Saluda Visitors Center — Attraction in Saluda

Saluda Visitors Center

The Saluda Visitor's center, located in Saluda, NC, and not to be confused with Saluda, SC, is a great place to find out everything there is to know about this fantastic little mountain town once known for having the steepest rail incline east of the Rocky Mountains.

The Center is located in the heart of downtown and within walking distance of the quaint train museum, a wonderful playground, many restaurants and shops, and an excellent art gallery immediately next door that exhibits the works of local, award-winning artist, Jim Carson.

The Center has plenty of comfortable seating and a big selection of pamphlets and maps describing where to stay, where to eat, and what to do in the area. What the pamphlets don't tell you, the local volunteer staff can fill in the blanks. Most of them have lived in the area for decades!

There are several good restaurants in Saluda offering a wide variety of foods at various price points. There's a wonderful coffee shop, an ice-cream parlor located in a hardware store right out a Norman Rockwell painting, and several B&B's managed by locals who know how to make their guests feel at home.

Pamphlets at the Visitor's Center describe the many, many outdoor activities that the area is known for including a fantastic zip-line facility, kayaking tours at various challenge levels, and cycling routes that wind through beautiful tree-lined, mountain roads that radiate out from Main Street.

The Saluda Visitors Center has information about everything there is to know about this fantastic part of Western North Carolina and, it's worth mentioning, it has two ADA compliant...

No disrespect to K Sackman review, but that review (and the pictures that were posted) was given is for the Marathon Gas Station (with a 7/11 type store) about 250 feet from the Saluda Visitor Center. If you look at the pictures you can see the gas pumps thru the windows. Only reason I point this out is to ensure people that read that review are not mislead. That review should be taken down and reviewer informed.

The Saluda Visitor Center is actual a small (very small) 6x6 foot phone booth type building which is located right next to the Atkins Orchard Stand. The Visitor Center is not a true visitor center in any normal meaning of the name.

The small structure is of course not manned. Inside you will find informative pamphlets of local business and sightseeing locations.

As Saluda Visitors Center is very misleading and meant to draw traffic from the local highway, A more honest and truthful name would be "Saluda Information Area". But by calling it a Visitor Center, they get a State (Taxpayer) paid for "Visitor Center" highway road signs.

Upload two pictures of the True Saluda...

So, I am biased because I know (in some cases very well) the folks who made this new Visitor Center a reality. But going from the old "handy hut" shed out by the interstate to this clean, welcoming and informative center on downtown Main Street, staffed by helpful volunteers - not to mention ADA-compliant public restrooms! -- is simply a great addition. Whether you're taking that Blue Ridge day trip or coming to stay for a few days, ...