The first 215 ran from N.C. 20 (U.S. 74) in Kings Mountain south into South Carolina. It was first numbered around 1930, but its continuation into South Carolina had been numbered as S.C. 161 from 215's inception. In 1937, 215 was renumbered to N.C. 161 to keep things consistent. 

For several decades, 215 wasn't used for anything. Today's 215 got its number around 1967, but the road it's signed over existed before then. The stretch of 215 north of the BRP, which appears on 1920s maps, is considerably older than that south of the BRP. 

215 doesn't offer as many attractions as other nearby roads, such as U.S. 276, do. But it does offer plenty of scenery, and it is a superb hard-driving backroad -- probably one of the state's top five in this regard. The mile or so of 215 directly south of the Parkway (photo above) offers a sweeping view of the Pisgah National Forest below. 

North of the Parkway, 215 runs through a deep valley carved by the West Fork of the Pigeon River. The road passes a few small-but-noticeable waterfalls and cascades tucked into the apexes of its curves. Once the terrain flattens out, 215 runs alongside picturesque Lake Logan before hitting its only traffic light, at the junction with U.S. 276.

216 goes through the center of Kings Mountain (the town, not the geologic formation), and further north, straddles the Cleveland/Gaston county line.

In 1956, a new U.S. 29 was built to the east of the older route through Kings Mountain; this new 29 later became part of I-85. 216 was extended along the old 29 through Kings Mountain and along an older, unnumbered road that year to its current northern terminus.