Welcome to the Official Government Site of the Town of Tryon, NC
Celebrating over 125 years as “The Friendliest Town in the South.”
Tryon, North Carolina, is nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the Thermal Belt region of western North Carolina. Year after year, Tryon’s moderate winters, cool summer breezes, rolling landscapes, and mountain views attract both those in search of the perfect place to vacation and those looking for a new place to call home.
Specifically, Tryon is located only four miles west of Interstate Highway 26 (Exit 67) on US Highway 176/NC Highway 108. Although a small community with an abundance of rural character, Tryon is within easy driving distance of many major population centers – Spartanburg, South Carolina (30 miles), Greenville, South Carolina (31 miles), Asheville, North Carolina (45 miles), Charlotte, North Carolina (88 miles), Columbia, South Carolina (118 miles), and Atlanta, Georgia (191 miles). We like to think that Tryon is close enough to everything, but not too close for comfort.
In the 1800s, the Tryon community became a “railroad town” with the construction of the rail line between Spartanburg, South Carolina and Asheville, North Carolina. Tryon was a popular stop for those traveling from the Low Country of South Carolina to the mountains of North Carolina. As folks began to take notice of its moderate climate and beautiful natural environment, Tryon became a resort community.
In the early 1900s, numerous authors, artists, and jetsetters began selecting Tryon as their getaway and, in some cases, as their home. Some of Tryon’s more famous “residents” included author F. Scott Fitzgerald, actor William Gillette of Sherlock Holmes Thespian fame, Grace Coolidge, wife of President Calvin Coolidge, and Kenneth Lackey, one of the original Three Stooges. Tryon’s most celebrated native daughter, Nina Simone, began her musical career at a very young age in Tryon.
Two agricultural industries historically played a major role in helping to shape Tryon’s economy and culture, equestrian activities and vineyards. The Tryon Riding and Hunt Club (TRHC) was formed in 1925 by visionary entrepreneur and region promoter Carter P. Brown. The TRHC has held the famous Block House Steeplechase annually since 1946. Numerous other equestrian organizations have also bloomed in the area’s rich equestrian scene. The Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association (BRHJA), the Tryon Hounds, the Foothills Riding Club, the Carolina Carriage Club, Foothills Equestrian Trails Association (FETA) and the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE), to name a few, are thriving in the Tryon area.
Tryon became known for the quality of its wine and table grapes in the early 1900s and was home to several family-owned vineyards. Prohibition eventually forced these family vineyards out of business. Fortunately, Tryon’s wine-making tradition has recently been rekindled. Currently, several operating vineyards are located in the Tryon area.
Today, Tryon merges a sense of the past with an eye on the promises of the future. Tryon is a people-oriented community that values the arts, nature and the individuality of all persons. In short, Tryon is whatever you want it to be.
The Town of Tryon was chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly and established as an incorporated municipality in 1885. Geographically, the Town is relatively small with an area of approximately two square miles. The Town’s 2010 population was 1,646. However, this number swells during certain times of the year due to the large number of part-time residents and second homes in the area.
