Deep in the heart of racing country, surrounded by tall pines and sycamores, sits the remains of one of the first tracks in NASCAR history. Occoneechee Speedway, a nearly mile-long dirt track nestled in the woods near Hillsborough, North Carolina, opened at the inception of the organization in 1947 and became a staple on the schedule for approximately two decades. Although it sat practically abandoned for over thirty years, this historic site was preserved in its ruinous state in 2003 to allow for recreation and exploration by locals and curious racing fans.

NASCAR founder Bill France purchased the site – formerly a horse racing track – in the 1940s and developed the legendary speedway, a local favorite until opposition to the Sunday racing schedule forced it out of use in 1968. Then known as Orange Speedway, the track was replaced on the annual slate by another Bill France endeavor: Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Today, the track at Occoneechee is the only surviving dirt speedway from NASCAR’s inaugural 1949 season.

The track itself was just shy of a mile long, but the walking trails that exist today span more than four miles. From the parking lot, decaying ’50s-era stock cars show the way to the main grandstand, now a series of overgrown concrete steps, and the old flag stand. At the top of the bleachers sits a former concession stand, another empty little structure that’s ripe for some mini-exploring. The rest of the circular track is now just gravel and pinecones, but as you walk along the banks of the Eno River and listen to the sounds of nature, you can’t help but also imagine the deafening roar of a dozen or more race cars as they speed past on their way to the finish line.

Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail: 320 Elizabeth Brady Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278