Though Murphy, N.C., is named for one Archibald D. Murphey, when the community originated in 1835 the "e" was somehow dropped. That doesn't mean the county seat of Cherokee County - no more than a lovely two-hour drive from Chattanooga through the Ocoee River Gorge - dropped the e-word (entertainment) from its vocabulary, however.
"There's a lot to do here," said Mayor Bill Hughes, whose community's tourist literature refers to Murphy as a "Norman Rockwell painting."
"We're especially proud of our 'Open House Downtown,' which takes place on the first Friday night of every month. Our stores stay open. Our wonderful community of artists - everyone from painters to pottery and jewelry makers to authors of books - sell their wares. You can even take a stroll down our beautiful river walk, which is 2.5 miles long."
Throw in the new Cherokee Valley River Casino, which is scheduled to open Sept. 1 with its hotel expected to be ready a month later, and the soon-to-be-completed renovation of the town's historic L&N Railroad Terminal and it's easy to see why Murphy, with or without the "e," is small-town entertainment done right.
More Info
Try me a riverWhether you choose to walk or ride, you’re never far from rushing rivers in Murphy. With the town built at the confluence of the Hiwassee and Valley rivers, and the whitewater rapids of the Ocoee and Nantahala nearby, you can choose to walk down the scenic 2.5-mile Murphy River Walk, or ride a raft down two of the world’s most breathtaking rivers.
More Info
Trail of TearsAs you might expect of the county seat of Cherokee County, Murphy was originally home to the Cherokee Indian Nation prior to 1839. But due to Andrew Jackson’s Indian removal policy, the Cherokees were forced to exit western North Carolina for Oklahoma by way of the Trail of Tears. In the case of Murphy, the Trail of Tears followed a path out of town that is now Lakeside Drive.
More Info
Unwind over coffee or wineThe Daily Grind and Wine has become, according to its website, the “Cheers” of Murphy for the locals. Come early for latte or late for rosé at the handcrafted Celtic bar, but be sure to enjoy the Panini sandwiches and live entertainment at some point during the day.
More Info
Prayer Breakfast at Tiffany’s?Not exactly. But the Episcopal Church of the Messiah on Peachtree Street does have original Tiffany windows. First opened in 1896, a member of the congregation back then asked everyone to donate a dime to purchase the windows. The interior also has Georgia heart pine paneling done in a herringbone pattern.