Welcome to Moore County! Come for the weekend and discover the unforgettable experiences that await, from culinary adventures and performing arts to unique stays. Whatever your passion, our three-day itineraries share local recommendations to help you Make Moore Memories with every visit.
Part art gallery, part bookstore, part memorabilia: Old Sport & Gallery feels more like a museum visit than a shopping experience. From its home in the Harvard Building on Pinehurst’s Market Square, Old Sport is the culmination of retired pro golfer Tom Stewart’s lifelong collections. “We started our store because I’d accumulated all these old books and clubs and artwork,” Stewart says. “The great joy is sharing it with other people.”
Each item in his shop holds a story, and Stewart is its author. There’s the book Bobby Jones signed after he won the 1929 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. Plus the four signed scorecards from that same tournament. “It’s fun to watch people be excited about something they can’t find anywhere else,” Stewart says.
Located in the Village of Pinehurst, Old Sport & Gallery is a quintessential destination when strolling around the picturesque streets. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Since he first came to Pinehurst for a tournament in the 1960s, he felt a passion for the town. When the time came, he knew the eclectic Harvard Building would be the perfect place for his store. “Moore County is best-suited to sell this stuff because the area is steeped in golf history,” Stewart says.
Just beyond Old Sport & Gallery’s doors, more quirky delights fill the county — experiences unique to this corner of the Sandhills. “I’ve never had a boring day!” Stewart declares. For more remarkable sights and spaces to explore in a weekend, join us as Stewart shares some of his favorite places to experience Moore County life at its fullest.
The Sandhills area beckons all visitors. From world-class golf to local shopping and dining, our Southern hospitality is why people have been coming to the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area for more than 125 years. Plan your Sandhills getaway today!
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All aboard! During the holiday season, the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway hosts a festive experience on Moore County’s very own Polar Express-style locomotive, the Carolina Christmas Train. photograph by Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Around here, many people associate trains with a romantic form of travel. After all, the Amtrak comes right through downtown Southern Pines and stops at the historic depot tucked between tree-lined streets, shops, and restaurants. The train has a history of function and beauty. It was also the means by which James Tufts, founder of the Village of Pinehurst, originally discovered the area and declared it as the spot for his health resort.
Today, you don’t need a far-flung destination to enjoy the appeal of train travel. Just beside Pinehurst’s The Cradle short course stands an equally fun stationary train experience. Anybody can walk right up and order a beer from Engine Room ’87, the open-air bar car with self-pour taps.
Or, buy a ticket for a one-of-a-kind ride for one of the Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway’s special events, like the Carolina Christmas Train or Rolling Brunch Train, offered on select weekends and dates throughout the year. On this restored passenger car, you’ll take a 50-minute round-trip journey through Moore and Montgomery counties. Passengers take in picturesque Sandhills views from the top and lower levels of the passenger car.
Discover the Landmarks and Legacies mural by Dan Dreyer on the Carthage Mural Trail. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
For somebody like Stewart who loves history, the town of Carthage is a veritable treasure trove. “You’ll never get bored in this part of the world,” he says. “It’s an old part of the country that witnessed Revolutionary battles and the Civil War. And here, you’ll see Civil War graveyards.”
The Carthage Mural Trail presents a visual representation of Moore County’s history. You can stroll this self-guided walking tour that connects five downtown murals — soon to be six with a new one being dedicated in early October — but driving is an option, too, as each mural is close to a parking lot with designated handicap spots.
Find The Tyson & Jones Buggy Company mural on the side of a historic building that once housed the business. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
When you arrive at each mural, scan the adjacent bronze-plated QR code to watch a short video with the mural’s back story. “One of my favorites is the mural of the Carthage Buggy Factory” Stewart says.
Painted by North Carolina’s own Scott Nurkin, Tyson & Jones Buggy Co. tells the story of Carthage’s legacy as the South’s largest carriage manufacturer. Even Henry Ford was entranced and made a visit to see the assembly line that produced 3,000 buggies and employed more than 100 people.
Greet the watusi cattle and other four-legged residents at Aloha Safari Park. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
When Stewart wants to take a walk on the wild side, he heads to the Aloha Safari Park in Cameron. On this 60-acre zoo, visitors come face to face with animals ranging from giraffes to zebras. “I’m a big animal guy and the park is authentic — not run-of-the-mill or commercialized,” he says. Half the park is a drive-through experience, and the other half is foot-traffic only. “You can get up close and personal, and that’s half the fun” he adds.
As you drive through the park, curious animals might stick their heads into car windows to greet visitors. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Zookeeper Chloe Saylor has worked at Aloha Safari Park for almost a decade. Her favorite animals are the cows — “because they’re my favorite things in the world, basically like giant dogs” — and Miley, the donkey. “She was born a couple of days after my birthday, and after that she’s become my best friend. We just clicked,” Saylor says.
One rule for the drive-up section: Keep your car window all the way up or all the way down. “People are surprised by the camel,” Saylor says. “It’ll take its long neck and put it inside your car. It’ll steal your cup, get a hold of it with its bottom lip, tip all of your drink in its mouth, and throw your cup on the ground.”
Built in 1915, Pinehurst Harness Track is North Carolina’s oldest and continuously operating equine sports facility. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
Horses were always a part of Stewart’s childhood. “My grandfather was one of the last members of the Civil War who lived in the Midwest, and he raced harness horses. I was around harness racing a good part of my life.”
When Stewart hears people describe harness track racing as a “sport of kings,” he thinks they’re not far off.
Hosted once a year at the Pinehurst Harness Track, the annual Spring Matinee Races give spectators a chance to eye the young trotters and pacers that trained on Pinehurst’s soft sand all through the winter.
The Harness Track serves as a training ground from October through May. Photography courtesy of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB
When the Tufts family originally built and then opened the track as a training center for horses in 1915, it was the perfect addition to their New England-style Village of Pinehurst resort. As the state’s oldest continuously operating equine sports facility, the Harness Track gives present-day horse lovers like Stewart plenty of reasons to visit: dressage shows, an annual dog show, polo matches, and hunter and jumper shows.
Just across the track in the unassuming Pinehurst Track Restaurant, breakfast plates come piled high with the lightest and fluffiest blueberry pancakes you’ll ever eat. “They’re famous,” says Stewart. “And they’re fun to eat.”
Where will you visit first? Click here to learn more about all the quirky detours and hidden gems in Moore County, plus what to see and do in between each stop.
From the stone that built Mount Airy, one man shapes a living story of community.
Snow in North Carolina may be fleeting, but when it falls, the state settles into a peaceful pause.
A long-forgotten series of recordings from 1925 puts a new spin on the beginnings of one of our most enduring music genres.
In tight-knit Southern circles, recipes get around. The ones that impress find their place in community cookbooks, local encyclopedias of care and feeding.
