed to remain behind (or who returned later) formed the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Their reservation (a.k.a. the Qualla Boundary) isn’t technically part of North Carolina, but a sovereign nation, and Cherokee is its largest town.
It’s just over 15 miles west of Maggie Valley, right outside the boundaries of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, making it perfect for a day-trip visit.
The town is a great place to learn more about Cherokee history and culture, with hotspots such as the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Oconaluftee Indian Village, Qualla Arts co-op, and the “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama.
Cherokee NC also has Mingo Falls, the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, and myriad campgrounds and rental cabins if you want to spend more time exploring the area.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Cherokee NC & the Qualla Boundary
14. Visit Downtown Waynesville NC
I’m fairly certain I’d love the mountain town of Waynesville NC even if it hadn’t been founded by my great X4 grand-uncle, Colonel Robert Love, back in 1810.
Located just 9 miles east of Maggie Valley and known as the “Gateway to the Smokies,” Waynesville has been a popular weekend getaway in Western North Carolina for decades now.
There are some truly fantastic Downtown Waynesville Restaurants, ranging from fine dining at the Chef’s Table and Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen to the Frogs Leap Public House and Suwana Asian Cuisine.
Your day trip could include a visit one of the local breweries, the Boojum Brewing Co., wine tastings at Bosu’s Wine Shop, of browsing the art galleries and boutiques that line Main Street.
There are also some great hiking trails and NC swimming holes nearby, as well as Lake Logan and the Barber Orchards Fruit Stand.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Things to Do in Waynesville NC
15. Wine Tastings at B&C Winery
Started by Bob and Chris Choinski in 2014, the B&C Winery in Maggie Valley is one of the few wineries located in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Tucked away in an unassuming building on Soco Rd, the shop can be confusing to first-time visitors. In addition to the winery (which is run by Chris), Bob opened the B&C Pharmacy there in March of 2021 to fill a local need.
Chris makes their wines using grapes from all around the world (including Australia, California, Italy, and South America), but claims that Blue Ridge Mountains spring water is the secret behind their flavor.
There are currently 40+ varieties of B&C wines available, ranging from standards like merlot and cab to intriguing varietals that mix in fruits such as black raspberries, passionfruit, and strawberries.
B&C wine tastings are available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and private tastings are also available for groups of 12 or more with advance reservations.
READ MORE: The 20 Best North Carolina Wineries to Visit
Where to Stay in Maggie Valley NC
“A Creek Runs Through It” Rental Cabin
Our home base for our time in Maggie Valley was the gorgeously appointed 3BR/2BA cabin, “A Creek Runs Through It.”
The spacious cabin was aptly named: Our favorite feature was the vintage water wheel house and rushing creek that runs right under the bridge on the driveway!
In the elegantly designed interior you’ll find a brand spanking new kitchen with all the modern appliances, newly remodeled bathrooms, and new fixtures, floors, and furnishings.
The king sized master bedroom was so cozy we didn’t want to leave, with a 4-nozzle shower in the en suite bathroom. The two queen sized bedrooms and expansive living room make this a great rental for families.
Outside you’ll find a porch swing and a huge hot tub, from which you can hear the sounds of the rushing creek below.
And it’s all just a few miles from the heart of Maggie Valley, on the same road that leads to the Cataloochee Ski Resort. –by Bret Love; all photos by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett unless otherwise noted
