Home - Burke County Tourism

Thermal Valley Hang Gliding

Enjoy a unique aerial adventure that will change the way you think of flying and the sky. Free flight will enrich your life.

Find your wings

Say "I DO" to Burke County

Find the perfect wedding venue for your Big day!

Wedding Venues

Catawba Valley Wine Trail

Enjoy the sweet taste of Burke County at our 5 unique wineries.

Connoisseurs

Renew, Relax, Refresh

James State Park

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Upcoming Events

Jun
21
6 PM

TGIF Concert: Throwdown Jones

6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Historic Courthouse Square

Throwdown Jones brings the hype this Friday, June 15th at the TGIF Concert! Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy this free performance on the Historic Courthouse lawn.

Jun
21
7 PM

Valdese FFN featuring The Night Move Band

7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Downtown Valdese

Bring your lawn chair and dancing shoes to the Wells Fargo Parking Lot & get ready to hear some awesome artists!

Jun
22
10 AM

Archeology Field Day at the Berry Site

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Berry Site

Visit the Berry Site where archaeologists have uncovered a Native American village and the remains of a Spanish fort built nearly 450 years ago.

Jun
22
11 AM

Berry Site Field Day and Open House

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Berry Site

Visit the Berry Site where archaeologists have uncovered a Native American village and the remains of a Spanish fort built nearly 450 years ago.

Jam'n on James

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Lake James State Park Paddy's Creek Area

Boat up or drive in, bring a chair and enjoy Almost Vintage Band at Paddy Creek Beach Area.

Jun
28
6 PM

TGIF Concert: Tuatha Dea

6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Historic Courthouse Square

Tuatha Dea is bringing a high energy TGIF performance to downtown on Friday, June 28th! Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy this free performance on the Historic Courthouse lawn.

Jun
28
7 PM

Valdese Independence Day Celebration

7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Downtown Valdese

Each year the Town of Valdese celebrates Independence Day by holding an impressive fireworks display on the football field behind the Old Rock School.

Jul
4
12 PM

Red, White and Blue Festival

- Jul 6, 2019
noon - 10 p.m.

Catawba Meadows Park

BIG festival with a small-town feel!

Jul
5
7 PM

Valdese FFN featuring Southwind

7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Downtown Valdese

Bring your lawn chair and dancing shoes to the Wells Fargo Parking Lot & get ready to hear some awesome artists!

Jul
12
8 PM

From This Day Forward - Historic Outdoor Drama

- Jul 13, 2019
8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Fred B. Cranford Amphitheatre

The Waldenses in exile quickly began regrouping, planning, and forming alliances with neighboring countries, those sympathetic with the Waldensian Cause or those seeking to overthrow King Louis XIV.

Jul
12
6 PM

TGIF Concert: N-SPIRE

6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Historic Courthouse Square

N-SPIRE is an iNSPIRational band that will have you grooving to the music on Friday, July 12th! Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy this FREE performance on the Historic Courthouse lawn.

Jul
12
7 PM

Valdese FFN featuring The Shake Down Band

7 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Downtown Valdese

Bring your lawn chair and dancing shoes to the Wells Fargo Parking Lot & get ready to hear some awesome artists!

Lake James State Park

Lake James State Park offers a full menu of activities. Along with boating, swimming and fishing in the beautiful, clear waters of the 6,812-acre lake, there are 25 miles of trails, 15 of which are open to mountain biking.

Explore

Linville Gorge Wilderness

Linville Gorge is one of Eastern America's most scenic and rugged gorges, created by the scouring action of the Linville River. Sometimes it is referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Eastern USA." The steep walls of the Gorge enclose the Linville River for 12 miles.

Discover

South Mountains State Park

North Carolinas largest State Park, in one of the state’s most rugged areas, South Mountains State Park features elevations to 3,000 feet, an 80-foot waterfall, mountain streams and more than 40 miles of trails for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers.

Visit

Featured Attractions

Bed & Breakfast Inns

Inn at Glen Alpine Bed & Breakfast

It is centrally located in Western North Carolina and just minutes from hiking, parks, fishing, historic towns, museums, wineries and breweries, shopping, restaurants and much more!

105 Davis St, Morganton, NC, 28655

Campgrounds Cycling Fishing Hiking Parks & Forests

South Mountains State Park

The largest state park in North Carolina with more than 40 miles of trails and an 18-mile mountain bike loop. Elevations up to 3,000 feet and an 80-foot waterfall provide excellent views. Located just south of Morganton and Valdese. Activities include equestrian camping, primitive camping, trout fishing, mountain biking, picnicking and hiking.

3001 South Mountain State Park Road, Connelly Springs, NC, 28612

Boating Campgrounds Camping Canoeing & Kayaking Cycling Fishing Hiking Parks & Forests

Lake James State Park Paddy's Creek Area

Tucked away in rolling hills at the base of Linville Gorge, Lake James includes 6,510 surface acres with more than 150 miles of shoreline. Swimming, canoeing, fishing and hiking. Picnic areas, bath house and rest rooms. Trails, camping and guided ranger tours and activities. 83 campsites range from boat-in only to car and walk-in sites.

2693 Park Trail, Nebo, NC, 28761

Hotels

Sleep Inn

Free Continental Breakfast. Swimming pool. Interstate 40, Exit 105.

2400a S Sterling St, Morganton, NC, 28655

Hotels

Quality Inn

The Quality Inn hotel in Morganton is conveniently located off Interstate 40, exit 105 and close to area attractions and businesses, including Lake James and Linville Caverns.

2400 S Sterling St, Morganton, NC, 28655

Hotels

Comfort Inn

The Comfort Inn & Suites hotel is located off of Interstate 40, exit 103.

1273 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, NC, 28655

Hotels

Days Inn & Suites

Experience warm southern hospitality and great value at Days Inn & Suites Morganton hotel.

1100 Burkemont Ave, Morganton, NC, 28655

Hotels

Hampton Inn

Experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains when staying at Hampton Inn Morganton. Centrally located in the Piedmont Region, this hotel provides easy interstate access. Visit the Pisgah National Forest located in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. Interstate 40, exit 105. One hour from Asheville, Boone and Charlotte.

115 Bush Dr, Morganton, NC, 28655

Campgrounds

Steele Creek Campground

On-site camp store, game room and snack bar plus water slide and swimming area with two diving boards.

7081 Nc-181, Morganton, NC, 28655

Campgrounds Camping Fishing

Rose Creek Campground

Take Highway 181 North from Morganton toward the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, and turn left at the first campground you spot. Take the gravel road past the nursery to Rose Creek Family Campground.

3471 Rose Creek Rd, Morganton, NC, 28655

Bed & Breakfast

Fairway Oaks Bed & Breakfast

In addition, the Silver Creek Plantation Clubhouse features Papa’s Bar & Grill, which serves lunch and dinner.

4640 Plantation Dr,, Morganton, NC, 28655

Cabins & Cottages

Robardajen Woods Cabins

Robardajen Woods is a place full of Southern Hospitality that will carry you “back to the slower days of front porch living.”

Morganton, NC

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