Hospital history

Located in Marion, NC, Mission Hospital McDowell has been servicing the McDowell, Rutherford, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery and Burke county communities since 1908. As this large, diverse community's needs have grown through the years, we have expanded our facilities and services to meet those needs, establishing ourselves as a trusted healthcare partner worthy of your loyalty.

Formerly McDowell Hospital and Marion General Hospital, our first facility was opened by Gaston Bailey Justice, MD, and remained open for one year. Our second facility was opened in 1917 by Guy Kirby, MD, before J.F. Miller, MD, opened our third facility in 1924. This iteration of the hospital was finally incorporated as Marion General in 1927.

In 1930, the first structure designed to serve as a dedicated hospital opened on James Drive in downtown Marion, operating until 1952. At this time, we determined that the healthcare needs of our residents had outgrown the James Drive location. With the help of Hill-Burton and Duke Endowment funds, a new 50-bed facility opened on Fleming Avenue, spearheading a long season of growth that began with an adjacent nurse's residence opening in 1953. In 1977, 12 new beds were added to expand the facility.

By 1983, the Fleming Avenue facility was replaced by a new, larger facility located just outside the Marion city limit. This hospital featured 65 private patient rooms and officially became part of the Mission Health system in 2004. The partnership with Mission was highly beneficial for our hospital, providing expanded resources, educational opportunities, shared services and greater financial stability.

In 2018, Mission Hospital McDowell officially opened its doors as the seventh facility to serve McDowell County since 1908. The new hospital, built on the same property as the previous facility, features 30 inpatient beds, including five labor and delivery suites. The new facility also features an expanded emergency department, a leading edge surgery center, larger inpatient rooms focused on patient- and family-centered care, along with improved parking and patient access.

Our hope is to establish long-lasting patient-provider relationships so that you never have to wonder where to turn when you are in need. Treating Western North Carolina residents has been our mission since our founding, and we look to continue that pursuit as we move into the future.