Things to do in Murphy, NC

Small Town Series – North Carolina

There are many unique small towns across the United States. Many times we just drive right through them on our way to a bigger city or attraction. In this series, I will highlight small towns from each state. I am starting with the state I live in, North Carolina. We have found that if you take the time to stop, shop, and eat in these towns, you will be pleasantly surprised! Small towns are usually “hidden gems” among the big, bustling cities.

Murphy, NC

The town of Murphy is located in the Southwestern corner of North Carolina almost to the Georgia line. The town’s population is about 1700. Murphy is in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains(Blue Ridge Mountains) and is near the Valley & Hiwassee rivers. It’s a very cute little town with a beautiful downtown. The flowers and landscaping around the downtown buildings are wonderful! The town is so inviting, and the people are very friendly. It might be a great place to retire someday! We have not stayed in this town but we did do some exploring and ate at a great restaurant! We also would love to bring our camper to this area, with the mountains in the background, and the bubbling streams and rivers. It would be an ideal place to camp.

History

Murphy is an old town that dates back to the 1830s. It was named for a North Carolina politician, Archibald Murphey. The first Trading post was established in 1828, to trade with the Cherokee people, Early Settlers, and U.S. Army Soldiers(from nearby Fort Butler). Note: The site of Murphy along the Hiwassee River was known to the Cherokee people as Tlanusi-yi (the Leech Place), because of the legend of a giant leech called Tlanusi that lived in the river.

In 1836, the Cherokee people were removed and held in Fort Butler. This is known as the Trail of Tears, this is a very sad part of the history in this area. The Native Americans were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands. Fort Butler is no longer a structure but the site can be visited with historical markers to read.

Hotels in Murphy

• Stonebrook Lodge
• Sunset Motel
• Days Inn by Windham
• Murphy Motel
• Best Western of Murphy
• Hampton Inn
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Campgrounds near Murphy

We have been to the KOA Murphy, it is clean, well-kept, and is located next to the Valley River. We will be back to camp there soon!

• Peace Valley, KOA Murphy
• Persimmon Creek Campground
• Peachtree Cove RV Park
• Crawford’s Campground
• River’s Edge Mountain RV Resort

Peace Valley, KOA

This campground is open Year round and is located next to the Valley River and at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Amenities;

• 50 Amp sites
• WiFi
• Cable TV
• Pool (5/23 – 9/24)
• Propane
• Fishing
• Firewood
• Pavilion
• Dog Park

Persimmon Creek Campground

This Campground is located 12 miles west of Murphy. It has 1700 feet of creek front, which makes it a beautiful place to cool off and relax. They are open year-round. Amenities;

• Gem Mine
• Trout Pond
• Fire Rings
• Picnic tables
• Bathroom & Showers
• Pets allowed

Peachtree Cove RV Park

This RV Park is located in Marble, NC, about 9 miles from Murphy. Roger’s Creek runs through the middle of the campground. Amenities;

• Full Hookups
• Pull Through sites
• WiFi
• Picnic Tables
• Fire Rings
• Bathhouse
• Laundry facilities
• Picnic Shelter
• Gift Shop

Crawford’s Campground

This campground is located about 20 minutes outside Murphy. Surrounded by the mountains and many bubbling streams. They are open year-round. Amenities;

• 30 & 50 amp sites
• 3 bunkhouses
• WiFi
• Propane available
• Camp store

River’s Edge Mountain RV Resort

This campground is located near Murphy on Nottley River. It caters to Big Rig RVs, with extra large sites. Their super sites are 50 feet wide! Amenities:

• Pull-Thru & River Sites
• Big Rig RV Super Sites
• Full Hook-ups
• Pavilion
• Bath house & Showers
• Laundry Facilities
• Picnic Tables
• Fire Rings
• WiFi
• Cable TV
• Pets Allowed

Restaurants in Murphy

• ShoeBooties Cafe
• Red Brick Deli Inc.
• Rib Country BBQ
• Bistro 29
• The Parson’s Pub
• Valley River Brewery
• Murphy’s Chophouse
• Comfort Grub
• Perrone’s Neighborhood Grill
• Chevelles 66

For a small town, it has some great restaurants. Our favorite is ShoeBooties Grill. With social distancing, we had the upstairs to ourselves and the food was amazing! I can’t wait to go back to Murphy and try another restaurant or two!

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Things to do near Murphy, NC

• Murphy River Walk
• Fields of the Wood
• Hiwassee Dam
• Cherokee County Museum
• Marketplace Antiques
• Ye Olde Goat Farm
• Harshaw Chapel and Cemetary

Murphy River Walk

The River Walk is a 4 mile trail for all skill levels. It follows the Valley River and the Hiwassee River surrounding the town center of Murphy.

Fields of the Wood

Fields of the Wood is a 200 acre religious park. It is best known for its 300-foot-wide mountainside representation of the Ten Commandments. It also includes numerous monuments and markers with some significance to Christians in general and more so to the Church of God of the Prophecy.

Hiwassee Lake & Dam

The Dam was build in the late 1930s to bring electricity to the region. The dam controls the 6000-acre lake. The day we were there no one was around. It was really cool to drive over the dam to get to the lake. We enjoyed seeing the Dam up close. The lake is really beautiful and a great place to have a picnic lunch!

Cherokee County Museum

This museum has displays on the Native Americans and Pioneer settlers in this region. The hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, there is a small admission fee. We haven’t been there yet, but I do love museums!

Marketplace Antiques

This is just one of the many great shops in downtown Murphy. At Marketplace Antiques, you will find many interesting items, including beautiful antiques.

Ye Olde Goat Farm

Ye Olde Goat Farm has been raising goats since 1999. They help first time goat owners get started. This is a great place for children to learn about, and feed the goats. Please call ahead if you plan on visiiting.

Harshaw Chapel and Cemetery

Harshaw Chapel is a historic Methodist chapel and cemetery located in Murphy. It was built on land gifted from Joshua Harshaw. The chapel was completed in 1869 and is a Greek Revival style brick church. The cemetery contains graves dating back to 1840.

In Conclusion…

Murphy, NC is a very warm and welcoming little town. I can’t wait to explore it again soon. We like to explore small towns across the United States. Check back for my next small town post! Next time you are on a road trip, pay attention to all the small towns you go through, you may find a “hidden gem”.

Please comment below and let me know your favorite small town. Remember to Pin the photos, and share this post with your family & friends on your social media pages!

*You may also enjoy reading; Great Smoky Mountain Cabins-Review and Fun things to do in Cherokee, NC

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