Asheville, North Carolina

 We moved at least 35 miles from Maggie Valley to Asheville, and we did it all in one day, can you believe that! We’re in site 32 at Ashevilles Bear Creek RV Park and Campground.

The park is compact, but easily accessible for larger rv’s. The water pressure seems a bit low, but the view from the back of our site is an easy trade off!

Nice park, and the lady at the check in desk, Terry, is so friendly and informative that guests feel right at home from the first thing.

We’re in Asheville to reunite with our good friends Larry and Debbie from Florida. Like so many other friendships, ours suffered under Covid mandates and we’re happy and blessed to see them again. Debbie and Larry have been on a long summer tour, visiting Texas, Michigan, and now North Carolina. We stayed  near them years ago in Florida and enjoyed time with them and their Pug, Max.

Max and Sasha established a special relationship when they first met, years ago, probably because they were both very young, and it has continued over the years as they have been able to spend time together. We were a bit worried that the two would have forgotten each other, but to our relief, they play like pups and provide a great many laughs!

First one would control the ball, and then the other, but they share at the same time! Great fun! 

Asheville is, of course, the home of the Biltmore Estate, one of the most recognizable examples of the homes of the Gilded Age. Built between 1889 and 1893 for George Washington Vanderbilt, it remains the largest privately owned home in the United States at 178,000 square feet. What is not so extensively known is that Mrs. Vanderbilt established schools for the children of the estates employees that taught woodworking and weaving. The schools were so successfully that they became self sustaining as Biltmore Industries. The business was purchased in 1914 by Fred Loring Seeley and moved to land adjacent to his Grove Park Inn on Sunset Mountain, just outside Asheville. 

The businesses flourished and crafted wood furniture and fine wool cloth was in high demand.

Today, the buildings that once housed the spinning machines and woodworking machines have been converted to other uses, one of which is a collection of unusual automobiles.

This 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham 70, number 149 of 703, was handcrafted under the tutelage of the legendary Harley Earl, and included every option available. Self leveling air suspension, 325 horsepower engine, power seats and windows, silver glove box, gold drink tumblers, mens and womens grooming sets, Arpege perfume, 44 leather interior and exterior colors to choose from and the first full fins. This beauty sold for $13,074, more than a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud at the time! Frank Sinatra owned one in this shade of blue, which became known as Sinatra Blue after Old Blue Eyes.

Other cars include this 1913 Model T, known as “The Copperhead” because of its brass radiator.

A 1950 MG TD, which had no fuel gauge, only a light on the dash that lighted when 3 gallons of fuel remained.

Adjacent to the shops is the Omni Grove Park Inn. Built in just over eleven months in 1913, without benefit of contractor or architect, it is an Arts and Crafts marvel. 400 men worked 10 hour days, six days a week to haul granite boulders from Sunset mountain to the site. Advertised as “having walls five feet thick, of granite boulders”, it was used during World War II to house detained axis diplomats. In 1944 and 1945, the facility was used as a rest and rehabilitation center for returning sailors. The Phillipine government in exile operated from the Presidential Cottage on the grounds during the war.

Today, the Inn is a luxury resort with a private golf course and a 43,000 square foot subterranean spa. Rooms are available at a price north of $400 per night.

We joined Larry and Debbie for a daytrip to waterfalls south of Asheville. Our first stop was Sliding Rock Falls. Watching the slide into a pool was great fun, everyone had a different technique! The water temp was about 55 deg F, so we didn’t participate….

We ventured on to Looking Glass Falls, catching a glimpse of some delicate flowers along the way.

Our last stop was at Slick Rock Falls. This waterfall was a bit tougher to find but the others, involving a narrow gravel road with steep drop offs, but eventually we found it.

Back home, it was playtime for Max and Sasha!

Downtown Asheville is bustling and alive with restaurants, shops, and tourists. We wanted to taste a bit of the action. The first thing we saw after leaving the parking garage was a sculpture celebrating shopping!

Asheville is home to one of the last F W Woolworth stores in existence. It’s two floors have been converted to an extensive gallery of works from local artists and craftsmen.

The original lunch counter is still in operation!

Then we stopped at the S and W Market for a chicken sandwich and a cold drink.

On our last evening in Ashville, we took a short drive to the little town of Marshall, North Carolina, where we enjoyed a great dinner at Zadies, on the banks of the French Broad River.

Afterwards we tucked into the Marshall Depot. 

Originally a train stop, it has been converted to a music venue, with local groups playing every Friday night. 

There were two groups playing the night we were there, but the festivities didn’t end there! A cakewalk and a 50/50 raffle were great fun!

So, after five days of wonderful time with good friends, we need to move on. We’re starting to head toward the northeast but are struggling with leaving the South. Good people, good food, and good scenery.

Goodbye Asheville.