Historic Downtown Hendersonville

Flat Rock

In 1927, Charles Baring, a wealthy rice planter from near Charleston, sought a place to escape the heat of South Carolinas summers.   Entering the first mountain he came to he found Flat Rock and was enthralled by it beauty and climate.   He purchased a track of land and erected the first estate...a summer residence called Mountain Lodge.   In 1930 Judge Mitchell King, also from the Charleston area came to Flat Rock and renovated an old trace mill into a residence and he named it Argle. 

Both men began purchasing up large tracts of land until they had acquired all of the Flat Rock area.   They later sold tracts to other affluent Charleston families and today it is still an elegant community of estate and luxurious homes.   Flat Rocks nick name is "The Little Charleston of the Mountains" and the popular Rainbow Row in Charleston can be seen in Flat Rock's Little Rainbow Row which includes several brightly printed cottages all with distinct wares. Flat Rock is the home of many upscale communities, the Flat Rock Playhouse and Carl Sandburgs estate.

Laurel Park

  Laurel Park was known far and wide for its lakes, trails, nine-hole golf course and active summer events in the early-to mid 20th century.   Laurel Park Lakes was the largest of the community's lakes with beach, water slide, pavilion with a dance floor jutting out over the water.    In the mid-20's Commodore J. Perry Stoltz, builder of the famous Miami Beach Fleetwood Hotel, bought land atop Laurel Park and began construction on a 15-story Fleetwood Hotel in 1925.   The next year a devastating hurricane hit Florida and Stoltz lost everything.   The construction on the hotel halted and the depression following the 1929 stock market crash put an end to the fate of the hotel.   In 1935 a salvage company torn the hotel down and later a residential community was built and is names Fleetwood Estates with million dollar views from atop the mountain.      Also at the top of Laurel Park is Jump Off Rock where legend has it a young Cherokee maiden and her Cherokee chieftain often met at the ledge.   When tribal wars called him away, they promised to meet at the rock upon his return.   The maiden climbed to the top of the rock everyday watching for her lover.   When warriors brought her the news of the young chief's death in battle, she climbed to the edge of the cliff....and jumped.   Now Laurel Park is now the setting for many beautiful homes where the elevation is the cause of a gentle cool breeze.

North Carolina Apple Festival