Commercial Vehicle Accident Injury Attorneys in Asheboro, NC

The city of Asheboro is best known for being home to the North Carolina Zoo, but there are plenty of other reasons to plan a visit here. Located in the “heart of North Carolina” with a population of about 28,000, Asheboro feels like a small town, especially its historic downtown district, which was named a North Carolina Main Street Community in 2020. The walkable area is filled with shops and restaurants and serves as a gathering place for city-wide events like outdoor concerts and seasonal festivals.

Asheboro is about an hour away from Durham and 30 minutes outside of Greensboro, making it an easy destination for a weekend getaway or day trip. Follow our guide for the best things to do and prepare to be surprised by this charming city.

Our 20 Favorite Small Towns In North Carolina

Enjoy The Outdoors

Located in downtown Asheboro, this acre of green space is a pleasant space to stroll and picnic, and where many public events are held, like an annual summer concert series.

Spend some time on the water at a picturesque lake set in a 283-acre park. Fishing fans come here to reel in bass—there is a pier and a bait shop, and jon boats are available to rent. Or if you prefer to paddle around in a canoe or kayak, you can rent both here as well. Off the water, the park has a playground, walking trail, and picnic areas, so you can make a day of it.

North Carolina has four national forests, including this protected swath of 51,000 acres. If you’re craving a walk in the woods, there is the 20-mile Uwharrie National Recreation Trail (UNRT), which passes along rivers, streams, ancient rock formations, and the remains of old gold mines. The footpath can be hiked in sections through several access points. If you’d rather explore via a boat, canoe, or jet ski, or just take a dip, check out Baldin Lake. Campgrounds are scattered throughout the forest; many of which have picnic areas, boat ramps, and fishing spots.

Experience The City’s Cultural Side

A local landmark, this historic performing arts space hosts concerts, plays, lectures, and movies. Opened in 1930, it was originally built as a movie house, and showed films until the 1980s. After changing hands a few times, the city of Asheboro bought the theatre 2005 and made extensive improvements and repairs, turning it into the cultural center it is today.

Since 1970, The Randolph Arts Guild has fostered creativity and expression in Asheboro and the surrounding area. The organization’s building, located downtown, is home to exhibition spaces; the Sara Smith Self Gallery, which shows work from local, national, and international visual artists; as well as The Morings Craft Store, where you can buy handmade items by area makers. There are also regular workshops and classes where you can learn a new skill, like making pottery or woodworking.

Must-See Attractions

The state’s official zoo is also the largest natural habitat (wide open spaces) zoo in the world—2,800 acres in total. Wildlife conservation is the focus here, both locally and globally. The Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Rehabilitation Center rehabilitates native North Carolina animals so they can return to the wild. Many critically endangered animals, like the African pancake tortoise and American red wolves live here to keep their populations growing. You’ll see habitats for North America, Africa, and the desert; gardens; hiking trails; and attractions like a carousel and a ropes course.

Fans of all things flight-related will love exploring military and civilian aircraft at this 20,000 square foot museum. In addition to planes, you’ll find displays of military vehicles, gear, and memorabilia.

There are only two original covered bridges remaining in North Carolina and one of them is in Asheboro. Designated a historic landmark, the Pisgah Covered Bridge dates back to 1911, when people traveled by horse and wagon. The 54-foot structure was reconstructed (mainly with recovered materials) after it was destroyed by a flood in 2003. You can walk through the bridge and enjoy the peaceful banks of the Little River, which flows beneath it.

If you love unearthing vintage treasures, Asheboro has an array of antique stores and flea markets. Collector’s Antique Mall has about 100 vendors selling everything from furniture to jewelry in a huge downtown space. The three-story Antiques & Geeks Collectibles on Sunset has a little bit of everything with its mix of housewares, trading cards and toys, clothing, and more. Over at Flea Marketeers, you’ll find a wide selection of guitars as well as records, jewelry, and items for the home.

Shop for old-timey candy, sodas in glass bottles, local preserves, and more nostalgic finds in this modern-day general store.

Downtown Asheboro is peppered with independently-owned clothing stores. Poppy and Peony Boutique stocks flowy dresses, graphic t-shirts and caps, jewelry, and more. Little Mustard Seed sells clothing in colorful and fun prints as well as accessories. Refresh Resale is a consignment shop for women, men, and children.

A Big Lots store in Asheboro is among the initial nine locations being reopened Thursday by the chain’s new owner, Variety Wholesalers Inc., which also owns the Maxway and Roses discount stores.

The store at 1432 E. Dixie Drive is the only North Carolina location to be in what the retail chain calls its “first wave” of Big Lots stores reopening.

Variety is labeling the reopening as “the comeback starts soon.”

The next wave is scheduled to start May 1 with 55 stores, while the remaining 155 of the 219 locations that Variety acquired in December to reopen by early June.

Variety bought the stores from Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC, which Big Lots hired in September to manage the divesting of the stores after Big Lots filed for bankruptcy.

The companies have not said which stores transferred to Variety. Initially, Big Lots locations in Hickory, Morganton, Statesville, Newton Mooresville and Lincolnton were among those Variety considered buying. A Marion store was not on the list.

BigLots.com and Big Lots social media channels will provide updates on store announcements.

‘We’re thrilled to bring the Big Lots! brand back to life by offering more deals than ever, lots of famous brands and a new apparel department for the entire family,” said Lisa Seigies, president and chief executive of Variety Wholesalers.

“We’re opening stores quickly so we can serve the community. We know the stores won’t be perfect to start, but each week we’ll add more new products as we build towards the grand opening celebration in the fall.”

Variety plans to take over one to two Big Lots distribution centers. Variety currently owns about 400 stores in 15 states, including Bargain Town, Bill’s Dollar Stores, Maxway, Roses Express, Super Dollar and Super 10.

Variety said it “may employ Big Lots associates at the acquired stores and distribution centers, as well as certain corporate associates needed to support the go-forth footprint.”

Former N.C. Republican legislator Art Pope is chairman and chief executive of Variety Wholesalers.

Big Lots entered bankruptcy on Sept. 8. Variety submitted a list of stores it wanted to buy in early 2025.

The former Hughes Furniture site is getting a major makeover as Gillespie Precast moves in. Learn about the company's plans for renovating and rebuilding on this 33-acre property.

A Maryland precast concrete manufacturer expanding through the Southeast plans to buy a 33-acre former site of Hughes Furniture Industries near Asheboro for a $9 million project with 60 jobs, state and local economic-development agencies announced Thursday.

Gillespie Precast of Chestertown, Maryland, plans to make box culverts, wet and dry utility vaults, manholes, catch basins and box culverts on the site at High Pine Church Road, according to the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation.

The agency quoted Gillespie President Andrew Gillespie as saying it considered several locations in North Carolina and Virginia but was encouraged by support from the county, REDC and adjoining property owners.

The company is set to receive $92,000 in county economic-development incentive payments over five years, approved by the board of commissioners, according to REDC. The project was first publicly identified in early March, when descriptions of the company matched Gillespie.

Gillespie also is receiving a $120,000 state grant from the One North Carolina Fund, Gov. Josh Stein’s office announced Thursday.

The new jobs will pay an average of $64,154, though pay will vary by job, according to the governor’s office.

Gillespie was established in 1922 as a supplier of ready-mix and precast concrete products on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and has three manufacturing plants and 150 employees.

Among recent major projects it touts are a TopGolf location in Baltimore, expansions at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, a high school in Prince George’s County in Maryland, and for a Martin Marietta quarry in Baltimore County.

Gillespie plans to demolish some of the former Hughes Furniture structure, revonovate other sections, and build new, according to the REDC. The main parcel consists of about 25 acres with four buildings, the largest a 1985-dated structure of about 12,700 square feet, according to county property records.

Recruiting Gillespie involved, in addition to the REDC, the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina on this project were the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, the Commerce Department’s Division of Workforce Solutions, Randolph County, according to the governor’s office.