Western North Carolina’s largest festival hits a big year this Labor Day weekend with our 75thNC Apple Festival. It’s Hendersonville’s busiest weekend of the year which in the past has had close to 250k people walking Main Street from Friday morning through Monday’s King Apple parade finale.
You’ll find the biggest crowds at the festival on Friday from 3pm-8pm, all day Saturday and Sunday until 6pm. You’ll also find the highest room rates of the year on Friday and Saturday night as well. To get the best value, book Thursday night before the festival starts and hit Main Street at 10am. At this time, you’ll avoid the elbow to elbow crowds and will also reach merchants and apple farmers before most other festival goers.
If you want to see one of the best small town parades in the Southeast, then book Sunday night at the Waverly at the end of the festival. That will give you the last moments of the street fair on Sunday night and will also allow you to stick around on Monday to watch the King Apple Parade from the front porch of the inn at 2:30. You’ll also be able to enjoy great food and live music which we will provide up until the parade starts.
The Waverly Inn still has many great rooms for the Apple Festival. Call 828.693.9193 and book today.
Greeneville, TN is a great destination for a quick getaway road trip for couples, friends, and families from WNC. Lots of history and beautiful scenery. First published August 14, 2019.
Four of us – two couples – share an interest in history, exploring new places, taking in scenery from the road, excellent food & music, great spots to stay, and unexpected discoveries, so when an opportunity came our way to put a new 2019 Chevy Blazer through its paces, Heidi, Tom, my husband, and I hit the road on a three-night Romantic Couples Getaway.
We left Hendersonville, NC early on a Sunday morning for Greeneville, TN, stopping in Marshall, NC for a late breakfast.
Photo Note: click all smaller images to enlarge, and in some cases see an additional caption.
We took back roads that were full of curves, hills, and scenery – much of it along rivers. The scenery was great and we hugged the road in both 2 and 4 Wheel Drive.
We wanted to see how the Blazer’s OnStar® 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, advertised as able to handle up to 7 devises at a time, worked on country roads through the mountains. It also has up to a 50-foot range from the vehicle, which might come in handy in a few different scenarios. Not only was the network easy to connect to, not once did the signal drop throughout this entire trip.
See that paper map? We always have paper maps in the car just in case, just for fun, and for when we want to get a broader view in a bigger format.
Another bit of tech I tried was connecting my phone to the car using the Android Auto App. Every time I got in the car, the App activated automatically. All I had to do was plug my phone in to a USB jack and I could use voice to get to everything on my phone: other Apps like Waze, my calendar, make and receive calls (contact list accessable without uploading it to the car), get to my play lists, audio books, basically whatever’s on my phone. If you have an iPhone, use Apple CarPlay.
When I didn’t need to get to specific things on my phone, voice commands worked great with the car’s dash-mounted screen: maps, music, downloaded Apps, and calls via my Blue Tooth-paired phone.
Greeneville, and Greene County for that matter, are full of history. We toured the President Andrew Johnson National Historic Site: Visitor Center, Homestead, National Cemetery, Birthplace Replica, and Statue of Andrew Johnson. The Early Home was closed for roof replacement by a specialist company brought in from out of state. Greeneville’s also full of surprises like booming manufacturing and schools ranked #1 in the state! Tusculum University, home of Andrew Johnson’s Library, is close to opening the pioneering Niswonger College of Optometry with a full compliment of faculty and staff.
Later in the afternoon, we took some very cool, meandering back roads. Like, “Hi! We’re here for dinner at your front porch because it’s so close to the road”, kind of back roads from Greeneville to the David Crockett Birthplace State Historic Park in Limestone, TN, not far from Greeneville. It’s a pretty amazing park with lots of RV parking, a rec area (including an outdoor pool), living history type cabin, green areas & facilities, and an interesting Visitor Center. A really nice, wide river, the Nolichucky, runs along much of the park, also. P.S. He preferred to be called “David”, not Davy, after getting in to politics.
It was such a beautiful day, we set a romantic picnic table next to the river for dinner: Ploughman’s Fruit & Cheese Board and Biscuit/Scone leftovers, cheeses, crackers, and a variety of small boxed wines we brought from home.
It was pushing dusk, closing time at the park, so we packed up and headed back to the historic General Morgan Inn for the night. Two romantic rooms had been booked for us and we were looking forward to a little “down time” on our own.
Inn General Manager Michael Brown welcomed us early in our visit and filled us in on some of the Inn’s history. Hospitality has been happening on this spot since the late 1790s when The DeWoody Tavern was welcoming travelers and offering locals a meeting space. They were in business for almost a century. An interesting note about the General Morgan Inn, which stands on the same spot as the Tavern, is that it’s actually three different railroad hotels that were combined in to one.
I loved the hotel and our room. Our room was perfect for relaxing and cooling off after a long, warm afternoon outside. As my thoughts wandered, they settled on one way I’d describe the Inn – as the home of a much loved, favorite Great Aunt. Beautifully decorated, extremely clean, and well lived in.
In the picture of the hotel below, the front corner is a good coffee shop, Catalyst Coffee Co, accessible through the Inn’s lobby or from Main Street. Each hotel guest gets a $7 Catalyst voucher in their check in package. We all took full advantage in the morning. Yes, I did my standard Latte test and they passed with flying colors.
Image: General Morgan Inn Facebook Page
Cooler temps the following morning were just the thing for a historic downtown walking tour called “A Walk With the President”. Our Guide, Wilhelmina Clemmer Williams, met us in the Inn’s lobby for a pre-walk conversation about Greeneville history. She’s a Guide rather than a Docent because all walking tour Guides are highly trained by the National Park Service. She was friendly, professional, and definitely knew her stuff!
Our Romantic Couples Getaway was Sponsored by Chevrolet and Visit Greeneville TN.
Back in the day, one of the most frequent questions I’d get was, “Is there a good, (independent) Steakhouse anywhere in WNC?” The answers was always no, but now it’s YES! And Asheville Proper (http://www.ashevilleproper.com/), “a live-fire dining experience where traditional service and modern comforts are taken to new heights.” is it!
We had a great view of the non-stop action in the kitchen, at the fire, and servers hustling every which way.
The place was absolutely buzzing as a good friend and I had dinner there recently! We ordered a number of dishes, had a glass of 2017 Ravel & Stitch Cabernet Blend and a cocktail each, then wrapped up the evening with two shared desserts. This was all for the sake of research, of course. 🙂 I’m only half kidding, though. It’s a big deal to have a Steakhouse like this now in Asheville.
Takeaways:
*** The steaks are good, but look lost on a big plate when they’re served. The good news is there’s plenty of room for sides that are big enough to share and come with a serving spoon.
*** Patio seating is nice, but limited.
*** Inside the vibe is intimate, with views of wood-fired cooking, the bar, and seating areas that are vignette-like.
*** Where else in Asheville can you get a Pavlova for dessert!?!
*** Their Pastry Chef is Hilary Lamont. Remember that name.
Repurpose or destroy? Time passes. Times change. Too often with buildings the answer is destroy. Happily, that didn’t happen to the 1982 World’s Fair office building in Knoxville, TN that’s now The Tennessean Hotel (https://www.thetennesseanhotel.com/).
Outside it looks pretty much as it did in 1982, but inside it’s an entirely different story. Their “Personal Luxury” approach begins as soon as you arrive and continues throughout your stay.
Turn your vehicle over to Valet Parking when you pull up and don’t think about it again until it’s time to head home. Of course you can park in a nearby lot, if you prefer, but it’s nice to know your vehicle is secure and being looked after. And if you’re like me and forget something in the car, someone from Valet will retrieve it for you and drop it off at your room.
More reasons to Valet:
Whatever you want to do in town is within walking distance.
Free Trolley (Map) running four or five routes is picked up right outside the hotel.
Don’t want to wait for a trolley, take advantage of their complimentary, luxury Black Car service.
There are 112.5 miles of paved greenway and natural trails (Map).
My husband and I both appreciated the boutique feel and elevated service at The Tennessean. A soothing color palate of beiges and blues, accented in yellow/gold and a touch of black throughout sets the tone. Add the intentional effort at setting themselves apart from the ordinary by offering touches of personal luxury that will engage all your senses, and you have a wonderful getaway experience.
After checking in and freshening up a bit, we headed to The Drawing Room for Tea Service. It was absolutely wonderful! Three tiers of scrumptious made-in-house savory and sweet treats were served with specialty teas. Not just served. Served on gorgeous Wedgewood Bone China trimmed in 24k gold. Even though it’s dishwater safe, they wash every piece by hand!
Everything was delicious! I was happily surprised by the Chocolate Covered Strawberries that had been soaked or macerated before being dipped in chocolate. No more biting into a red strawberry only to find an white, unripe interior. My favorite tea was their Signature Sweet Peach Noir. A party for the senses!
They are planning a series of very special Tea Service events. Next up is the Princess Tea Service on July 31st. Bridal Tea Service is available as their take on a special Bridal Shower.
Princess Tea Service
“Calling princesses of all ages! You are invited to enjoy tea and assorted beverages, along with a variety of tea sandwiches, scones, pastries and desserts. Don’t miss a photo opportunity with our princesses and take away a special gift to remember the day. This tea service will be an event your family will cherish for years to come.
Seatings Available at 12:30PM and 2:30PM”
Tea Service, Breakfast, and Drinks are all served in their luscious Drawing Room. Take a moment to look at and feel the custom designed napkins depicting Knoxville that are imported from France. It’s especially posh in the evening for cocktails when the lights are low and conversations are muted.
Afterwards we took a couple of the free trolley routes to get oriented. Loved my first look at much of the Univeristy of Tennessee campus. Then walked all over town – historic Old City, Gay St, and Market Square. Did a little shopping, had dinner, and checked out a couple rooftop bars before heading back to the hotel.
Our corner room was spacious and comfortable. Two of the walls were mostly glass, giving us a great view of the Worlds Fair site and Sunsphere. Someone did an excellent job refitting the building with luxurious bathrooms.
Of course I had to feel the bed linens and thick, fluffy towels. I’ll admit to doing a few horizontal jumping jack moves after slipping into bed. Their bed linens have that luxury feel as they should since they’re also imported from France.
For families who are okay sharing a room, consider spacious their “Executive King/King”. For groups and events, definitely check out the Governor’s Suite! Multiple bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room with baby grand piano. Word is, a number of celebrities have stayed in this suite.
Both of us being kind of geeky, we turned the Tennessee River/Water themed interior into a scavenger hunt of sorts. Throughout our stay, we spotted themed carpets, lighting (sconces, table lamps), map murals above bed headboards, and art. It’s not overdone, though. The most unique theme expression is in a lobby lounge area, and comes in the form of a “wall of books” bound in a way that the book spines creates a beautiful stylized map of the Tennessee River meandering through Knoxville. See HOTEL PHOTOS here.
Epicurean Notes:
Knoxville is an easy two hour drive from Asheville.
UT football fan? Check out The Tennessean’s Luxury Football Experience! “Kick off game-day with our brunch menu options and Mimosa Bar before loading a luxury motor coach for complimentary transportation to and from the game.”
A getaway to The Tennessean Hotel isn’t just for couples. Think girl’s getaway, a football getaway, family time, basically any kind of getaway.
The most common thing heard in Knoxville these days is, “I had no idea all of this was here!”
The Tennessean Hotel
531 Henley St
Knoxville, TN 37902
Dollywood is searching for its next panel of park insiders who share experiences and tips through online content. For the past five seasons, park guests have found helpful information on Dollywood blogs and social channels thanks to this group of non-employed Dollywood pros. Applications for the sixth panel of Dollywood Insiders are available now at https://www.dollywood.com/lpg/insider.
From best-value suggestions to traffic flow tips and where-to-eat recommendations, Dollywood Insiders provide expert guest perspective to aid others in trip planning. Content is shared via blog, pictures and video.
“We invite veteran Dollywood guests to become our experts,” explained Amber Davis, Digital Publicist. “As the program has grown in popularity, we’ve been able to grow the number of panelists each year. For our next panel, we will select 20 Insiders. These applicants turn their love for Dollywood into a platform for sharing trip-planning advice. Though they don’t receive a paycheck, they do get season passes and exclusive access as they create content for Dollywood channels.”
Dollywood Insiders are relatable. Past Insiders include moms, dads, grandmas, single parents, professionals, bloggers and theme park enthusiasts. Dollywood intentionally selects its panelists from diverse walks of life to best represent Dollywood park visitors. These panelists hail from communities across the Southeast—from Knoxville, Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charlotte and beyond.
Dollywood Insiders are tasked with pitching and creating blogs and videos that help others learn about Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country, Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa, and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. The Insiders serve on the panel for a one-year term and may re-apply, if interested. Perks of the role include season passes, behind-the-scenes access and invitations to media events.
Applications must be submitted by Monday, July 19 at noon. After interviews, panelists will be selected and notified by July 26.
About The Dollywood Company: A highly-awarded and widely-recognized leader in the amusement industry, The Dollywood Company consists of the 160-acre Dollywood theme park; the 35-acre Dollywood’s Splash Country; Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa; and Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins. As unique as its namesake and owner Dolly Parton, Dollywood is the 2010 Applause Award winner, the theme park industry’s highest accolade; winner of more than 40 Golden Ticket Awards; and recipient of 27 Brass Ring Awards for Live Entertainment (more than any other theme park in the world). The park is located near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and has been named a top-three US theme park by USA Today on multiple occasions. Dollywood is open mid-March through early January and offers rides and attractions, shows, and crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. Dollywood’s Splash Country, recognized by the Travel Channel and TripAdvisor as one of the country’s most beautiful water parks operates from mid-May to Labor Day. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa provides guests spectacular mountain views and family-friendly amenities next door to Dollywood theme park and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Cabins offers luxurious cabin accommodations overlooking Dollywood. For more information, visit dollywood.com. Operating days and hours vary.
Green Man Brewery (https://www.greenmanbrewery.com/) has released the 11th edition of their Hazy Homage series- The Grateful Haze. This Grateful Dead inspired tangerine and grapefruit forward hazy IPA comes from a specialty line of hazy IPAs launched quarterly, each dedicated to a particular band or artist. Previous features include Nine Inch Nails-inspired Pretty Haze Machine, David Bowie-inspired Hazy Cosmic Jive, and the original Van Helen-inspired Van Hazy IPA.
The Grateful Haze features layers of citrus, creamy coconut from the Sabro hops, mango, dried apricot and candied pineapple. It is lactose-free, 6.8% alc./vol. and comes in a four-pack of 16 oz. cans. Its packaging stands out because of its four unique can designs per pack, a first for Green Man and a rarity in the beer business.
Green Man also just debuted their new slim cans for their Green Man Cider made in partnership with Urban Orchard, an Asheville-based cider company just down the street from Green Man. The cider itself will remain the same- all natural, gluten-free, sugar-free, 5.5% alc./vol. and will come in a four-pack.
Beer + cider lovers can enjoy both offerings on tap at either of Green Man’s taprooms- the Green Mansion (27 Buxton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801) + Dirty Jack’s (23 Buxton Ave. Asheville, NC 28801), or purchase four-packs at the Green Mansion. Both are also available for purchase through Green Man’s online beer store GetGreenMan.com, which ships to 13 states.
Nestled between lush, picture-perfect rolling hills planted with grape vines sits Linville Falls Winery (https://www.linvillefallswinery.com/). Views from their expansive patio and indoor space take in those hills, as well as their Red Barn (Lawn Bar) and healthy, full of life pond.
The Red Barn is opened for overflow when the winery is especially busy, but with the expansive lawn, cozy seating groupings, and pond, I might just walk down to the lawn seating with my wine when they’re not that busy and the Lawn Bar isn’t open.
Their Website is informative and easy to navigate. You’ll find succinct information on just about whatever you want to know. Take flights, for instance.
Wine Flight: $12 for your choice of 4 wines, 2oz. of each & souvenir glass. Can be ordered at a table with a Wine Steward, or in the Red Barn on busy weekends
Can you bring your own food? The answer is yes, but if you want to get something there, they “source various locally made snack items.” It’s reasonable that they say “locally made snacks” rather than giving details because they might have to change them up as things are available or not. If you’re curious about what they might have on hand, I’ve included a picture of their “snack” cooler in the gallery. The day we were there we saw pre-made charcuterie boards, local goat & dairy cheese, homemade pimento cheese, packaged cured meats, water & other non-alcoholic drinks.
Looking like a something right out of Tuscany, the entire operation is family owned and operated. All staff we interacted with were welcoming and friendly.
What about the wine? Between us, we tasted:
Cabernet Sauvignon, WA – Columbia Valley
Red | Dry | Heavy Body | French Oak
Notes: Pepper, Cherry, VanillaAlcohol 13.50%
Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon, WA – Columbia Valley
Red | Dry | Heavy Body | French Oak 2 years
Aged 6 Additional Months in American Brandy Barrels
Notes: Tobacco, Oak, VanillaAlcohol 13.50%
Merlot, WA – Columbia Valley
Red | Dry | Medium Body | American Oak
Notes: Plum, Fig, BlackberryAlcohol 13.50%
Red Barn Blend, WA – Columbia Valley
“Big Red” | Dry | American Oak
Notes: Rustic, Tart Cherry, SpiceAlcohol 13.00%
Petit Verdot, NC – Yadkin Valley
Red | Dry | Light Body | American Oak
Notes: Pepper, Black CherryAlcohol 13.00%
Rosé, NC – Appalachian High Country
Blend | Semi-Dry
Notes: Strawberry, RaspberryAlcohol 12.00%
Mountain White, NC – Appalachian High Country
White Blend | Sweet
Notes: Pear, StonefruitAlcohol 12.00%
Everyone’s palate is different, but between the two Cabs, we both preferred the Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet. Other than the Cabs, he preferred the Red Barn Blend to the Petit Verdot. I didn’t care for the Rosé, thought the Merlot was okay, but took a bottle of the Mountain White home for porch sitting in warm weather. Our overall favorite was the Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet.
Linville Falls Winery is slightly over an hour drive, much of it scenic, northeast of Asheville. When you go, tell them Carolina Epicurean sent you.
Linville Falls Winery
9557 Linville Falls Hwy. Linville Falls, NC 28647
Blue Ridge Parkway Mile 317
(828) 765-1400
ASAP’s highly anticipated annual Farm Tour is back for 2021, following cancelation in 2020 due to COVID-19. On Sept. 18–19, from noon to 5 p.m., approximately 20 Appalachian Grown family farms will welcome visitors for guided tours, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. This fun and educational weekend offers the public a chance to experience firsthand how food is grown and raised in the mountains, sample farm-fresh products, and meet local farmers. The tour is a great outing for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The 2021 Farm Tour will feature farms in Buncombe, Henderson, and Haywood counties, all located within an hour drive of Asheville. Every year, ASAP introduces new farms on the tour and brings back old favorites, including u-pick farms, vineyards, flower farms, fiber producers, and more. A full list of participating farms will be announced later this summer. Farm Tour guides, including a map, driving directions, tour tips, and farm descriptions, will be available at community centers and area businesses in mid-August.
“The ASAP Farm Tour gives us a chance to share our dreams and passion with others committed to a sustainable future,” said farmer Sara Martin, whose Two Trees Farm in Haywood County has been a past tour favorite and will return for 2021. “Showing people the joys of working the land and eating fresh food creates a community. We are truly happiest when we have our feet in the soil, sharing skills to make agriculture more accessible to others. Come share our dream!”
The Farm Tour is an outdoor event and will follow current state guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Hand-washing facilities or hand sanitizer will be available at all farms. Visitors who are not vaccinated should wear a mask and maintain social distancing while on the tour.
Farm Tour passes are on sale now for $35 at asapconnections.org/farmtour. One pass admits a carload of visitors to all farms both days. Pending availability, passes purchased the weekend of the tour will be $45. More information, including details on volunteering and attending the tour for free, can be found at asapconnections.org or by calling 828-236-1282.
ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)
ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more, visit asapconnections.org.
After being cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, Brews and Bears has come out of
hibernation just in time for summer! On Friday, July 9, and Friday, August 13, from 5:30-8:00PM, the WNC Nature Center will host the after-hours event, where guests can explore the Nature Center in the evening hours when it’s cooler and the animals are more active.
There will be food, drink, and music, and guests will get to watch an enrichment activity for the Nature Center’s resident black bears, Uno and Ursa. “Brews and Bears is the perfect happy hour fundraiser that lets guests explore the Nature Center after hours while supporting the wildlife they love,” said Kate Frost, Director of Development at Friends of the WNC Nature Center. “You can also take your pint with you and visit the newest additions to the WNC Nature Center – our red foxes, Bonita and Samson.”
Admission to Brews and Bears is $15 for Friends of the WNC Nature Center members and $20 for non-members. New this year, tickets can include a beer token to cover patrons’ first drink, and there is a VIP option that includes a signature Brews and Bears silipint cup and the opportunity to jump the line for drinks. The event is intended primarily for adults, although youth are welcome to attend with the purchase of a ticket. Children two and under are free. Proceeds from ticket and beverage sales go to the Friends of the WNC Nature Center and help support various programs throughout the park, including animal
enrichment and habitat renovations. Learn more and purchase tickets at wildwnc.org/brews-and-bears.
Beer, cider and/or wine, and food will be available for purchase at each event. Music will also be provided:
July 9
Beer: Highland Brewing
Cider: Urban Orchard
Food Truck: Cecilia’s Kitchen
Others: Blunt Pretzels, Ice cream treats
Music provided by Mix 96.5
Bear Education provided by BearWise
August 13
Beer: Highland Brewing
Cider: Urban Orchard
Wine: Plēb Urban Winery
Food Truck: Gypsy Queen Cuisine
Others: Blunt Pretzels, Ice cream treats, Music provided by 105.9 The Mountain
Bear Education provided by BearWise
The American black bear, Ursus americanus, is the only bear species native to North Carolina. At the WNC Nature Center, Uno and Ursa continue to be ambassadors for the American black bears in this area. They were removed from the wild for unknown reasons and lack survival skills. Therefore, they cannot be released into the wild. They prefer to den separately in the summer but enjoy sharing a den for winter torpor. On hot summer days, Uno and Ursa splash in their habitat’s pool and enjoy enrichment such as frozen fish, fruit, and ice popsicles.
The Brews and Bears events are presented by Zealandia Holdings and White Oak Financial Management. Additional sponsors include Grimes Teich Anderson LLP, BrickStreet Equity Management, U.S. Cellular Premier Locations, HomeTrust Bank, and Park National Bank.
The Friends is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the animals, programs, and facilities of the WNC Nature Center. The Nature Center connects people of all ages with the plants and animals of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. For more information on the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, or to join the Friends and support future projects, visit www.wildwnc.org.
Three popular guided history walks will be offered in June. Now in its seventh year, Hendersonville Guided History Walks offers 90-plus minute walks in three historic areas of town: along Main Street (Friday, June 11, 10 a.m.), in Oakdale Cemetery (Friday, June 18, 10 a.m.), and in the 7th Avenue Historic Depot District (Friday, June 25, 10 a.m.). Cost for each tour is $10 per person 10 years and older. Children under 10 are free with a paid adult. Appropriate guidelines for safety and health will be practiced, space is limited and reservations are required. Contact history walk leader Mary Jo Padgett at 828-545-3179 or email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com to make a reservation. Private tours for groups can be arranged anytime. Visit the website at www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks to see the entire schedule for 2021.
Main Street
On Friday, June 11, the walk will start at 10 a.m. at the front steps of City Hall, corner of Fifth Avenue E. and King St. Stroll along Historic Main Street with tour guide Mary Jo Padgett to answer such questions as — who donated the land where the new town would be built, what is the age of the oldest block of buildings, what was on the third floor (and in the basement) of the old City Hall, who was the town named for, where was the Opera House, and learn about bordellos, shoot-outs, trolley lines, and stories of life in the old days on Chinquapin Hill.
Oakdale Cemetery
On Friday, June 18, the walk will begin at 10 a.m. in the cemetery on U.S. 64 W. This guided tour of Historic Oakdale Cemetery, Hendersonville’s municipal cemetery, whispers stories of the town’s early days and colorful citizens. The famous Italian marble monument which inspired the title of Thomas Wolfe’s novel Look Homeward, Angel is in Oakdale, along with both marked and unmarked graves of historic figures. The heritage of our African-American community is told in the Black section of the cemetery, while the designated Jewish cemetery reveals how the town grew to embrace ethnic and religious groups through the years. How and why the cemetery was established in 1883, names of those who helped build the town and where they were laid to rest, where the Sunshine Lady is buried, and more questions will be answered.
7th Avenue/Historic Depot District
On Friday, June 25, this walk will start at 10 a.m. at the front steps of City Hall, corner of Fifth Avenue E. and King St., then we’ll meander through this historic part of town encircling the Train Depot. When the first steam locomotive arrived in Hendersonville on July 4, 1879, crammed with tourists and visitors from the low country of South Carolina, it was the beginning of an exciting era of big-band music, dancing, numerous inns and hotels, much real estate trading, and huge agricultural growth. Money was made and lost, famous musicians and sports figures came calling, delicious food was enjoyed at every inn and boarding house … Hendersonville was in its hey-day from that moment until the financial crash of 1929. This neighborhood boasted many businesses run by Black and white owners. We’ll hear the details.
“Locals and visitors alike can celebrate and share the interesting history and architecture of Hendersonville,” Padgett said, “For example, learn how the rich natural resources here – the local clay for brick, the hand-hewn foundation rocks from local quarries, and, in fact, the heritage carried from the earlier Cherokee lifestyle – have contributed to our lives today.”
Padgett served on Hendersonville City Council for eight years, is a journalist and public relations consultant, was co-founder and former executive director of ECO, was associate editor at The Mother Earth News magazine, and conducts programs and guided tours in Paris, France, on the American Revolution. Her parents spent their honeymoon in the Skyland Hotel on Main Street. She grew up on a farm in Rutherford County, and has lived in a 100-year-old house in downtown Hendersonville for 40 years.
Hear stories about famous people, destructive fires, and more about this historic small-town gem in the mountains during Hendersonville Guided History Walks, June 11, 18, and 25 at 10 a.m.
Hear stories about Hendersonville’s Gilded Age with the coming of the railroad and well-to-do tourists. The Wheeler Hotel was one of the fancy inns located in the 7th Avenue/Historic Depot District. Hendersonville Guided History Walks are in June.
To make reservations or for more information, contact Padgett at 828-545-3179 or email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com. Visit www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walks for a complete 2021 schedule.
