Old Butler Day: Honoring the Town That Wouldn’t Drown

Every year, friends, families and visitors gather in Butler for a day filled with music, food, fellowship and fun. But Old Butler Day has always been about something more. At its heart, it is a homecoming—a celebration of the people whose memories and determination kept Old Butler alive long after the original town disappeared beneath the waters of Watauga Lake.

It All Began in 1989

Old Butler Day was created by the Butler Ruritans in 1989. The first celebration, held August 11–13, was jointly sponsored by the Ruritan Club and the Watauga Academy Alumni Association.

Old Butler Day - Photo Credit: Elizabethton Star - August 16, 1989

And what a celebration it was!

The three-day festival featured gospel, bluegrass and country music; square dancing; scenic boat tours of Watauga Lake; an antique car show; steam and gas engines; hayrides; traditional games; puppet shows; arts and crafts; and plenty of good food.

Former residents were invited to share their memories, while families contributed photographs, diplomas, bricks and other pieces of Old Butler history for a special display at the Butler Fire Hall.

The organizers understood that while the streets and buildings of Old Butler were gone, the heart of the community remained very much alive.

A Heritage “Lost and Found”

Following that first celebration, The Tomahawk described Old and New Butler residents coming together to celebrate “a heritage that has been lost and found.”

Hundreds of people attended. Children rode through Butler on a kiddie train while older generations enjoyed bluegrass and gospel music. Visitors viewed historic photographs, documents and artifacts recovered from the former town. Boat tours even carried passengers across Watauga Lake to the place where Old Butler once stood.

Former residents shared their stories with visitors and with reporters from publications such as Southern Living and Progressive Farmer. For many, it was an opportunity to reconnect with people and places they had not seen in years.

Proceeds from that first Old Butler Day were designated to help build a community center—giving the festival a purpose that honored Butler’s past while investing in its future.

Remembering Watauga Academy

Watauga Academy was an important part of life in Old Butler. The school’s final class graduated in 1948, the same year the waters of Watauga Lake covered the old townsite.

When Old Butler Day began in 1989, many former students were still able to return for reunions and help tell the story of their school and community. The Watauga Academy Alumni Association played an important role in those early celebrations and continued holding its annual gathering during the festival for many years.

Today, the members of that final graduating class would be in their mid-90s or older.

Some younger students who attended Watauga Academy may still remain, but their numbers have naturally grown smaller with time.

That makes the stories, photographs and memories they preserved even more precious. It also places the responsibility for carrying their legacy forward in the hands of their children, grandchildren, descendants and the community they helped shape.

A Tradition Takes Root

Old Butler Day quickly became an annual tradition.

A 1990 newspaper account described large crowds arriving from several states. Visitors explored exhibits that included the former Old Butler post office counter, historic photographs and other treasured memorabilia.

By 1998—the 50th anniversary of the flooding of Old Butler—the festival was celebrating its tenth year. The Butler Ruritans continued to organize the event, which featured live entertainment, more than 20 craft vendors, an antique car show, home-cooked food, children’s activities, commemorative souvenirs and a Sunday fellowship service.

Over the years, some activities have changed, but the heart of Old Butler Day has remained the same: remembering the people and places of Old Butler while celebrating the community that survived.

Keeping the Story Alive

The opening of the Museum of Butler in 2000 gave the history celebrated during Old Butler Day a permanent home.

Through photographs, artifacts, exhibits, oral histories and special programs, the museum continues to preserve the stories of Old Butler and the families of the Watauga Valley—not just during the festival, but throughout the year.

Old Butler Day gives us another opportunity to bring those stories to life. It is a time to reconnect with old friends, welcome new visitors and introduce another generation to the remarkable town that was forced to move but refused to be forgotten.

What began in 1989 as a partnership between the Butler Ruritans and the Watauga Academy Alumni Association has become an enduring celebration of Appalachian heritage, community spirit and the resilience of “The Town That Wouldn’t Drown.”

Join Us for Old Butler Day 2026

Old Butler Day returns on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Selma “Babe” Curtis Park in Butler. Admission and parking at the park is free for families to enjoy the festivities, concessions, vendors and live music. Bring your own chair!

The Museum of Butler will be open throughout the celebration, with guided museum tours offered at 10:00 a.m., noon and 2:00 p.m. The museum is available for self-guided tours beginning at 9:00am until 4:00pm.

The August Living History Saturday will feature Museum docent and volunteer coordinator Lynn Farmer, presenting When the Dead Must Move from noon until 2:00 p.m. inside the historic W.S. Stout Store.

Visitors can also experience our new America 250 Digital Exhibit. Children can explore the museum through the Pioneer Passport program, and guests may pick up an America 250–Johnson County Passport and commemorative gift while supplies last.

Museum admission is $5 for adults and children ages 12 and older, while children under 12 are admitted free. As a participating Blue Star Museum, we also offer free admission to currently serving members of the military and their families.

Come enjoy the music, food and fellowship—and while you are here, take time to discover the remarkable history that gave Old Butler Day its meaning.

View the complete Old Butler Day schedule and event information

Historical sources: The Tomahawk, August 2 and August 16, 1989; August 15, 1990; and August 4, 1998, along with regional newspaper coverage preserved by the Museum of Butler.