Town of Spindale

A mill town until recent years, Spindale has the friendliness of a community where everyone's treated as a neighbor - even visitors. The old and new are blended here: the old-time Spindale Drug Co. and 19th-century Spindale House community center are anchors on Main Street, and Isothermal Community College and The Foundation Performing Arts and Conference Center are on the other side of town. Spindale also is home to the American Dairy Goat Association.

History

Spindale was incorporated in 1923, and soon afterward the Tanner family donated the Spindale House, a former plantation house, for public use. The building has housed an ice skating rink and bowling alley but now contains a gymnasium and reception hall. As one of the mill towns in North Carolina, Spindale's history is tied to North Carolina textiles, including upholstery fabrics and clothing. Some North Carolina textile mills are still standing in town though all have closed. A few former mills have been refurbished as warehouses, and others may be converted into housing as part of a plan to renovate the town's mill village section. Lakeside Mills, a working flour mill, represents the town's legacy as a North Carolina mill town.

Rail trails in North Carolina

A popular recreation area in Spindale for walkers and hikers is the rail-to-trail path, part of one of the longest North Carolina rail trails. The entire trail runs eight miles through Rutherford County, including three miles in Spindale. The Western North Carolina rail trail, which parallels Main Street in town, is gravel, flat and mostly tree-lined with Bradford pears and crepe myrtles.

Restaurant row

Spindale's eateries offer visitors a mix, from fountain treats and sandwiches at the old-fashioned Spindale Drug Co. to Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria and M2 (M Squared), which has brunch, a bar and patio dining. Don't forget dessert at Celena's ice cream and coffee shop. Some restaurants have live music.

Isothermal Community College

One of the North Carolina community colleges is Isothermal Community College. Isothermal, which serves five counties, offers music, dance, theater and other entertainment year-round at The Foundation Performing Arts and Conference Center. Isothermal Community College also is home to WNCW-FM 88.7, one of the Western North Carolina National Public Radio affiliates.

Western North Carolina car shows

Spindale hosts several festivals each year. The Fourth of July festival on Main Street features one of the North Carolina car shows, arts and crafts and a beer garden. The Foothills Antique and Artisan Show, held in spring and fall at the Spindale House, is one of the few antiques shows in Western North Carolina. The Spindale Fall Festival draws visitors as one of the North Carolina fall festivals.

For other entertainment, Spindale is home to the Rutherford County Farmer's Market from May through November, one of the farmer's markets in Western North Carolina.

Retirement communities in North Carolina

One of the new Western North Carolina retirement communities is Sparks Crossing in Spindale. The community has individual houses and a clubhouse and is close to the North Carolina rail trail.