The Town of Murphy owns and operates several outdoor venues that are available for reservation.
Newly designed Town Square with evening lighting, pedestrian park features including turf grass, benches and picnic tables, electrical connections, veterans memorial, and Center Stage. Reserve specific corners, or the entire square.
Please note:
- A street closure request will require a Special Event Permit (Special Event Application).
Newly installed and ready for your community event! Located in the East corner of Town Square. This raised stage is the perfect location for a lovely community concert or event.
The Fain Alleyway is located on Valley River Ave between Black & White Market and Urban Salon. This dreamy outdoor venue features circular picnic tables, bench seating, ambience lighting, and gorgeous brick building backdrops.
L&N Depot is an open-air historic building great for small group events and celebrations. The building has an interior restroom and small kitchen for your event needs.
History of the Depot
The L&N Depot, circa 1887, was the meeting place of the Southern (originally the Carolina Railroad) and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (originally the Georgia Railroad). What remains is the freight area. The grand station was torn down shortly after the Railroad pulled up the tracks in 1987. Both Railroads met at the river and were unable to cross it due to a group of Murphy businessmen and New York investors who chartered a railroad called the Hiawassee Railroad Company. The local businessmen and NY investors set up a blockade to keep the L&N and Southern Railroads from meeting. Passengers and freight had to be ferried across the river to the depot. No railroad was interested in the Hiawassee scheme or buying its right-of-way, and it eventually died.
The Georgia Railroad went to court to condemn the property and finally put its tracks across the river to the present depot site 12 years later. Murphy now boasts the smallest railroad in the country with a short spur of tracks, a boxcar and a caboose. The last train to leave out of Murphy was a trip to Andrews over the July 4 weekend of 1992.
Open-air pavilion along the beautiful River Walk is a lovely location for your next gathering. Situated in a flat, grassy area. Perfect for small outdoor concerts, weddings, or family gatherings. Built through grant funding awarded to the Cherokee County Art Council. A joint project with Town of Murphy, Heritage Partners, and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
You may have interest in utilizing one or more Downtown Venue for a large Special Event, that would require a Street Closure. Such as The Murphy Spring Festival. These types of events require additional preparations, and discussion with town staff. Please reach out to the Downtown Director to begin discussing your ideas for a Special Event prior to completing the application.
Would you like to utilize Town Sidewalks for a promotional event? Are you interested in planning a Group Demonstration or Parade through town? Use of town sidewalks, group demonstrations, and/or moving road closures for parades, require approval by the Mayor and the Police Chief. Please complete the following application: