At Ayr Mount

The past, the present and the future all seemed to converge at Ayr Mount during the month of September. This Federal-era plantation house
(at right), built in 1815, may be turning 200 years old in the coming year, but Ayr Mount is certainly characterized by a youthful vibrance and energy that local partnerships and community events bring to the site. The house museum, gardens and grounds, in addition to nearly 300 acres of woodlands and trails across the Eno River, is situated within a dynamic community that celebrates its history while looking forward to new and exciting projects highlighting all the best that North Carolina has to share!

On September 4-5, 2014, Friends of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail convened for its first-ever Trail Towns Conference. Speakers at the event shared their insights on how a community can benefit from its relationship with a long-distance trail like the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Representatives from twenty-two North Carolina counties attended, including tourism and economic development professionals, elected officials, and government staff. All the conference members gathered to celebrate on the grounds of Ayr Mount. Read more about Ayr Mount’s pending projects to connect with the Mountain-to-Sea Trail.

 

The same weekend, Ayr Mount hosted the Preservation North Carolina’s (PNC) Orange County Ramble. Also known as their Diamond Anniversary Roadshow, this celebratory event included tours to showcase houses in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill that PNC has helped to preserve.

Across the Eno River from the Ayr Mount Historic Site is the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail (HOST), which was the original speedway track for NASCAR. Placed on the National Register for Historic Places in 2002, this 44-acre site now has four miles of trails along NASCAR’s only surviving dirt speedway from its 1949 inaugural season.

Every year the Historic Speedway Group in Hillsborough organizes a Celebration of the Automobile and reunites racers as well as car aficionados at Ayr Mount’s HOST. This year was the 8th annual event, honoring the legendary Wood Brothers: Leonard and Glen Wood. The famous brothers formed their team in 1950, using the number “21” on their main car, and hold the distinction of being the oldest active team in NASCAR. See below pictures from the day!

 

P.S. – Above photo: Nick Pironio for The Scout Guide. Look out for Triangle The Scout Guide, Volume 3 this November! Click here to learn more about The Scout Guide.