Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trailhead — Attraction in Hillsborough

In shadows of yesteryears, I traversed to Occoneechee's abandoned speedway, a relic of fifties' roars. Dust danced, tales etched in tire marks lingered, as spectral echoes summoned memories of forgotten race car titans.

Amidst the whispers of worn grandstands, I witnessed ethereal racers, apparitions of grit and gasoline. Ghosts of long-lost drivers, in vintage cars, defied time's chains, reliving the thunderous symphony of bygone races.

Engines roared in spectral unison, phantom laps etched in the spectral soil. The air trembled with the energy of racing spirits, and for a fleeting moment, I became a spectator to a spectral speedway, where the echoes of history revved through the ghostly bends of...

The remains of an old NASCAR track have been turned into a walking trail, with another trail nearby along the Eno River. The track closed in 1968, so it's interesting to realize all the tall pines in the infield could only be about 50 years old. The track's original stands still exist, as do the remains of the flag stand and the concession stand. In addition, a couple of old, rusting cars are along the track, providing photo ops. I'm probably being a little "humphity" to give it four stars, based mostly on how crowded the place was on the day we went, necessitating our wearing masks often. Under non-Covid conditions, it would be a five-star...

Serene, beautiful, preserved well with respect to the history of the speedway and to nature. It's an experience to sit in the concrete stand and see the old cars in the forest! Speedway trace, the path following the old oval racetrack, is level and easy to walk (it could be done with a wheelchair or stroller). The peaceful Eno river bends around the preserve, and the Mountains-to-Sea trail passes through. On this Spring late-day walk, I encountered deer and a raccoon, and the dogwood trees were in bloom. I definitely recommend visiting this if you're...