Enjoy Historic Hendersonville and Flat Rock, NC located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Explore the scenic beauty of the DuPont State forest, the Carl Sandburg Home, Flat Rock Playhouse, historic sites, shopping, outdoor and family activities, golf, festivals and a variety of accommodations.
With so much to see and do in the area, we recommend the following 3-day itinerary. Enjoy all the area has to offer by mixing and matching events to your particular interest. Time indicators are recommendations only. Feel free to spend as much or as little time as your schedule allows. Don't forget to check days and hours of operation for each venue.
DAY 1. The Historic Village of Flat Rock provides some of the finest examples of Southern aristocracy. The community was founded about a century and a half ago. In order to escape the sweltering heat and the epidemic of yellow fever and malaria, affluent Charlestonians, Europeans and prominent plantation owners of the South's Low Country built large summer estates in Flat Rock. The Low Country gentry affectionately called the town "The Little Charleston of the Mountains." With many of these homes still on their original sites, the entire district of Flat Rock is included in the National Register of Historic Places. (2 -3 hours)
St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church, listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, offers a unique perspective on prominent families of southern and national history. Built as a private chapel in 1833, St. John in the Wilderness is located on the grounds of Charles and Susan Barings' home, Mountain Lodge. In 1936, the church was deeded to the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina.
A walk through the cemetery reveals the final resting place for many well-known members of southern aristocracy: Christopher Memminger, first secretary of the Confederate treasury; Rev. John Drayton, developer of the world famous Magnolia Gardens of Charleston; family members of three signers of the Declaration of Independence and Edward P. King, the World War II General who led the infamous Bataan death march. The church and graveyard are open daily for visitation. (30 - 45 minutes)
Carl Sandburg Home, National Historic Site. Take time to visit Connemara, the home where Carl Sandburg—American poet, historian, author and lecturer—spent the final 22 years of his long and productive life. Today this National Historic Site offers a keen insight on Mr. Sandburg, his family and their 240-acre working farm. The Sandburg Home was built in 1838 and now houses his collection of 10,000 books, notes and papers. The estate offers numerous hiking trails as well as a functional goat barn, where Mrs. Sandburg raised her prize-winning goats.
Explore the goat barn on your own and meet some of the relatives of Lilian Sandburg's herd. To tour the home, hike the 100-foot ascending trail to the main house. For those needing assistance during the summer months, help is merely a phone call away from the information station. Additionally, The Carl Sandburg Home is handicap accessible on the first and second floors, the bookstore and the main level of the house.
Throughout the year, guided house tours are available and tickets can be purchased at the bookstore on the ground level of the house. Videos of the home tour and of the Sandburgs are available for viewing in the bookstore. (1 hour)
The perfect close to a perfect day can be found at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina. Considered one of the ten best seasonal theater companies in the country, the Vagabond Players perform a variety of hits each summer featuring comedies, American classics, musicals, farces and whodunits. Sit back and enjoy spectacular matinee and evening performances from late May through mid-October.
DAY 2. Start your day in Historic Downtown Hendersonville. First, stop by the Historic Henderson County Courthouse. This historic landmark was built in 1904 to replace its predecessor, which was built on the same site in 1842. Although currently under restoration, having closed when the new Henderson County Courthouse opened in 1995, when complete, the Historic Courthouse will once again serve the citizens of Henderson County. (15 minutes)
Travel two blocks north and you will find The Mineral & Lapidary Museum of Henderson County. Enjoy the many exhibits from across the state as well as the Smithsonian. Here you will discover everything from English minerals and Indian artifacts to specialties of fluorescent minerals, fossils, and gems. Open Monday through Saturday, free admission makes this visit a real gem. (45 minutes)
One block north on the second floor of the Skyland Hotel building, you'll discover The Arts Center. This active arts center houses two artists' studios and showcases rotating gallery exhibits, hosts workshops, an art camp and a variety of classes. The Arts Center's notable past exhibits include Ansel Adam photographs, Salvador Dali lithographs, Bob Timberlake original paintings and Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers. (1 hour)
No visit to Henderson County would be complete without a stop at Henderson County Farmers Curb Market. Here you will find items that are indigenous to the area since all sellers must be residents of Henderson County and all items sold at the market must be either hand made or locally grown. Vendors offer a variety of goods such as crafts, baked goods, jellies, plants, flowers, toys and produce. (2 hours)
Approximately 12 miles from Historic Downtown Hendersonville you'll discover the beautiful DuPont State Forest. The forest encompasses more than 10,000 acres in Henderson and Transylvania counties. Situated on a plateau of the Little River Valley, DuPont Forest is resplendent with waterfalls and rolling land bordered by moderately steep hills and mountains. The forest offers a variety of activities for the nature lover including hiking, horseback riding, and biking, on designated trails. DuPont Forest is registered as NC Gamelands and those holding a NC fishing license can take advantage of the great catches to be had. Hunting is allowed by special permit only, issued by agents of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Throughout the forest, ambitious hikers will find several trails leading to some of the most beautiful falls on the East Coast. Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls are all accessible on foot. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at various sites throughout the area. (3 hours)
DAY 3. Spring and autumn are particularly good times to visit the area. For those in search of Apple Blossoms and Fall Apple Harvests, there are several driving tours leading to some of the finest apple orchards anywhere. Whenever you see an Apple Tour Hospitality sign, be sure to stop in for a helping of Apple Country Hospitality and a variety of apple products.
Three different trails ranging from 7 to 25 miles from Historic Hendersonville offer a bushel of opportunities to visit and tour apple orchards in the area. Along the way you will see everything from displayed raccoon pelts, the North Carolina Justice Academy, and St. Paul Episcopal Church and cemetery, as well as Fruitland Bible Institute. (2 -3 hours)
Combine the best of beauty and education as you make your way to Holmes Educational State Forest, approximately 8 1/2 miles from Downtown Historic Hendersonville. This forest offers a series of well-marked trails, accented by exhibits and displays depicting the ecology of a managed forest. The Forestry Center displays audio-visual exhibits explaining the managed forest and is the starting point for the Forest trails.
Depending on your ambitions, the Forest offers a variety of outdoor walks. The Hiking Trails are approximately 5 miles long and offer varying degrees of difficulty. Be sure to pick up a map at the Ranger Station before heading on your way.
The Talking Tree Trail features a recorded message about the tree, its site and the forest history. This trail is an easy 1/2-mile walk as is The Crab Creek Trail.
The Forest Demonstration Trail is a strenuous 2-mile walk where actual forestry practices are explained along the way. For those wanting an extra challenge, The Wildcat Rock Trail is a very strenuous 3/4-mile walk. Be sure to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the many picnic sites along the way, many of which include tables and grills for your convenience. (1 - 1 1/2 hours)
For more information on these or other locations and events in Hendersonville and Flat Rock, visit www.historichendersonville.org.