![pond with five people standing behind it and they are in front of a stone building](https://files.nc.gov/mgm/styles/inline_medium/public/images/2023-07/Catawba%20Fish%20%26%20Game.jpeg?VersionId=9VFU8U5OcOhTVPoaE3WglVNaVNLnuGYn&itok=fz6Fu9GR)
Catawba Fish and Game Preserve
About 1925, Col. Daniel Adams established a fish and game preserve near his home off Orchard Street in Old Fort. Adams was a forester, engineer, and entrepreneur best known for his invention of the modern fire lookout tower. He constructed a fish hatchery (seen here), installed some trout ponds, created a five-mile horse-riding trail, bought a goat herd, and built a large hillside sign (visible in the background) to promote all of it. The rock hatchery is all that remains of the project.