The Old Buggy Inn

Carthage, North Carolina

Carthage was the home of the Tyson Jones Buggy Company, considered the “Cadillac” buggy manufacturer in the 1800s. After the closing of the company, Henry Ford was interested in buying the old plant and converting it into a car assembly line, but the owners refused to sell and so Ford moved on to build a plant in Detroit. A few years afterwards, the Tyson Jones Buggy plant burned down.

The town was originally slated to be the home of the University of North Carolina, but city leaders determined they didn't want the university built there, telling the State that Carthage was on too steep of a hill for locomotives to climb and that access to the University would therefore be limited.

Carthage celebrates its rich history with an annual springtime festival, used to showcase the history of the town as well as local musicians, hot rods, old tractors, old buggies made by the Tyson Jones Buggy Company, crafts and North Carolina pottery. This event takes place in the town square around the Old Court House, considered to be a historic landmark.

• 6 antique shops (Old Plank Road Antiques and Treasures, Granny’s Mercantile, Ouida’s Antiques of Sweet Carthage, Live Oaks Antiques, Sandhills Antiques and Refinishing, and Days of Olde,)
• Lisa’s Boutique specializing in women’s finery
• Country Cottage, a craft shop with special children’s items
• Studio 105, a personal services salon
• From the Maker’s Hand, a monogram & gift boutique
• Sassafras, a home décor shop
• Delsie’s Fine Jewelry
• 4 thrift shops
• 3 historic B&B’s
• 2 coffee shops (Coffee Court and Moore Coffee)
• 9 restaurants (Bavarian Brathaus, Little River Farm Resort, Mama’s Southern Cookin’, Pizza Hut, El Chapala, Pik-n-Pig, Chris’s Family Restaurant,  Peking Wok and Mac’s Breakfast Anytime)
• 4 sandwich shops (Coffee Court, Mr. B’s, Steve’s and Subway)
• 3 fast food drive-ins (The Chuck Wagon, MacDonald’s and Hardees)