About The Area

Founded by Quaker settlers in the 1780's, majestic Randolph County, located in the Heart of North Carolina offers rich farmland, historic rivers and is home to the Uwharrie Mountains, one of the world's oldest mountain ranges. This natural beauty paints a charming and inviting backdrop for area attractions and events, and the rich cultural heritage featured in this prominent area of North Carolina.

A part of the Piedmont Triad region, the area is strategically located within 90 miles of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, 200 miles of the Atlantic Ocean to the east, 80 miles to the north of the South Carolina state line, and 75 miles south of the Virginia state line. Randolph is the 11th largest county and has the 17th highest population in North Carolina. Asheboro, the county seat, is situated 70 miles from both the North Carolina state capital of Raleigh and its largest city, Charlotte. The area is served by three major airports, each within an hour's drive, 11 area hotels and three charming bed and breakfast inns.

Visit Seagrove, the Pottery Capital of the World where potters create handcrafted earthenware made in the same tradiion that dates more than 200 years old. The art of crafting traditional pottery dates back to the 1700's, before the American Revolution and continues today, in come cases, by those who represent the eighth and ninth generation of potters in their families. With nearly 100 shops and galleries scattered throughout the Seagrove area, you'll find everything from traditional tableware to collectible art pieces. In downtown Seagrove, the North Carolina Pottery Center includes displays of the history, heritage and ongoing tradition of pottery making in North Carolina.

Stay in Archdale - just minutes from the largest furniture industry tradeshow and shopping district in the world. In nearby Trinity, the John Deere® Vintage Tractor Museum includes vintage limited edition tractors and collectibles including Hi-Crop models; limited edition precision models, some hand built; and educational videos highlighting the company.

Race into the Richard Petty Museum in Randleman! Showcasing the career of the King of NASCAR from the early "dirt" days to the present cars, trophies and awards honoring the 7-Time Winston-Cup Series Champion are showcased throughout. Also in Randleman, Feel you Heart Race^TM at Victory Junction Gang Camp, and official charity of NASCAR featuring the Goody's Body Shop medical center, the Hendrick Motorsports Fuel Stop dining hall, the Silver Theater, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America water park, Adam's Race Shop, the Michael Waltrip Operation Marathon Sportscenter, and Jessie's Horse Power Garage.

Go wild at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. The nation's largest walk-through natural-habital zoo features more than 1,100 animals from Africa and North America. Popular exhibits include the R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary and the Endangered Species Carousel located in Junction Plaza. Interpretive galleries and interactive signage provide for an informative self-guided tour. Numerous exciting special events are held at the Zoo, adding another dimension to the visitor's total experience. Opening in 2008, the Watani Grasslands Reserve will feature up-close views of the largest land animals on the planet, elephants and rhinos.

Other exciting Asheboro area attractions include Caraway Speedway, a .455 mile paved oval NASCAR-sanctioned track that features weekly racing events. Regarded as one of the most competitive and best- maintained short tracks in NASCAR's Atlantic Region, it hosts a number of regular divisions of weekly racing, including late model and limited stocks, as well as a super truck division. The speedway is a regular host to Whelen Southern Modified tour events. Immerse yourself in aviation history at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame. See stunning military and civilain memorabilia and an impressive collection of air worthy, vintage military aircraft dating from World War II through Vietnam. See one of the largest private collections of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles in the country at the American Classic Motorcycle Museum. Asheboro Copperheads summer baseball has become a popular summertime entertainment choice drawing thousands to Asheboro's tradition-rich McCrary Park for collegiate wooden bat play featuring the Coastal Plain League's rising stars.

For those in search of outdoor adventure, the 1984 North Carolina Wilderness Act established a portion of the ancient Uwharrie Mountain range as the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness Area featuring 5,160 acres including designated hiking trails where evidence of early Indians and settlers can often be found. The Pisgah Covered Bridge, one of two remaining covered bridges in North Carolina, is a great spot for photography, picnics and nature walks. Goat Lady Dairy offers visitors the opportunity to sample exquisite handmade farmstead goat cheeses, organic herbs and vegetables. Caraway Alpacas and Rising Meadow Farm provide tours for visitor's to see rare alpacas guarded by the Great Pyrenees and the famous Corridale, Moorit, Polled Dorset and Navajo-Churro. Toms Creek Farm & Nursery is a fourth-generation 500-acre farm located in the Uwharrie mountain range with hiking trails that are perfect for those in search of tranquility with various locations on the farm providing vistas of more than 30 miles. Whitaker Farms & Greenhouses offers wagon rides, a livestock barn, greenhouse and tomato packing shed tours and seasonal strawberry picking. Millstone Creek Orchards is an 84-acre working orchard growing apples, peaches, blueberries, grapes, pears, pumpkins, and a variety of vegetables. Pick your own fruit and enjoy homemade apple cider and hand dipped ice cream in The Apple Barn Country Store. Offering nearly 220 different orchid species, Seagrove Orchids specializes in developing hybrids in their on-site propagation laboratory and has won many awards establishing it as "the" orchid nursery in North Carolina. Zimmerman Vineyards located on 102 acres at the foot of Mt. Shepherd, offers weekend tours and wine tasting.

Love the nostalgia of historic theaters? The Sunset Theatre in downtown Asheboro hosts weekly special events including concerts, films, classic movies, and plays. Liberty Showcase in downtown features a weekly variety show featuring clasic country, pop, beach, Elvis, gospel and western music, as well as a variety of special guests and concert events.

A number of local communities celebrate their heritage by hosting a variety of annual festivals and parades. Popular events include the Bush Hill Heritage Festival in Archdale and the Asheboro Fall Festival. Both festivals feature unique craft and food vendors and an outstanding variety of entertainment appealing to young and old, alike. The bi-annual Liberty Antiques Festival boasts nearly 400 antiques dealers from across the country and is well-known for its furniture and paintings, pottery, glass, clocks, dolls, toys, military items, jewelry, folk art, and much more. This antiques festival has ben voted Best Antiques Show in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Seagrove Pottery Festival, held annually the weekend before Thanksgiving, has become the premier pottery show in North Carolina drawing thousands of people to hundreds of displays and pottery making demonstrations, as well as its popular Sunday auction.

You'll enjoy visiting our family-fun destination where area locals welcome visitors with a generous spirit and North Carolina's trademark southern hospitality. Escape!