Historic Occoneechee Speedway and James M. Johnston Nature Preserve

The Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail (HOST) and the James M. Johnston Nature Preserve are under the care of Classical American Homes Preservation Trust and are located beside the Eno River (opposite from the location of the Ayr Mount historic house).  HOST is a walking trail through natural and cultural history.  The original track was a half-mile horse track built by Julian S. Carr for Occoneechee Farms.  It was later expanded and used by NASCAR.  This 44-acre site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in May 2002.  Four miles of trail take you along the banks of the Eno River where you’ll walk around the only surviving dirt speedway from NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season.  The 1-mile oval Occoneechee/Orange Speedway was active from 1948-68, attracting the best stock car drivers and thousands of spectators.  Today this unique outdoor site allows for a diverse range of activities and is enjoyed by individual hikers, joggers and other sports enthusiasts.

A volunteer group named the Historic Speedway Group (HSG) worked tirelessly for ten years (2006-2015) to help maintain the grounds and preserve the legacy of the Occoneechee-Orange Speedway: a site integral to the histories of NASCAR and Hillsborough.

ENTRANCE TO THE TRAILS FOR HOST AND THE  JAMES M. JOHNSTON NATURE PRESERVE IS LOCATED AT: 

320 Elizabeth Brady Road
Hillsborough, NC, 27278

Site is open during the following times: *

Jan., Feb., Nov., Dec. 8 am – 5 pm
March and October 8 am – 6 pm
Apr., May., Aug., Sep. 7 am – 7 pm
June and July 7 am – 8 pm

No access after sunset!

Admission to the trails is free.
Car parking is available.

*Site may be closed without notice for repairs, weather, holidays or special events.

ONLINE AND IN THE NEWS:

Photos: Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail preserves early days of NASCAR, June 2020

Historic Occoneechee Speedway a glimpse of Nascar’s roots, July 2018

Occoneechee Speedway: A NASCAR field of dreams from the inaugural 1949 season, April 2018

A Relic From Racing’s Early Years, Repurposed, July 2012