ATTRACTIONS

Amusements

• Adventure Landing
  2600 East Franklin Boulevard • Gastonia, NC 28054
  704-866-4242
  Features three-eighteen hole miniature golf courses, an arcade and batting cages.   map

• World's Largest Flying American Flag
  4025 West Franklin Boulevard • Gastonia, NC 28054
  704-868-4674
  The largest flying American flag in the world, this 7,410 square foot flag is 65 feet tall, 114 feet wide, and weighs 180 pounds. The flag is visible for 30 miles from its location.

Historic Homes & Buildings

• Church at Belmont Abbey, The (circa 1893)
  100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road • Gastonia, NC 28082
  Belmont
  704-825-6687
  Located on the 650 acre campus of the Belmont Abbey College, this beautiful church was once the only abbey cathedral in the nation and was first used by American Indians in the area, then later used as a block upon which slaves were sold. The exquisite painted glass windows won a gold prize at the Colombian Exposition in 1893.  map

Museums & Galleries

• American Military Museum
  109 West Second Avenue • Gastonia, NC 28052
  704-866-6068
  Operated by volunteers from the Post 23 American Legion, this museum houses authentic military and related memorabilia from past wars and periods with collections including uniforms, weapons, pictures, flags, and scale models.  map

• Art 1 Gallery
  170 West Franklin Boulevard • Gastonia, NC 28054
  704-854-8800
  A nonprofit gallery and instructional center that was opened by three local artists in 1998 and features an array of changing exhibits and space for local artists to showcase their works. A wide variety of classes and workshops given by locally and internationally known instructors are available.  map

• C. Grier Beam Truck Museum
  111 North Mountain Street • Gastonia, NC 28021
  Cherryville
  704-435-3072
  One of only three truck museums in the United States, this 7,500 square foot museum features a wonderful display of beautifully maintained vintage trucks, as well as numerous photographs and memorabilia. more...  map

• Carolina Harley-Davidson Museum
  2830 East Franklin Boulevard • Gastonia, NC 28054
  704-867-2855
  Located inside the Carolina Harley-Davidson, the largest Harley dealership on the East Coast, this 70,000 square foot museum contains a wide variety of vintage motorcycles and other motorcycling memorabilia. The oldest motorcycle on site is a 1914 Harley-Davidson Model 10-B.  map

• Gaston County Museum of Art & History
  131 West Main Street • Gastonia, NC 28034
  Dallas
  704-852-6025
  Housed in an 1852 Greek Revival style building, this beautiful museum features authentically furnished period rooms, a "hands-on" parlor, and changing art and history exhibits. The largest public collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North Carolina is also housed at this museum and a gift shop is on site. more...  map

Parks, Gardens & Zoos

• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
  6500 South New Hope Road • Gastonia, NC 28012
  Belmont
  704-825-4490
  Situated on the banks of the scenic Lake Wylie, these botanical gardens are located on 110 acres of rolling meadows and woodlands and are known as being one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Features include four major theme gardens, a half mile of woodland trail, and a 13,500 square foot visitor pavilion that includes an early 20th century stained glass dome. more...  map

Science & Technology

• Schiele Museum of Natural History
  1500 East Garrison Boulevard • Gastonia, NC 28054
  704-866-6900
  The largest collection of land mammal specimens in the Southeast is on display at this natural history museum that is the largest natural history museum in the area and also includes five permanent galleries with natural history exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, and a half-mile nature trail. Outdoor recreations of an Indian Village and an 18th century farm are also on site. more...  map