Foothills Watershed unveils outdoor oasis in Old Fort
Expansive catawba river venue features bike trails, beaches, beer and More
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
June 12, 2025
Foothills Watershed, which features food, bike trails and river access on a 117 acres along the Catawba River, will launch, June 18. Courtesy photo
A few miles east of Catawba Falls, where the river to which it lends its name winds tranquilly along the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, longtime Old Fort residents Casey and Amanda McKissick possessed a bucolic piece of land they wanted to share with other outdoor enthusiasts.
“It’s the kind of place you can bring the kids, spend the day and really just enjoy nature,” Casey said. “We started to see it as a chance to create something truly special, right here in our hometown.”
As Foothills Watershed opens to the public, Wednesday, June 18, the McKissicks are partnering with Jeremy Poore and Molly Morningglory, of Mountain Top Shuttles, to introduce a unique concept that is “just a little wilder than your backyard.” The venue will host a grand opening celebration the weekend following July 4.
The McKissicks, who founded Foothills Meats in 2002, operate a butcher shop in Black Mountain, where they launched The Grange in 2022, followed late last year by Hell or High Water. As they began to envision how to best utilize the 117-acre property on the Catawba River, serving elevated food incorporating local ingredients was an obvious element of the plan.
“We’ve had this rough idea for probably around 10 years,” Casey said. “In a lot of ways, it’s similar to The Grange, in the sense that it's the kind of place we always wanted for our kids when they were little, but this is on more than 100 acres with 1,600 feet of river frontage.”
The concept continued to evolve over the past three years, he continued.
“Our original plan was to use this building as our commissary kitchen, before we renovated the old ice house in Black Mountain,” Casey said. “But, with everything going on here — Catawba Falls right down the road, I-40 right there, downtown just around the corner and the property that came with the building — we realized there was just too much opportunity to bring something exciting to our community.”
Their vision came into focus when the McKissicks connected with Poore and Morningglory, who established a shuttle service for mountain bikers, from downtown Old Fort to various locations, in 2023. The couple’s involvement in the growing mountain biking community, including their work with the G5 Trail Collective and Poole’s role as coordinator for the Trail Construction and Sustainability program at McDowell Technical Community College, brought valuable insight to the project.
“They are friends of ours from town and we knew they were really into mountain biking and a deep understanding of that community. They’re also passionate about making Old Fort better,” Casey said. “It wasn’t too long before we starting thinking mountain bike trails, food, beer and the river would all make this a great place for families.”
Foothills Watershed is more of a destination than it is a restaurant, according to the owners.
“In some ways it’s similar to a waterfront resort, but it’s super casual and not exclusive,” Casey said. “It’s between the backcountry and home, so you can get away with your family from Black Mountain, Marion or Old Fort, and in a few minutes you can be in a place that’s outdoors and feels semi-wild.”
The massive property features a food truck serving reimagined classics inspired by menu items from The Grange, while chef Luis Martinez, of Tequio Foods, creates flavors inspired by his native region of Oaxaca, Mexico. The property features a dynamic mountain bike trail system through private forests, dirt jump lines and pump tracks for all ages. A shaded lawn and event space surround a natural pond, while a riverfront beach area stretches along the river.
Food will be available upon the launch of the venue, which will open with a “bring your own beer or wine” policy, allowing cans only, while offering non-alcoholic drinks. In partnership with an unnamed brewery in Asheville, Foothills Watershed plans to begin brewing its own beer on-site by end of the summer.
"Luis and our head chef Eric (Morris) are really good buddies, and they share a similar ethos when it comes to food and recipes,” Casey said. “Luis imports heirloom corn from the high mountains of Mexico that are unique and delicious. So, the idea here is to use meats from our butcher shop and slow cook them, which pairs well with Latin cuisine.”
Mountain bikers ride on the trails at Foothills Watershed, a bike park and recreation space along the Catawba River in Old Fort. Courtesy photo
Access to the river, pond and yard games requires a day pass, while a an All Activities pass must be purchased to use the bike trails. An All Activities day pass starts at $30 and a Waterfront Day Pass is $5. Add-ons include shuttle service to the Kitsuma Trail for $20 and an exclusive Riverside Hangout that can be purchased for $50.
Season passes, with discounted rates for local residents, are also available on the Watershed Bike Park page at foothillslocalmeats.com.
“Bookings for any day or activity passes can be done online, for easy access,” Poore said. “Everybody who comes on the property checks in, signs a waiver and somebody will point you in the direction of what you’re doing.”
Riders looking to explore the extensive network of trails on the opposite side of the Catawba River can bring their own bikes and electric mountain bikes, which can be rented at the venue, are allowed.
“We have traditional mountain bikes and mountain bikes with electric assist available to rent,” Poore said. “We also have bikes for the pump track and dirt jumps, and we even do simple bike repairs, if you’re having an issue with yours.”
The setting offers a range of outdoor activities to suit riders of all skill levels and those who would prefer to enjoy a day in the sun.
“Let’s say you come out with your family and one of you wants to ride, but the rest just want to chill out at the beach,” Poore said. “You get your family checked in and set up, go for a ride on the trails for a little while, come back and cool off with the family or grab lunch.”
The location also provides a convenient dining option for those exploring the surrounding area, according to Casey.
“As locals, we want people to come out and enjoy Old Fort, so if you’re a couple or group going for a hike up to Catawba Falls, it’s a great place to stop when you’re done to grab dinner and maybe catch a show in the evening,” he said.
The family-friendly bike park and recreation space complements an overarching vision for the western McDowell County community, which was named an Outdoor N.C. Trail Town in 2024, according to Casey.
“We’re riding the coattails of all the work that’s been done in Old Fort to make it a trail destination,” he said. “So, we’re just putting our own spin on it and contributing to building a local trail economy that we believe will be a key for this town going into the future.”
The facility is a “phenomenal” addition to her native town, according to Morningglory.
“This place is amazing. I would’ve loved to have had something like this when I was a kid,” she said. “There’s nothing like it around here, especially highlighting fitness and accessibility to fitness. We want anyone who’s interested in an active lifestyle to feel like they can come here, feel welcome and get started.”