Discover Hickory
20 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
Hickory Motor Speedway
Historic 0.363-mile short track with close-up stock car action, pit/garage details, grandstands and neon-lit night races. Shoot race-day dynamics (panning, wheel blur), candid fan portraits, and dramatic dusk-to-blue-hour light trails. Best visited for Saturday night events (peak atmosphere) or weekday mornings for an empty, architectural study. Tickets required on race days; arrive 1–2 hours early for good vantage points. Plenty of parking on-site; expect loud, fast-paced conditions and follow*
Hickory Landmarks Society
Small local history museum and preserved 19th–20th century houses (Harper House, Maple Grove) with period rooms, textiles and a moving polio exhibit. Photograph finely detailed interiors, vintage furniture, doorways, staircases and porch views. Best visited weekday mornings for low crowds; exteriors glow at golden hour, interiors shoot best on overcast days or with museum permission for supplemental light. Modest entry fee/donations; volunteer-run—ask staff about flash, tripods and restricted/NO
Hickory City Park
Hickory City Park offers a paved 3+ mile loop, shaded woodland trails, elevated boardwalks and multiple lake-view ramps onto Lake Hickory — ideal for landscape and waterscape shots. Accessible parking at 12th St Dr NW, easy trails, bike traffic and off‑leash dogs present. Best at golden hour or fall for color; weekdays and early mornings reduce crowds.
Old Piedmont Wagon
Striking 19th‑century red‑brick factory façade — excellent for architectural and historical shots. Photograph the textured brickwork, tall windows, and wagon-seat features on the exterior. Best at golden hour or blue hour for warm light and contrast; weekday mornings have fewer pedestrians. Street parking and sidewalks on Main Ave NW; building houses businesses so stick to public exterior shots. The site conveys local industrial heritage and nostalgia.
Welcome to Hickory Mural
A large, colorful "Welcome to Hickory" street mural on a downtown building — ideal for vibrant wide shots, environmental portraits, and detail close-ups of typography and textures. Located on 4th St NW with curbside access and public sidewalks; free to visit year-round. Best light: golden hour or soft overcast to keep colors rich and avoid harsh shadows. Weekday mornings are quieter for unobstructed compositions. No entry fee; street parking and nearby lots. Reflects local pride and downtown rev
Lowes Foods City Park
Small, fully fenced downtown park with playful sculptural playground, interactive splash pad, musical instruments, public art and picnic seating. Good for colorful kids’ action, detail shots of textures and community scenes. Best at golden hour or weekday mornings for soft light and fewer crowds; summer late afternoons for splash-pad action. Accessible restrooms, ADA-friendly play equipment, free 3-hour public parking nearby and a short walk to Union Square and local shops. No entry fee.
Bruce Meisner Park
Small community park with wooded trails, open lawns and water features ideal for intimate landscape and nature shots. Best at golden hour and during spring blossoms or fall color; weekday mornings have few visitors. Public, no entry fee and small parking lot on Cloninger Mill Rd; paths are mostly flat and accessible but bring insect repellent in warm months.
Southside Heights Park
Small community park on a hillside offering framed views of Hickory’s tree-lined neighborhoods, mature oaks and open lawns—good for golden hour vistas, seasonal foliage and intimate landscape studies. Easy public access with free parking on 2nd St SW; no entry fee. Best at sunrise or sunset for warm side light and long shadows; weekdays and early mornings avoid local dog-walkers. Trails are short and mostly accessible; expect typical suburban soundscape.
Hickory Veterans Memorial
Compact, calm veterans memorial in downtown Hickory framed by mature trees, a small stage and rocking chairs—great for intimate memorial detail shots, environmental portraits, and candid street/market scenes. Visit at golden hour or early morning for soft light and low crowds; Wednesdays and Saturdays bring a lively farmers' market for documentary shots. Easily accessible on foot from nearby parking and shops; wheelchair friendly paths. No entry fee.
Catawba Science Center
Small, family-focused science center with hands-on exhibits, a separate aquarium (sharks, tanks) and a planetarium — great for intimate animal and interior shots, candid portraits of visitors interacting, and close-ups of tactile 3D maps. Best visited weekday mornings or early afternoons to avoid crowds and catch handlers bringing out animals; planetarium and aquarium lighting is low — expect moody, contrasty scenes. Located in the SALT district next to Hickory Art Museum; paid admission (recip.
Civitan Park
Small community park with lighted softball field, renovated tennis courts, playground, picnic shelter and rentable vegetable/flower garden plots. Good for close-up garden detail, candid park life, sports action and golden-hour light on fields. Free entry, on-site parking; dog-friendly. Courts and fields are busiest April–August—visit early weekday mornings or late afternoon for softer light and fewer people. Accessible paths and parking at 460 17th Ave NE.
McComb Park/Beaver Memorial Garden
A compact, shady urban garden with a small creek, ornamental fountain (may be off), winding paths and mature trees — good for intimate nature, portrait, and detail shots. Best at golden hour or early morning for soft light and solitude. Easy walk-in access; limited on-street parking — weekdays/early mornings best to avoid crowds. No entry fee; bring insect repellent in summer. The park’s cozy scale and creek reflections make it special for close-up compositions.
Ivey Arboretum at Sally Fox Park
Small, shaded urban arboretum showcasing a variety of trees, labeled specimens, winding paths and a historic women’s center house — good for intimate nature studies, seasonal foliage and calm compositional walks. Best at golden hour or overcast light for even tree-detail; spring and fall give best color. Easy access from Hickory historic district, free entry, limited on-site/street parking; paths are mostly walkable but check signage (some labeled trees removed). Weekday mornings are quiet; art‑
Miracle of Hickory Park
Small downtown pocket park with memorial plaques, a playground, sculptural elements and a community music/hatch space — good for intimate urban scenes, children’s action shots and environmental portraits. Visit golden hour or late afternoon for warm light; weekdays and mornings avoid crowds. Easy street parking, wheelchair-accessible paths and no entry fee. Pack a fast lens for low-light inside community spaces and expect family activity on weekends.
Kiwanis Park
Small, well-kept community park with a vibrant playground, fenced splash pad, ballfields, picnic areas and a memorial — ideal for lifestyle and family photography. No entry fee; on-site parking and clean restrooms. Visit weekday mornings or late afternoons for softer light and fewer crowds; summer midday metal equipment gets hot so avoid mid-day. Paths and open lawn offer simple compositions; the memorial plaque provides intimate detail shots.
CVMC FitnessTrack
A well‑paved, dog‑friendly loop beside CVMC with clean facilities and easy parking — ideal for active lifestyle and environmental portraiture. Photograph runners, cyclists and dogs using the track; use the smooth asphalt and tree‑lined stretches for strong leading lines. Best at sunrise or late afternoon for warm light and long shadows; weekday mornings are quieter. Accessible paths, nearby restrooms inside CVMC, no special entry fee.
Hickory Metro Convention Center & Visitors Bureau
A modern convention center hosting trade shows, religious services, car meets and gem shows — ideal for event, interior and architectural shots. Photograph large exhibition halls, details of booths/exhibits, crowd interactions and the clean modern façade at dusk. Easy parking and ADA access; weekdays or non-event days give empty interiors. For event coverage arrive early, secure press/permission from the Visitors Bureau; lighting inside can be mixed (warm stage lights + cool overheads).
Hickory Bridge Sign
The Hickory Bridge Sign is a local landmark offering strong graphic and typographic composition against downtown/Hickory skyline backdrops. Easy curbside access and nearby parking make short visits practical. Best at golden hour or after dark when signage and streetlights contrast the sky. Weekday mornings are quiet; expect pedestrian traffic during events.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Indoor action venue—shoot high-energy motion, airborne silhouettes, colorful wall pads and repeating trampoline grids. Best on weekday mornings or off-peak sessions for fewer people. Lighting is mixed fluorescent—expect high ISO or flash restrictions. Park has parking and requires waivers; always ask staff for photo permission and avoid photographing children without parental consent.