The discovery of artifacts in the area attests to the presence of Native Americans at least 12,000 years before European settlement.

Morrow Mountain was the site of one of the largest quarries in the Piedmont of today's North and South Carolina.

Just a little east of the small town of Badin, in northeastern Stanly County, is an archeological dig location known as the Hardaway Site; and it has been a treasure trove for scholars and enthusiasts for decades.

The Hardaway Site has been referred to as "The Remington Arms Factory of 10,000 BC", but the raw material for those weapon points and tools came primarily from one location: the top of Morrow Mountain, about 5 miles away.

In 1780, John Kirk, a Scotch-Irish settler, established a public ferry linking the area to a major roadway, the Salisbury-Fayetteville Rd.

Local legends recount the passage of noted people, including Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Jefferson Davis.

Due to varying currents and underwater hazards, swimming is not allowed from the shore of the lake.

[7] Morrow Mountain State Park has a boat launch as well as a waterfront picnic area and a fishing pier.

The house was built by a Scottish preacher, William McGregor, who sold it to Dr. Francis Kron on November 2, 1839.

Kron was known for traveling for days at a time, making house calls to those bitterly sick.

[9] In addition to practicing medicine, Dr. Kron conducted many horticultural experiments and was an active public figure in the county until his death in 1883.

Since his wife had died in 1873, ownership of the family holdings passed to his two daughters, Elizabeth and Adele.

The cabins have modern conveniences such as stoves, drip coffee makers, microwaves, refrigerators, pots and pans and flatware along with outdoor pedestal grills.

The living room couch is a futon that folds out to make a 5th double sized bed.

A small museum commemorating the history of the Uwharries is on the far end of the Camp Office parking lot.

Exhibits include information about Native Americans, area plant and animal communities, early explorers, and rocks and minerals.

The Short Loop (white horse circle blazes[13]) includes a 3.9-mile (6.3 km)[13] hike or ride to and around Morrow Mountain.

The Long Loop is a 9.3-mile (15.0 km)[13] trail; it circles the Morrow Mountain vicinity as well as the northern section of the park.

Turning left leads to an immediate climb up Hattaway, a half-mile trek straight uphill.

[13] This short loop trail goes around the Morrow Mountain camping area in deep forest and tall undergrowth.

The rocks are stable, but a large "Warning" sign reminds hikers to watch their footing.

This is a 2.8-mile (4.5 km)[13] loop blazed with orange diamonds,[13] starting at the Bridle Trail parking lot.

After passing through marshland and coastline, the trail ascends a small hill, where hikers can find deep woods and wildflowers.

The area includes mature hardwood forest and endangered mussels such as Carolina creekshell, as well as the timber rattlesnake.

[16] The remnants of Hurricane Fran in September 1996 closed the park as fallen trees and other damage had to be cleaned up.

[17] A line of severe thunderstorms associated with a derecho struck Morrow Mountain State Park and the surrounding area on June 13, 2013.

According to a statement from park superintendent Greg Schneider on June 17, "Morrow Mountain took a really big hit from the storm and I suspect that the facilities will be closed for several weeks.

We have had lots of damage to park buildings, privately owned automobiles, and of course there are down and leaning trees everywhere."

Hundreds of trees were down in the park, and Local Fire and Rescue Squad officials had to cut their way up the road to the summit, and Campground to account for any stranded visitors.