Murray's Mill Historic District

GENERAL INFO:

Park Type: Green Space, Historic Site, Regional Park, Wildlife Sanctuary

Overall Size: Larger than a football field

Special Features/Comments: Outdoor Fun for the Family
The site boasts lots of outdoor features... There are 9 picnic tables under the large oaks next to the General Store that are perfect for a picnic, as well as two down the trail. We have 15 acres of green lawn for running around. There are two hiking trails: one along the creek and one around the pond. (See store for a map.) If you head around the pond, keep an eye open for our shy, yet active, beavers. They have two well-maintained dams, both of which are visible from the trail. The eastern side of the pond is part of the Carolina Thread Trail. Not up for the hike? There are many places to enjoy the 28 acre pond. The locals include osprey, turkey vultures, hawks, great blue herons, cranes, and many different song birds.

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LiveWell Catawba

GETTING THERE:

Parking

pDriving Directions: 1489 Murrays Mill Rd, Catawba, NC 28609
1-40 to exit 138 and follow the brown historic signs.
DIRECTIONS

kParking Instructions: Gravel parking areas.

TADA Accessible: Yes

ACTIVITIES/RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES:

Open Space, Trails, Birdwatching, Music/Arts & Crafts

AMENITIES:

General Park Amenities: Restrooms, Seating, Picnic Tables

Pets: Allowed On-Leash

Additional Features: Visitor Center, Historic Site, Museum, Gift Shop, Foot Bridge

Trash Cans: Yes

Food for Sale Type: Gift Shop

TRAILS:

Trail Description: See Carolina Tread Trails MAP. Location is HERE. Many other PHOTOS from Google search.
See SATELLITE Hybrid Photos. See OTHER Catawba County Historic Association .
See TripAdvisor Review . See Facebook about Park Events, etc. .
See Harvest Folk Fesival , See Ice Cream Social , See Bike Ride

General:
A ten-minute hop, skip, and a jump from I-40, the Murrayu2019s Mill Historic District, in the rolling countryside of eastern Catawba County, nestles just as it was a century ago along the banks of Balls Creek. It's perfect for an afternoon picnic or a quick leg-stretcher. A placid pond slips over a mill dam, and the 28u2019 waterwheel of this National Register Historic Site makes its slow way round. Nailed to a door-frame in the general store, an old coffee can catches bottle-caps, and a porch swing awaits you out front, as does a chat with a friendly guide before beginning your tour.

Structure:
Preserved intact are the 1913 mill itself, the 1890s Murray & Minges General Store, the 1880s Wheathouse, used as an exhibit gallery, the 1913 John Murray House, furnished to the period, and numerous outbuildings. Run by three generations of the Murray Family, who abandoned operations in 1967, the picturesque structures and surrounding land form the last milling complex in the county, meticulously preserved and interpreted by the Catawba County Historical Association since 1980 when restorations began, Governor James G. Martin attending the opening ceremony in 1988.

Outdoor Fun for the Family:
The site boasts lots of outdoor features... There are 9 picnic tables under the large oaks next to the General Store that are perfect for a picnic, as well as two down the trail. We have 15 acres of green lawn for running around. There are two hiking trails: one along the creek and one around the pond. (See store for a map.) If you head around the pond, keep an eye open for our shy, yet active, beavers. They have two well-maintained dams, both of which are visible from the trail. The eastern side of the pond is part of the Carolina Thread Trail. Not up for the hike? There are many places to enjoy the 28 acre pond. The locals include osprey, turkey vultures, hawks, great blue herons, cranes, and many different song birds

Trail Surface: Unpaved

Trail Activities: Walking, Hiking, Running/Jogging, Single Track, Dog Walking, Birdwatching

Trail Difficulty: Easy, Moderate

Trail Layout: Loop & Linear (network)

Trail Length: 1 to 5 miles

Trail Shade: Some

Trail Surface Type: Sand/Dirt, Grass, Boardwalk

Trail Slope: Flat/Gentle, Moderate

Trail Width: 4-8 ft

Trail Extras: Kiosk with trail maps, Benches/Rest Areas, Panoramic Views, Historic Sites

OTHER:

Programming Available: Education/Ranger Programs

Park Information: Maps, Brochures, Information Kiosk

Staffing & Safety: Employee/Ranger Present, Police Patrol

Open Space Activities: Play frisbee or catch, Go for a walk or jog, Have a picnic, Do Yoga

Open Space Size: Larger than one football field in size

Open Space Shade: Some

Natural Water Feature: Pond/Lake, Creek/Stream, Natural Springs, Wetlands