Dillsboro, North Carolina, is located on the Tuckasegee River and is just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The population is only about 250. The population has been declining due to no new housing being built within the city limits. Many of the homes downtown have been turned into shops. It’s a very nice little town. Dillsboro runs into the city of Sylva, which is a larger city. The population of Sylva is about 2800. It’s really like getting 2 cities in one!

Dillsboro – History

Dillsboro is a railroad town on the Tuckasegee River. It was founded by the Murphy Branch Railroad in the 1880s. In 1882 the first Post Office opened. The town was first named New Webster but the name was changed to Dillsboro in 1889 to honor William Allen Dills, who had selected the town’s location which was on his farm. The Dills house is still standing and is now occupied by the Riverwoods Shops. Mr. Dills operated the first Post Office from his house. At the turn of the century, Dillsboro was the largest town west of Asheville with a population of 750. When you are in Dillsboro, don’t forget to take the self-guided Heritage Tour, which highlights over two dozen structures dating from the late 1890s to the early 1900s.

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad begins in Dillsboro and follows the “Murphy branch” which was constructed in the 1880s. The train wreck scene from the movie, “The Fugitive” was filmed in Dillsboro, the wreckage can still be seen on eastbound train excursions with the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Restaurants

There are several great places to eat in Dillsboro;

• Boots Steakhouse – Great steaks
• Foragers Canteen – Great breakfast, Farm-to-Table and locally sourced
• Haywood Smokehouse – Great Smokehouse
• Innovation Station – Brewhouse and Taproom
• Kostas Restaurant – Great family restaurant, Greek and Italian
• The Well House – Gourmet deli sandwiches

We have eaten at 3 of these; Boots Steakhouse is where we had a great steak dinner on my birthday, Kostas is our favorite for a wide variety of good food, and Foragers Canteen has an amazing breakfast.

We were looking for a place to celebrate my birthday and we really wanted a good steak dinner. We found Boots Steakhouse. Boots Steakhouse is a quaint restaurant with really good food! Here are some photos of the back patio area which had a fire burning all night.

Dillsboro-Downtown shops

• Dogwood Crafters – Showcasing mountain crafts from over 80 artisans
• Front Porch – An old-timey general store
• Magnolia Jewelry & Accessories – High fashion jewelry
• Monkey Toes – Gifts and apparel
• Nancy Tut’s Christmas Shop
• Oak’s Gallery – Showcasing over 100 artists & craftspeople
• Riverwood Pottery – Decorative & useable stoneware
• The Artsy Olive – Natural flavored olive oils, vinegar, sea salts & sugars
• The Corn Crib – Unique gift shop
• Toad in the Hole – Home accessories & gifts
• Tunnel Mountain Crafts – Locally made arts & crafts
• The Chocolate Factory – Homemade fine chocolates

Be aware that some shops are closed on Mondays. We went to The Corn Crib and found some great Christmas gifts! We also went into Monkey Toes and the Chocolate Factory, we took home some delicious chocolate treats!

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Hotels & Lodging

• Best Western Plus River Escape
• Dillsboro Inn
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Sylva
• Microtel Inn & Suites – Sylva
• Blue Ridge Inn – Sylva
• Comfort Inn – Sylva
• Quality Inn – Sylva

You may also choose, Dillsboro cabin rentals or camping near Dillsboro.

We have stayed in Dillsboro a few times at the Best Western Plus River Escape. It is a great hotel right on the river, some of the rooms have balconies overlooking the river. They have an indoor pool and a very good breakfast.

One Last Note

As we were heading out of town, we noticed an interesting building on a hill. We exited the highway at the town of Sylva to check it out. It was the Jackson County Courthouse. I found out that this is a historic building built-in 1913. There are 107 steps leading up to its front portico from the fountain at the street level. The Jackson County courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

We really enjoyed our time in Dillsboro, North Carolina! Whether you are on your way to the mountains, or just want a place to relax and do some shopping, Dillsboro is the town for you! I love small towns, tell me about your favorite small town. Please leave a comment, and share this post on your social media pages!

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