Henderson County

Historic Hendersonville and the Village of Flat Rock

The Historic Hendersonville area welcomes you to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Hendersonville is located 22 miles south of Asheville, NC on a plateau with an altitude of 2200 feet above sea level. Henderson County is ideally located for exploring town and surrounding country with varied attractions, festivals, recreational activities, historical sites, golf courses, family activities, historic districts, a variety of accommodations and restaurants.

Henderson County was part of the Cherokee Nation for 10,000 years. After treaties with the Cherokee in 1777 and 1785, the land was officially opened for settlement by early Appalachian Mountain pioneers. Early land grants date back to 1777, with most occurring after the Revolutionary War in 1783 and 1785. Early settlers included Revolutionary War Patriots, such as Andrew Miller, Matthew Maybin and Joseph Henry, along with many others. Some Tories, such as William Mills, also settled in the county in the 1780s.

Henderson county was named for Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, Judge Leonard Henderson who died in 1833, five years before the county was created. Henderson County was created from Old Buncombe County and Rutherford County. Hendersonville received its original charter in the 1840’s with a population of several hundred people.

The county of Henderson is called a typical mountain county, because it consists of these elements: mountain ranges, isolated peaks, a rolling plateau and level valley areas. Elevations range from 1400 feet near Bat Cave at the foot of the Blue Ridge, to 5000 feet on Little Pisgha.

EPIC Theatres of Hendersonville
200 Thompson Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792 | Phone: 828-693-1146
Fourteen theaters, stadium rocking chair high-back seating, cup-holder armrests, digital sound, and assisted listening devices.

Flat Rock Playhouse
2661 Greenville Highway,  Flat Rock, NC 28731
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Music on the Rock/Playhouse Downtown
125 South Main Street, Hendersonville
Box Office: 828-693-0731
The Flat Rock Playhouse, Music on the Rock and the Playhouse Downtown productions and education include a ten-show professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; performances and cabaret series by the YouTheatre; year-round classes and workshops for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 90,000 patrons annually. For schedule information and tickets click here.

Carl Sandburg Home – Connemara
81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, NC 28731 | Phone: 828-693-4178
The Carl Sandburg Home (a National Historic Site, U.S. National Park Service) has five miles of trails and gardens on 264 acres. The on-site multi-media exhibit features Carl Sandburg, “Poet of the People,” and describes the Sandburg family’s life, achievements, personal belongings, photographs, and writings.

STJ’s Inflation Station
710 Tracy Grove Road #C3, Flat Rock, NC 28731 | Phone: 828-696-0674
An inflatable bouncing playground with an indoor party zone for hosting private celebrations.

Hendersonville Train Depot
Location: corner of 7th Ave. East and Maple St., Hendersonville, NC.
The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club has constructed a scenic HO model railroad representing Hendersonville and western North Carolina. The Southern Railway caboose is also open to the public.

Historic Johnson Farm
3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792 | Phone: 828-891-6585
A heritage education center with animals, tours, nature trails, picnic tables and 10 historic structures on 15 acres of forest, fields and streams. Check the web site for admission fees and hours of operation.

Campgrounds and Cottages within 50 miles.

Cottages

Campgrounds