Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Golf

Pottery Road - Piedmont Scenic Drives

The Pottery Road Scenic Byway begins near the resort community of Pinehurst. The village was established in 1895 and named because of its location in a pine forest. This byway travels through, what is considered by some, North Carolina’s pottery center. In the 18th century, seven families from Staffordshire, England (England’s pottery center) settled within a five-mile radius of each other near the northwest corner of Moore County. Here, their descendants continue to make traditional pottery forms in addition to more modern forms. There are close to 80 potteries within the vicinity of this route and 14 actually on the route.

From the village of Pinehurst follow N.C. 211 for about 11.5 miles northwest to the intersection with N.C. 705. Nearby Eagle Springs, established in 1890, was named for a mineral spring owned by the Eagle family. Turn right onto N.C. 705 and note the old cedar trees which line the first part of the route where the byway begins. Some people call this portion of the road “cedar lane.” Follow N.C. 705 for nine miles to the intersection with N.C. 24/27 at Garners Store community. From here it is about three miles to the town of Robbins.

Known early as Mechanicks Hill, Mechanicsville, Elise and Hemp, Robbins was settled before 1828. The earlier names came from a mechanic and gunsmith who lived here. Located on the old plank road (built between 1849 and 1854) from Fayetteville to Salem, Robbins was named in 1943 for the owner of a local textile mill. The town also is near the site of what was one of the world’s largest talc mines. About three miles from Robbins is the junction with the Devil’s Stompin’ Ground Scenic Byway at N. Howard Mill Road (S.R. 1003).

From Robbins continue on N.C. 705, following the old plank road for 7.3 miles, to the community of Westmore. It was near here that the first potters settled. Located 2.5 miles east of Westmore on Busbee Rd. (S.R. 1419) is Jugtown, a community established in 1920 by Raleigh artist Jacques Busbee from where he made and distributed his pottery nationally.

From Westmore it is 5.6 miles to the community of Whynot, named because residents could not decide on a name for the post office – Why not this? Why not that? Why not! Whynot is about one-half mile from the town of Seagrove, incorporated in 1913 and named for a local railroad official. For further information on local potteries, stop at the North Carolina Pottery Center located on N.C. 705 in Seagrove.

Pottery Road ends in Seagrove, about 5.5 miles south (by way of U.S. 220 and N.C. 159) of the North Carolina Zoological Park and Gardens in Asheboro. Other attractions near the route include Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in Southern Pines. The preserve houses the last remaining stand of ancient longleaf pines which covered the sandhills until they were all logged by 1895. It is a showcase for this hardwood swamp forest with its unique plants and animals, some of which are endangered species.

Length: 25 miles
Driving Time: 30 minutes
Counties: Moore, Randolph

courtesy of NC Department of Transportation

added: September 15, 2009

updated: September 25, 2009