The Old Fort train depot is one of the most complete surviving examples of a Western North Carolina Railroad depot from the late 19th century. The station was the terminus of the line for years before the Swannanoa Gap tunnel was completed — every passenger and every freight car had to stop here while goods were transferred over the mountain. The building has been restored and now houses a small museum dedicated to the history of the railroad and its role in opening the southern Appalachians to settlement and commerce.
Exhibits cover the construction of the tunnel, the mountain railroad loops that allowed trains to gain elevation without reversing, and the daily life of the railroad workers and their families. The depot sits right beside the active CSX tracks, so you may see freight trains passing while you are there.