Historic Downtown Hendersonville

Historic Downtown Hendersonville, established in 1888, is the perfect place to shop, eat, or just take a walk. Downtown offers many shops including art, clothing, collectables, music stores, and toys. From barbecue to cafes, you'll find exactly what your looking for. Do you like live music?

"Music on Main Street" is a popluar event that is fun for the whole family. Come see live performers every Friday evening from June 3 to August 26 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. In the case of bad weather, concerts will be postponed until 8:00 pm or cancelled. Admission is free, so bring a chair and relax with the sound of sweet music.

The Curb Market has been a local Hendersonville tradition since 1924. What began as a group of farmers bringing their extra produce to town for the "city folk" has expanded over the years to include some of the freshest fruits & vegetables, plants & fresh cut flowers, homemade jams, jellies & baked goods and hand made mountain crafts. A favorite of locals and visitors alike, the Curb Market always has something different.

Henderson County Curb Market

Hendersonville NC

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.

Historic Flat Rock

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.

Laurel Park

North Carolina Apple Festival

Since 1949, Hendersonville has been the home to our four-day festival over the Labor Day Weekend. (Henderson County is first in the state in apple production) The festival attracts more than 250,000 people and the streets are lined with food vendors, arts, crafts, games and of course apple stands. The Historic Courthouse is the stage for musical & dance acts to delight visitors and locals alike.