Wheels Through Time Museum

Wheels Through Time is one of the most remarkable museums in the American South, housing over 350 rare and running American motorcycles and automobiles in a 38,000-square-foot facility just five miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Maggie Valley.

About Wheels Through Time

Founded by Dale Walksler in 1993 and opened to the public on July 4, 2002, Wheels Through Time has grown into the world’s premier collection of rare American motorcycles. The museum’s 38,000-square-foot facility in Maggie Valley holds over 350 machines representing 25 makes, including Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, Henderson, Crocker, Pope, Yale, and the Flying Merkel. Among the collection is the Traub, widely regarded as the world’s rarest motorcycle.

What sets this museum apart from any other is its operating philosophy: nearly every machine on display actually runs. The collection is known as “The Museum That Runs,” and staff regularly fire up bikes on the floor, giving visitors an experience no static display can match. Dale’s son Matt now curates much of the collection and is a familiar presence on the floor, happy to share the history behind any machine in the building.

Getting to Wheels Through Time

The museum is located at 62 Vintage Lane off Soco Road (US-19) in Maggie Valley, just five miles from Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 455.7. Coming from Waynesville on US-19, follow the signs into Maggie Valley and look for Vintage Lane on the left. Ample parking is available on site. The drive from downtown Asheville takes approximately 40 minutes.

Why Choose Wheels Through Time

There is no other collection like this in the world. The breadth of American marques on display, combined with the fact that the vast majority of machines are kept in running condition, makes Wheels Through Time genuinely irreplaceable as a motorcycle museum. Enthusiasts who have visited the great motorcycle museums of Europe and the American Midwest consistently rank this collection above them for its depth of rare and one-of-a-kind machines.

Admission is priced well below comparable museums of this caliber, making it an exceptional value for the experience. The annual motorcycle raffle supports ongoing preservation efforts and gives visitors a chance to take home a piece of American motorcycle history. Dale’s Channel, an online video series with over 400 episodes, extends the museum’s reach for those who want to go deeper on any machine or restoration in the collection.

Must Do at Wheels Through Time

• Watch a machine get started. Staff fire up bikes on the floor regularly. Ask Matt or any team member if something is being run during your visit. The sound of a 1920s board track racer coming to life in an enclosed space is unforgettable.
• Find the Traub. The world’s rarest motorcycle is in this building. Ask staff to point it out and take the time to hear the story behind it.
• Walk every exhibit section. The museum is organized into distinct themed areas including Board Track America, Hill Climb Hill, Military Might, The Chopper Graveyard, and Americas Rarest. Each section tells a different chapter of American motorcycle history.
• Talk to the staff. Reviewers consistently note that the team here is among the most knowledgeable and approachable of any museum anywhere. If you have a question about any machine in the building, ask.

What to Expect

Plan for at least two hours, and more if you have any serious interest in motorcycles or American automotive history. The collection is large enough that a single pass through the floor can feel rushed. Most enthusiasts spend three hours or more on a first visit.

The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during its seasonal run, typically April through November. Tuesday and Wednesday are closed. Check the website at wheelsthroughtime.com or call (828) 926-6266 before visiting to confirm current season dates and any closure days. Photography is permitted for personal use but flash, tripods, and selfie sticks are not allowed inside the galleries.

Nearby Things to Do in Maggie Valley

• Scenic Tours and Adventures. Right across the street, guided UTV adventures and Safari Jeep tours take you into the backcountry wilderness with a Cherokee guide who knows this land deeply.
• Maggie Valley Axe Lounge. A fun local spot for groups and walk-in visitors, with axe throwing lanes and a casual mountain vibe that pairs well with a day of exploring the valley.
• Cataloochee Ski Area. Western North Carolina’s most established ski resort, just up the mountain from Maggie Valley, with slopes open in winter and mountain terrain year-round.

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