Tryon is a town in Polk County, on the southwestern border of

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 1,562. Located in the escarpment of the

Blue Ridge Mountains The Blue Ridge Mountains are a Physiographic regions of the United States, physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Highlands range. The mountain range is located in the Eastern United States and extends 550 miles southwest from southern ...

, today the area is affluent and a center for outdoor pursuits, equestrian activity, and fine arts. Tryon Peak and the Town of Tryon are named for

William Tryon Lieutenant-General William Tryon (8 June 172927 January 1788) was a British Army officer and colonial administrator who served as governor of North Carolina from 1764 to 1771 and the governor of New York from 1771 to 1777. He also served durin ...

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

from 1765 to 1771. He was honored for his negotiation with the

Cherokee The Cherokee (; , or ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, they were concentrated in their homelands, in towns along river valleys of what is now southwestern ...

for a treaty during a period of conflict following the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763, was a colonial conflict in North America between Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of France, France, along with their respective Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...

History

Cherokee hunting ground

The area which Tryon now occupies was originally part of the

hunting grounds of

Western North Carolina Western North Carolina (often abbreviated as WNC) is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains; it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It contains the highest mountains in the Eastern United S ...

. Archaeological evidence dates indigenous peoples' occupation of the site to the end of the last ice age, more than 11,000 years ago. Successive cultures occupied the river valleys. Semi-permanent villages appeared in the area by about 8,000 B.C. They later developed towns with a democratic political structure, developing religion, domesticated crops, pottery and skilled, powerful archery. The culture developed cultivated vegetables, and hunted and fished. Each historic Cherokee village had a peace chief, war chief, and priest.

Spanish discovery

Having landed near present-day Panama City, Florida on May 30, 1539, Spanish explorer

Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto (; ; 1497 – 21 May 1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru, ...

reputedly traveled up to the area of present-day

Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg is a city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city had a population of 38,732 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in South Carolina, 11th ...

and then north into western North Carolina. Traveling on horses, de Soto and 1,000 men arrived in North Carolina in mid-May 1540. In search of gold, de Soto explored the area of Asheville area and met with the Cherokee in their village of Xuala, the area now known as Tryon. After a day or two, de Soto continued his journey with provisions provided by the Cherokee. Luys Hernandez de Biedma, one of de Soto's officers, wrote of a group of Spanish men who made their way to Xuala on May 21, 1540:

The next day, they went to Xuala which is a town on a plain between some rivers; its chief was so well provisioned that he gave to the Christians however much they asked for: slaves, corn, little dogs robably opossums�� and however much he had.

From there, de Soto went to ''Gauxuile'' (since developed as Asheville), which in Cherokee meant "The place where they race," named for the walk around the perimeter of the village.

Early English settlement, French and Indian War

In the earliest periods of settlement, the British traders and Cherokee enjoyed peaceful relations. Most of the British colonists settled in the coastal areas, where they had more contact with Algonquian-speaking peoples. A treaty signed in 1730 resulted in a greater influx of white traders and settlers to Cherokee territory. An early home, Seven Hearths, was built in 1740, and it is reputedly the oldest clapboard house in the county. It was moved to its present location in 1934. A log cabin that served as quarters for enslaved African Americans was also built about 1740. It was moved and rebuilt next to Seven Hearths in the 1930s. The

, the North American front of the Seven Years War, primarily between England and France, ended the peace that had existed between the Cherokee and the English settlers. Both the French and the English recruited Native American allies to aid their militias. The French were allied with the

Creek people The Muscogee, also known as the Mvskoke, Muscogee Creek or just Creek, and the Muscogee Creek Confederacy ( in the Muscogee language; English: ), are a group of related Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern WoodlandsShawnee to raid settlements of the English. As conflict and tension increased, the British built defensive forts along the frontier, including the "Block House" near the future Tryon. Tensions with the Cherokee continued after Britain defeated France in the large war. The Cherokee were resisting repeated incursions into their territory by English colonists. In 1767

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

of the North Carolina Colony from 1765 to 1771), traveled to the area and negotiated a peace treaty with the Cherokee. They established a boundary line between a location near

Greenville, South Carolina Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...

, the highest point on White Oak Mountain (renamed Tryon Peak by the settlers). Settlers, though, did not commit to the boundary. With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, some Cherokee hoped to expel the white settlers from their lands. In the spring of 1776, Cherokee met on Round Mountain and planned an attack on the "Block House", Earl's Fort in Landrum, South Carolina, and Young's Fort near the current town of Mill Spring, North Carolina. Aware of the plans, a Cherokee named Skyuka went to the "Block House", where he warned his friend Capt. Thomas Howard of the impending attacks. Howard and the assembled local militia took a trail toward Round Mountain, where they met and defeated the Cherokee at a gap in the valley, now known as Howard Gap. Settlers honored Skyuka by the naming of Skyuka Creek, Skyuka Road, and the

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...

Camp Skyuka on Mount Tryon.

Post office

Map of Polk County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

In 1839 a post office was established at the Top of Howard Gap and Holberts Cove Roads run by the Thompson Family, named the Tryon Post office ,In early Polk what is now the Saluda township was called the Tryon township, present day Tryon was in the Columbus Township; until Tryon city was established in 1885 both were named after Governor Tryon.

Rail service and hospitality

By 1877 the railroad provided regular transportation from

South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...

seaports around Charleston, SC to

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

, and the Ohio Valley. The particular spot that became the town of Tryon was the point where construction of the railroad to Asheville stopped for two years. West of Tryon, the railroad ascends the Blue Ridge along the Saluda Grade, which was the steepest railroad grade in the country before it became inactive. At the peak of railroad expansion in 1885, Tryon was incorporated. By the 1890s, the railway made six daily stops in Tryon. The current depot building, built in 1922, is the third depot built. After expansion of individual automobile use, railroads restructured their offerings and passenger service to Tryon ended in 1968. Oak Hall, originally built as the Tryon Hotel in 1881, is located on a bluff that looks over Trade Street. It had notable guests into the 20th century, such as

Henry Ford Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American Technological and industrial history of the United States, industrialist and business magnate. As the founder of the Ford Motor Company, he is credited as a pioneer in making automob ...

Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February11, 1847October18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, ...

, British film actor David Niven, Sherlock Holmes actor William Gillette, writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, composer

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned jazz, popular music, popular and classical music. Among his best-known works are the songs "Swan ...

, First Lady Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Lady Nancy Astor, and Mrs. George C. Marshall, wife of the World War II general. The hotel was redeveloped as a condominium complex in the early 21st century. Appreciative of the ice cream served at Misseldine's drug store (previously located at the bank site on Trade Street), F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote the following ditty,

Tropical Storm Helene

On September 27, 2024, Helene caused considerable damage in Tryon.

Geography

The town's original boundary was established as a circle with a radius of three quarters of a mile. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the town has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Tryon is located near a "thermal belt", an area generally free of dew and frost, which provides an enjoyable climate year-round. The mountain climate attracted many of Tryon's visitors as it developed as a resort, and residents, some of whom have second homes here. In this region of the Blue Ridge mountains, air may be warmer on the slopes than in the base of a valley, particularly in the spring and fall. It has longer periods of warm weather throughout the year, producing greater crop yields. Tryon has a climate similar to comparable areas of the

Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,562 people, 823 households, and 280 families residing in the town.

2000 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 1,760 people, 869 households, and 452 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 985 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 77.16%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 21.02%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.28% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.68% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population. There were 869 households, out of which 16.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.9% were non-families. 44.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.92 and the average family size was 2.66. In the town, the population was spread out, with 16.7% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 37.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52 years. For every 100 females, there were 72.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $31,449, and the median income for a family was $44,485. Males had a median income of $35,956 versus $23,333 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $21,347. About 7.9% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over. More than half of Tryon's full-time residents are "transplants" from other areas of the country. Some have helped to create the cultural center that continues to attract writers, educators, artists, and professional people to the Tryon area.

Religion

Tryon's churches include: Grace Foothills Church (PCA), which meets in the historic Tryon Theatre; Tryon Presbyterian Church ( PCUSA), Holy Cross Church & Chapel (Episcopal), Congregational Church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, First Baptist Church, Tryon United Methodist Church, Trinity Lutheran Church LCMS. Other churches include Garrison Chapel Baptist Church. The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, originally a slave chapel known as St. Andrews, located on the Coxe Plantation, was moved to Tryon in 1955, on Jackson Road. Its African-American congregation has kept its original furnishings and glass.

Economy

Agriculture

The southern exposure of Tryon's hills supports the production of orchards and vineyards. Vineyards were established in the Pacolet Valley, on Old Howard Gap, and other Tryon locations. By the 1950s the industry suffered due to decline in railroad transportation and competition with Californian grapes. However, viticulture is beginning to make a comeback in the area; since the 1990s, several vineyards have been established in and around Tryon.

Tourism

Tryon has a long history as a tourism destination, particularly as a retreat for writers and artists. The Pine Crest Inn was built in 1906 as a sanitarium for those with

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

. Before the discovery of penicillin, rest in mountain air was considered helpful in the treatment of TB, which was often fatal. In 1917 the sanitarium was converted to an inn. Early in the inn's history, hunters were attracted by its location, on the edge of hunting country. Swayback cabin, now more than 240 years old, hosted American writers

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway ( ; July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Known for an economical, understated style that influenced later 20th-century writers, he has been romanticized fo ...

and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The inn was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 1982. Its dining room is ranked by AAA as four diamonds. Tryon has also long been a center of equestrian-related tourism. Over the years, Tryon has served as a training location for the U.S. Olympic Equestrian team. In 2018, Tryon played host to the FEI World Equestrian Games, the “Horse Olympics,” which drew hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area.

Culture

Arts

;The Tryon Fine Arts Center TFAC Dec

The Tryon Fine Arts Center, located on Melrose Avenue, is a visual and performing arts center that offers music, drama, film and other cultural programs. Founded in 1969, the non-profit organization also offers a number of classes in the arts. The center's theater seats 345 individuals and has a system for the hearing impaired. Located, exhibiting, or performing within the center are: the Tryon Painters and Sculptors and the Carolina Photo Club. The Photo Club annually exhibits in January and February. The group, affiliated with the Photographic Society of America, meets monthly. It conducts an annual contest, and winning submissions are exhibited in the Tryon Fine Arts Center. ;Tryon Arts and Crafts School Established in 1960, Tryon Arts and Crafts School provides creative opportunities "through education, instruction, and expression of heritage and contemporary arts and crafts." In the 1950s local artists offered space in their homes for fine arts and crafts. The blizzard of 1959 was the impetus for creation of a formal organization. Grace Hall, a local resident who had been trapped in her home for three weeks, wrote to the ''Tryon Daily Bulletin'' with an idea: form a local crafts center so that area residents could learn skills for arts or crafts. If another blizzard hit, they would be better prepared for isolation. Many agreed, including architect Carter Brown and Tryon philanthropist Violet Parish-Watson. In April 1960, 200 area residents pledged a one-dollar membership fee to support what would be called Tryon Crafts, Inc. "Recapturing Tryon's history as an artist's colony," local artisans began selling work and teaching classes. Tryon Arts & Crafts (named since 2004) is now located at 373 Harmon Field Road, adjacent to Harmon Field. The facility offers professional studios for a wide variety of arts, such as

fiber art Fiber (spelled fibre in British English; from ) is a #Natural fibers, natural or Fiber#Artificial fibers, artificial substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The st ...

pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...

jewelry Jewellery (or jewelry in American English) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment such as brooches, ring (jewellery), rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the ...

lapidary Lapidary () is the practice of shaping rock (geology), stone, minerals, or gemstones into decorative items such as cabochons, engraved gems (including cameo (carving), cameos), and faceted designs. A person who practices lapidary techniques of ...

woodworking Woodworking is the skill of making items from wood, and includes cabinetry, furniture making, wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. History Along with stone, clay and animal parts, wood was one of the first materials worked b ...

multimedia Multimedia is a form of communication that uses a combination of different content forms, such as Text (literary theory), writing, Sound, audio, images, animations, or video, into a single presentation. T ...

and

blacksmith A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from #Other metals, other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such ...

ing. ;Tryon Concert Association The Tryon Concert Association has brought "world-class artists" to Tryon since its first sponsored concert in January 1955, when baritone Robert McFerrin gave a recital. Soon after this performance, McFerrin was the first African American to join the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York City. The Tryon Concert Association provides a series of four concerts from the fall through spring with high quality talent. ;Tryon Little Theater Tryon Little Theater has been a vital part of the performing community since 1948. It performs four productions a year, plus classes and workshops at its Workshop on Highway 176. Auditions are always open to the public. The theater is also a partner in producing the Tryon Summer Youth Theater for ages 12–18. ;Tryon Youth Center Tryon Youth Center, located in a building on US Highway 176, offers artistic, social and recreational programs for area young people. A Youth Center Summer Musical is produced annually at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. ;Children's Theatre Festival Children's Theater Festival, organized in 1978, offers "lively arts" for children including: "Eight to ten different performances, encompassing theater, music, storytelling, mime, dance, puppetry, and more are brought to Tryon on a Saturday in late March." ;Nina Simone Birthplace Tryon is the birthplace of singer and piano player

Nina Simone Nina Simone ( ; born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, pianist, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and po ...

. Four African-American artists: Adam Pendleton, Ellen Gallagher, Rashid Johnson, and Julie Mehretu jointly bought her childhood home to preserve it. The home has been named a national treasure by the

National Trust for Historic Preservation The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that works in the field of historic preservation in the United States. The member-supported organization was founded in 1949 ...

. Nina Simone Plaza in downtown Tryon features a bronze sculpture by Zenos Frudakis.

Equestrian community

Colonel Charles C. Ross, U.S. Army (Retd.) is a local historian and former president of the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. He said at a Polk County Historical Association meeting in April 2010,

"The
horse The horse (''Equus ferus caballus'') is a domesticated, one-toed, hoofed mammal. It belongs to the taxonomic family Equidae and is one of two extant subspecies of ''Equus ferus''. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 mi ...
is all important in Polk County. Horses provide sport, pleasure, entertainment, business, and the good country living. It can be said that horses are a way of life in our pleasant community here in rural North Carolina."

When Carter Brown came to Tryon from Michigan in 1917 , he opened the Pine Crest Inn, developing it as a resort for wealthy northerners. They could come here to ride horses or play golf during the winter months. In 1925 Brown founded and was the first president of the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. Brown also helped organize the Tryon

Horse Show A horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and pony, ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrianism, equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days ...

and the Block House Steeplechase in 1929 and 1934, respectively. Ross noted in 2010 that in their heyday, the Tryon Horse Show "was so popular that the schools were let out and most businesses closed for the afternoon." The Tryon Horse Shows are held at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE). In 1956, the US Equestrian Team prepared and trained for the 1956 Olympics in Tryon. The Tryon Horse Show continues to be held; it is the third oldest horse show and a rated United States Equestrian Federation event. Smaller shows are held at Harmon Field. Many local organizations, such as the Carolina Carriage Club, the Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association, Foothills Riding Club, and River Valley Pony Club also hold shows and events. Morris the Town Sybol

Morris, the Tryon Horse, stands at the center of Tryon. A large version of toys made by the Tryon Toymakers and Woodcarvers, the Tryon Horse was commissioned in 1928 by the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. The current Morris is the fifth generation; three of the previous versions succumbed to fire, mischievous kidnapping and age, and the fourth was refurbished with a fiberglass body. Morris serves as a billboard during the Tryon Horse Show and Block House Steeplechase Races. At Christmas, he is decorated with garland and a top hat. In May 2012, a group of volunteers, together with the Town of Tryon and the ''Tryon Daily Bulletin'' (The World's Smallest Daily Newspaper!), banded together to raise money to restore and maintain Morris, which was deteriorating. The enormous statue was "kidnapped" in the dead of night on June 8, 2012, and held for "ransom". The refurbished Morris was returned to his rightful spot in November 2012. ;Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) In June 2014, the $100 million TIEC and Resort opened to host numerous multi-day, international-level equestrian competitions across several disciplines in collaboration with the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club. Located outside Tryon in nearby Mill Spring, the 1400-acre equestrian facility features up to 10 riding arenas (including one with stadium seating for 6,000), 1,000 permanent stalls, elevated and shaded viewing decks, and a large covered riding facility. In addition, the Tryon Sports Complex on site includes a health club, game room, kids' camp, sports bar, children's playground, tennis courts, mountain bike park, climbing walls, basketball court, and a large pool. A 150-room hotel overlooks the equestrian center. The TIEC hosted the 2018 World Equestrian Games. It was at these games that the horse

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...

died. ;Foothills Equestrian Nature Center The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) is a nature preserve with trails established for hiking, horseback riding, and bird-watching. The center, which also includes picnic areas and a pond, hosts equestrian events and live concerts.

Library

The Lanier Library Association is named for poet Sidney Lanier. He was living in "the Wilcox house" on Highway 108 in Lynn, three miles (5 km) north of Tryon. He died there on September 7, 1881, and it has since been known as the "Lanier House". In 1889 five women from Tryon developed the idea for a library to provide "intellectual and cultural stimulation for the community"; they opened library membership to local women. Two volumes of Sidney Lanier's poems, a gift from his wife Mary, were the first books for the library. Initially the books of the library were located at several places in town before the Lanier Library was constructed in 1905; it has been expanded over the years. In 1930 the library established an endowment fund to support its operations. It extended library membership to men. The Lanier Library Association, Inc., previously called the Lanier club, was organized to provide library services and related cultural programs to the community. Lanier Library remains a membership library supported solely by membership dues, endowments and donations. It is one of a few membership libraries in the country.

Recreation

The area is known for its scenic drives featuring well-kept horse farms, hardwood forests, and Carolina foothills overwhelmed by kudzu.

Parks

Tryon has several parks including: * Rogers Park, located in downtown Tryon, this facility also has an open-air amphitheater. The natural setting includes a small creek and trails. Landscaping features native plants and Crab Orchard stone walls. Its facilities are used for public events, such as music performances. It can also be reserved for private events, such as weddings and other occasions. * Greene Corner, on Melrose Avenue across from the entrance to the Tryon Fine Arts Center, has a beautiful garden and gazebo, often a setting for photos. Sassoon Park, also on Melrose Avenue, has a modern sculpture and greenery. * Harmon Field, a park in Tryon, located on Harmon Field Road between US Hwy 176 and NC Hwy 108, is regularly used by town residents and visitors. It offers a variety of activities, from trail walking to active sports participation: **There are periodic events for horseback riders (see their calendar of events). Facilities include four horse rings and 140 stalls. **There are two baseball fields, two soccer fields, four tennis courts, basketball courts, dog park, trails, disc golf course, and a playground. **Shelters and grills are available for picnics. **The field also offers rental facilities and a concession stand. :

Scenic areas and drives

* Pacolet Scenic Byway, one of North Carolina Scenic Byways, is a ten-mile (16 km) portion of US 176 that runs from Tryon to Saluda. It provides views of the Pacolet River and waterfalls. * Pearson's Falls Natural Heritage Site, named for its

waterfall A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf. Waterfalls can be formed in seve ...

, is owned and maintained by the Tryon Garden Club. Located between Tryon and Saluda, it offers a picnic area, and hiking and biking trails. A one-quarter mile walk to the waterfall can be found from the entrance at US 176. The "botanical preserve" offers more than 200 species of wildflowers and plants. It has been classified as a '' deciduous climax forest''. The falls were named after engineer Charles William Pearson, who surveyed the Blue Ridge Mountains for a route for construction of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Transportation

Tryon is located west of Interstate 26, which runs northwest to Asheville and southeast to Spartanburg,

, approximately one mile from the NC/SC border. U.S. Highway 176 runs through the center of town, where it is known as Trade Street.

Notable people

* George Charles Aid (1872–1938), painter * Katharine Alexander (1898–1981), actress, died in Tryon * Margaret Culkin Banning (1891–1982), whose home " Friendly Hills", was listed on the

in 1998 * William Behrends (born 1946), sculptor * Cathy Smith Bowers (born 1949), poet and professor; North Carolina Poet Laureate, 2010–2012 * Ligon Flynn (1931–2010), architect * Crystal R. Fox (born 1964), actress * Henry Jacques Garrigues (1831–1913), Danish-born doctor considered to have introduced antiseptic obstetrics to the United States * William Gillette (1853–1937), Sherlock Holmes actor who built a home in Tryon; this was adapted as the Thousand Pine Inn * Mary Alice Monroe, author * Richard Christian Nelson (born 1961), artist * Mark Schweizer (1956–2019), singer, composer, conductor, author, and publisher, founder of St. James Music Press *

(1933–2003), singer, pianist, composer, and activist * Amelia Van Buren (1856–1942), photographer

References

External links

Explore Tryon Tourism Site

Town of Tryon

Tryon Downtown Development Association

Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce
{{Authority control Towns in Polk County, North Carolina Towns in North Carolina Slave cabins and quarters in the United States