North CarolinaNC Waterfalls

Naomi Falls is a small rapid on Deep River and the site of a former dam used for powering Naomi Falls Manufacturing Company, a textile mill. Remains of the dam are on the riverbank and strewn across the river. The site is visible from the road and easily accessed by foot, but it’s not particularly scenic and few people would go there if it weren’t for the history associated with it. For more than two centuries, the legend of Naomi Wise, for whom the waterfall is named, has inspired books, ballads, and more conjecture than any falls in the state.

For information about Deep River in general, including a table listing all the waterfalls on the river, visit the River Basins & Rivers page and click on the Cape Fear River Basin tab.