Area Attractions- travel times as few as 45 minutes from Mountain City so stop by for a good meal and shopping for antiques while you're passing through.
| Attraction | Location |
| Barter Theatre | Abingdon, Virginia |
| Biltmore Estate | Asheville, North Carolina |
|
Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock
State Park
|
Chimney Rock, North Carolina |
| Gatlinburg Sky Lift | Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
| Grandfather Mountain | Linville, North Carolina |
| Great Smoky Mountains Railroad | Bryson City, North Carolina |
| Lookout Mountain Incline Railway | Lookout Mountain, Tennessee |
| The Lost Sea | Sweetwater, Tennessee |
| Luray Caverns | Luray, Virginia |
| Museum of the Cherokee Indian | Cherokee, North Carolina |
| Nantahala Outdoor Center | Bryson City, North Carolina |
| Natural Bridge | Natural Bridge, Virginia |
| Old Salem | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Rock City | Lookout Mountain, Georgia |
| Ruby Falls | Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Tweetsie Railroad | Blowing Rock, North Carolina |
Old Butler under Watauga Lake
Celebrate the heritage of Butler with music, games, exhibits and food! Learn why the town was moved and meet some of the former residents.
Museum Open 9:30 am-9:30 pm
According to legend, Daniel Boone was one of the first to enter what would later be called Butler as he traveled to Kentucky in 1769. Early in history, the settlement was known as Smith's Mill, and the town was incorporated about 1820. After the Civil War the town was renamed Butler, honoring Col. R.R. Butler, Civil War hero, statesman and politician.
The flood of 1940 was the final event which spurred the TVA to begin work on the long discussed building of the world's tallest earth dam.
As TVA began to purchase more property needed for the project, residents were forced to search for new homes and get ready for the move. In an effort to keep some of the town intact, two McQueen farms in Cobbs Creek community were divided into 130 lots and sold at auction.
In all, about 400 families from Butler and approximately 600 from surrounding areas were displaced when the 40,000 acres were flooded by the TVA. The gates of Watauga Dam closed in December, 1948, to forever cover the picturesque little town of Old Bulter.
In 1999 a museum dedicated to the preservation of memories of the original town was constructed on property deeded to Butler Ruritan Club and Watauga Academy Alumni Association by Selma "Babe" Curtis. The facility was build to resemble the Old Butler Depot with the work being done by inmates of Northeast Correctional Facility with supervision by foremen fro Shouns Lumber Company. Materials were supplied by Larry Shoun, Shouns Lumber Company.
Turn the corner and you will see photographs of townspeople, churches, and Kyle Stout's barber shop where almost all children got their first haircut. The contents of the barber shop are the originals- even to the razors, mugs, brushes, etc.
Two windows from the Methodist Church, along with the original pulpit and photographs are displayed.
A large map indicates where townspeople and surrounding sites were located; many photographs taken and items collected during the drawdown of the lake in 1983 are displayed.
The Butler and Watauga Valley Heritage Museum was presented The Award of Excellence by the TEnnessee Association of Museums for the year 2002 at their meeting in Nashville in April 2003. The museum is open 1:00 to 4:00 SAturdays and Sundays and other times by calling Anna Dugger at 423-768-2432 or Judith Helms 423-768-2911. Special tours are welcome.
Location: Hwy 67, 17 miles west of Mountain City, 35 miles from Boone on US 421; from Hampton, approximately 17 miles on Hwy 67 and 321.
Celebrate the heritage of Butler with music, games, exhibits and food! Learn why the town was moved and meet some of the former residents.
Museum Open 9:30 am-9:30 pm
According to legend, Daniel Boone was one of the first to enter what would later be called Butler as he traveled to Kentucky in 1769. Early in history, the settlement was known as Smith's Mill, and the town was incorporated about 1820. After the Civil War the town was renamed Butler, honoring Col. R.R. Butler, Civil War hero, statesman and politician.
The flood of 1940 was the final event which spurred the TVA to begin work on the long discussed building of the world's tallest earth dam.
As TVA began to purchase more property needed for the project, residents were forced to search for new homes and get ready for the move. In an effort to keep some of the town intact, two McQueen farms in Cobbs Creek community were divided into 130 lots and sold at auction.
In all, about 400 families from Butler and approximately 600 from surrounding areas were displaced when the 40,000 acres were flooded by the TVA. The gates of Watauga Dam closed in December, 1948, to forever cover the picturesque little town of Old Bulter.
In 1999 a museum dedicated to the preservation of memories of the original town was constructed on property deeded to Butler Ruritan Club and Watauga Academy Alumni Association by Selma "Babe" Curtis. The facility was build to resemble the Old Butler Depot with the work being done by inmates of Northeast Correctional Facility with supervision by foremen fro Shouns Lumber Company. Materials were supplied by Larry Shoun, Shouns Lumber Company.
Turn the corner and you will see photographs of townspeople, churches, and Kyle Stout's barber shop where almost all children got their first haircut. The contents of the barber shop are the originals- even to the razors, mugs, brushes, etc.
Two windows from the Methodist Church, along with the original pulpit and photographs are displayed.
A large map indicates where townspeople and surrounding sites were located; many photographs taken and items collected during the drawdown of the lake in 1983 are displayed.
The Butler and Watauga Valley Heritage Museum was presented The Award of Excellence by the TEnnessee Association of Museums for the year 2002 at their meeting in Nashville in April 2003. The museum is open 1:00 to 4:00 SAturdays and Sundays and other times by calling Anna Dugger at 423-768-2432 or Judith Helms 423-768-2911. Special tours are welcome.
Location: Hwy 67, 17 miles west of Mountain City, 35 miles from Boone on US 421; from Hampton, approximately 17 miles on Hwy 67 and 321.
Old Butler Museum