Andrews Geyser
Andrews Geyser
3.5
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Recently restored, the geyser is located about five miles from town.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
74 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
22
Average
17
Poor
10
Terrible
9
Charlottheelian
Charlotte, North Carolina28 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
The geyser today is worth seeing, but the experience is much more interesting if you read the background information, found on several sources, about the building of the railroad around it and construction and purpose of the geyser itself. When I was a boy, living in Asheville in the '40s, we took the train a good number of times to and from Winston-Salem. The highlight of every trip was the opportunity to see the geyser several times from different vantages as the train wound up or down the mountain to and from Old Fort. The passenger train was pulled by one or more steam engines. Going toward Asheville the one-engine train would pause for awhile while a second engine was attached to the train to pull it up and over the mountains. From Old Fort the rails were often on the side of the mountain and passed through several tunnels. We would get as close to the windows as we could to see the engines puffing and pulling ahead of our car as we wound around sharp curves and into and out of the multiple tunnels. I suggest readers of this review Google the geyser and read the accounts about the geyser and the pictures of it from earlier times.
Written May 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Homecroft56
Nineveh, IN474 contributions
Oct 2020
We were in town looking for the loops of the RR as featured in Trains Magazine. The article stated the best spot to view the train was from Andrews Geyser and even had a map showing it's location. Drove by it twice and missed it. It's a park on the west side of the road with a large fountain, that was not working when we stopped in October 2020. I'm sure it might have been impressive in its day.
Written October 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard M
Conneaut, OH333 contributions
Oct 2015 • Friends
After a long day of photographing colored leaves along the Blue Ridge mountains, we were told about the geyser in Old Fort. We drove 35 minutes from Asheville and visited this place. Wow, we loved it. It was quite, and peaceful. Surrounded by beautiful mountains. The geyser is actually from a 6" water line that comes out of an old dam, 2 miles away. Then it squirts water out of a 1/2" nozzle 80 feet high. The wind blows the spray in many directions. I would visit this free site again.
Written October 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeeDeeNC070
Greenville, NC209 contributions
Jun 2012 • Family
Well gee I was excited to find this geyser albeit man made. I have been to this area of the NC mountains for years and we did not know this little park existed! Its not "Yellowstone" spectacular but I don't know of any geyser in NC other than this one and we enjoyed the drive down the small mountain hollow to get there. Andrews Geyser is certain to delight young kids however. World travelers may not be impressed. Old Fort should make an effort (other than just a road sign) to let traveler know about it. Its free. The creek is lovely. The grass is green and nice to enjoy. The water shoots high in the sky. This geyser was just the type of lovely surprise we like to find while traveling.
Written June 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shannen M
Harrisburg, NC120 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
The Geyser was not operational as of 7/7/18. The small picnic area was nice and the surrounding area pretty including the stream which could be heard from a distance; however, the area seems to have been forgotten and is no longer maintained. 😢
Written July 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CatalinaKid39
North Miami, Fl2 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
While I enjoy the fountain and how it works...I go there to see the trains claw their way up and out of the george crossing the Continental Divide. They assend or descend, approximately 1100 feet making their way between Ashville and Old Fort . It was the train that build the fountain so to speak, " As a tribute to the 120 workers who died building the railroad through this particulary treacherous stretch of land"...And a spectacular feature of the Round Knob Hotel.
Plan to spend several hours there as train watching takes a lot of patience.
Plan to spend several hours there as train watching takes a lot of patience.
Written September 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eeseasdaszds
Roanoke, VA268 contributions
Sep 2014 • Couples
The Geyser and its story is special, take care of this place. I think the unique train tracks and the story of this geyser should be shared its a wonderful place.
Written September 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Villamar717
Miami Beach, FL206 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
It was very exciting to see such a beautiful monument. We were exploring the area of the Pisgah National Forest and the Old Fort when the site of the Andrews Geyzer came into view. This Geyser was originally built in 1885 as a 'railroad gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains'; however, it needed restoration in the early 1900s, finished as a man-made historic site in 1912.
The grounds are immaculately kept, there are many picnic tables around the park, the breeze under the trees is so soothing; we even saw someone totally enclosed in a hammock. Beautiful small cabins surround the creek below....and who was waiting for me? See the photos. I can say that I have a Guardian Angel looking out for me! Go to the bathroom before you head up the mountain because all they have are 'outhouses.' The railroad passes way high from the Geyzer site and the beautiful double gates leading to the top of the mountain leaves you in an awe! Take time to smell the fresh air and the mist of this beautiful geyser!
The grounds are immaculately kept, there are many picnic tables around the park, the breeze under the trees is so soothing; we even saw someone totally enclosed in a hammock. Beautiful small cabins surround the creek below....and who was waiting for me? See the photos. I can say that I have a Guardian Angel looking out for me! Go to the bathroom before you head up the mountain because all they have are 'outhouses.' The railroad passes way high from the Geyzer site and the beautiful double gates leading to the top of the mountain leaves you in an awe! Take time to smell the fresh air and the mist of this beautiful geyser!
Written September 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
deltadawn68
Salisbury, NC71 contributions
May 2013 • Family
This is a man made Geyser but still beautiful to see. The grounds are very well maintained. Good place to have a picnic!
Written May 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AfterActionReport.info
Wichita Falls, TX207 contributions
Oct 2020
I had heard about this geyser that was built in 1885 and our server at Hillman Beer said it was worth seeing, so we proceeded directly from Hillman and were directly disappointed on numerous levels.
1. It was not working (not geysering?).
2. To me a geyser connotes an intermittent blast of water and steam ejected through a hole in the earth. Now, I knew going in that this geyser was man-made, but figured it would still be intermittent. Well, when operating, Andrew's Geyser is a constant blast of water, which to me is more of a fountain.
3. It's not even the original design or the original location.
Even when operating, this "Landmark" would be very over-rated.
1. It was not working (not geysering?).
2. To me a geyser connotes an intermittent blast of water and steam ejected through a hole in the earth. Now, I knew going in that this geyser was man-made, but figured it would still be intermittent. Well, when operating, Andrew's Geyser is a constant blast of water, which to me is more of a fountain.
3. It's not even the original design or the original location.
Even when operating, this "Landmark" would be very over-rated.
Written October 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are your photos of Andrews Geyser in Old Fort, NC copyrighted? I noticed they can't be copied to share.
Written October 1, 2019
Last time we were there (july) there was no gyser just a pool of stagnant water. Is there a specific time for the gyser to erupt?
Written March 28, 2016
I agree with OhioRich - should be running all the time. The geyser part is a bit of a misnomer, it isn't a geyser in the concept of Old Faithful.....Andrews Geyser is gravity fed from some uphill lake and as long as there is water in the feed, it should be running. Perhaps Andrews Fountain would be more correct?
Written March 28, 2016
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