Searching for the Elusive White Squirrel
By Dani Halliday
THE HIGHWAY 64 PROJECT
The Foothills Region
Mocksville
Located in Davie County, North Carolina, Mocksville is is the largest town within Davie County, alongside Advance, Cooleemee, and Bermuda Run. In addition, it is a town with a population of about 5,000 people. Both routes 64 and 601 run through directly the town. Mocksville’s “small town” vibe attracts visitors regularly. Davie County is home to numerous vineyards and winners that contribute to North Carolina’s tourism industry. Mocksville, in particular, is home to over four farms focusing on general produce, four greenhouses and nurseries, three meat producers, two bee farms, and three vineyards and wineries.
Statesville
Located in Iredell County, North Carolina, Statesville has become one of the leaders in both whiskey and tobacco production, and in distribution distribution for roots and herbs. Statesville is also known for its annual Carolina Balloonfest, which attracts nearly sixty thousand tourists each year. Visitors can also experience balloon rides year round, as Statesville is home to 15 balloon pilots. Fort Dobbs is a state park with a replica of the actual 18th century fort used as frontier defense during the French and Indian War, which attracts thousands of visitors, including school and tour groups for reenactments. Lake Norman, the state’s largest man-made lake, is just fifteen minutes away, offering a relaxed climate with swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and more.
Taylorsville
The town of Taylorsville is located within Alexander County, North Carolina. Measuring a population of about 2300 people as of 2020, the town is memorable because of its beautiful wildlife and hiking trails. It is a very outdoorsy area. The town of Taylorsville is located between two major North Carolina cities, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. It lies just off of Highway 64 at the cross section of Highway 90 and Highway 16, and it is known for its local mom and pop shops. With that said, since 1988, Taylorsville has held their annual Apple Festival which is held on the third Saturday of October and draws thousands of visitors to enjoy the day of entertainment, food and fun.
Lenoir
Located within Caldwell County, North Carolina, the town of Lenoir reached a population of about 18,300 people as of 2020. It is located within the foothills region of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it is memorable due to its beautiful hiking trails and outdoor attractions. For the most part, the town is pretty quiet, however, once a month, Lenoir undergoes a remarkable transformation to host the Lenoir Downtown Cruisers Auto Show.
Hendersonville, North Carolina is located within Henderson County. It is about 20 miles South of Asheville, North Carolina, and it was traditionally called “The City of Four Seasons.” It is known for its beautiful downtown area and its amazing views of the town’s surrounding nature. In addition, each year, the town hosts a Rhythm and Brews festival to showcase their local chefs, artists, musicians, and brewers.
Hendersonville
Bat Cave
Bat Cave is a town also located in Henderson County, North Carolina, and it is often considered as part of the Asheville region. It is named after a bat cave located nearby, which is the largest known granite fissure cave in the continent. It is also where US Route 64, 74A, and NC 9 join. The town is known for its escape from city life, its beautiful forests, and its many outdoors activities. In addition, another popular attraction aside from the Bat Cave itself is the The Bat Cave Old Cider Mill, which is located only a few miles down the road, where travelers can sample the homemade apple cider made and sold at the mill.
Lake Lure
Lake Lure, North Carolina is a town located within Rutherford County. In 2020, the town’s population was just under 2000 people. Lake Lure is known for its outdoor adventures by the lake of which it is named after, whether that be kayaking, canoeing, hiking, or simply playing outdoors. The movie “Dirty Dancing” had scenes shot by the lake in Lake Lure, and thus one of this town’s main attractions is the annual Dirty Dancing festival.
Mount Airy
While Mount Airy, NC is not technically on route 64, it is only a slight drive off route and still remains considered “a part of the foothill region.” Mount Airy is an authentic hidden gem. Located on the Surry Sonker Trail, Mount Airy attracts thousands of tourists each year who travel long and far to try some of its life changing sonker.
