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There’s something here for nearly everyone – unless your hobby
happens to be deep sea diving or skyscraper climbing – in which case you
might be happier vacationing some place else!
Aside from the 250 waterfalls and cute little
white squirrels which are described on their
own pages, visitors and residents enjoy a full array of outdoor sports from
hiking on the more than 470 miles of trails in the county to canoeing on the
200+ miles of natural waterways. Campers enjoy both the wilderness of the
Pisgah National Forest as
well as the facilities of a number of
campgrounds in the area.
For those whose tastes are more urban, a number of golf courses offer a
variety of challenges to both the beginner and advanced player. The entire
family will enjoy the many festivals and musical performances offered
throughout the year. And, if you are into shopping, you will find no
shortage of offerings in this area either; see the
shopping page for details.
Pisgah National
Forest
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, two ministers stood on a
mountain top in North Carolina and conferred the name Mount Pisgah to the
summit that now bears that name. They were reminded of the Biblical Mount
Pisgah from which Moses viewed the Promised Land of Canaan.
The name has spread to designate many places throughout the region, not the
least of which is the Pisgah
National Forest. This protected forest land is located on Highway 276
just north of Brevard. It encompasses some 497,000 acres, 88,000 of which are
in Transylvania County. The forest is host to more than 9 million
visitors every year.
The Pisgah National Forest
is the outdoor enthusiast’s dream:
- 4 campgrounds
- 2 wilderness areas
- 300 miles of hiking trails (the 31-mile Art Loeb Trail is the longest)
- largest black bear sanctuary in the state
- highest quality trout fishing in the state
- nearly any other outdoor activity you would want including biking,
canoeing, tubing, rock climbing, cross-country skiing,… are available.
- many educational and historic sites such as the
Cradle of Forestry,
the Fish Hatchery, and Pisgah
Center for Wildlife Education.
A hiking trail guide book and other information about the forest is available
at the Ranger Station on Highway 276 North.
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Outdoor Sports
In addition to the following, check with the Ranger Station on Highway 276 in
Pisgah National Forest for
information on outdoor sports and activities available in the forest.
Canoeing
Canoeists may select from a full range of adventures from short-runs to
day-long trips to even overnight exploits on fast-roaring rivers or slowly
rolling waterways. Headwaters for both the Davidson and French Broad Rivers
are protected at their sources in both the Pisgah and
Nantahala National
Forest.
Headwaters Outfitters
P. O. Box 145
Rosman, NC 28772
Phone: 828-877-3106
Fishing
Fishing is excellent in the many lakes and streams in the area. A license is
required unless at a private resort. Some of the private trout farms will do
almost everything for you – even to catching and cleaning the fish!
Morgan Mill Trout Fishing Resort
15 Morgan Mill Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-6823
Hiking
There are some 470 miles of hiking trails in the county with something to
challenge everyone. There are also several hiking clubs. Trail guides are
available at the Pisgah Rangers Station.
Gem Mining
Headwaters Outfitters
P. O. Box 145
Rosman, NC 28772
Phone: 828-877-3106
Horseback Riding
-
Earthshine Mountain Lodge
Golden Road
Route 1, Box 216C
Lake Toxaway, NC 28747
Phone: 828-862-4207
- Year round.
- Pisgah Forest Stables
P. O. Box 435
Cashiers, NC 28717
- Located in
Pisgah National
Forest, 1 mile north of the Ranger Station on Highway 276 North. Summer
only.
- Las Praderas Stables and Cottages
Route 1, Box 12A
Brevard NC 28712
Phone: 828-883-3375
- Vacation with your own horses.
Rock Climbing
A variety of vertical obstacles are available to challenge the climber of
every skill level. Check at the Ranger Station on Highway 276 for information
both on the specific landscape and current conditions.
Mountain Biking
The area provide some of the best biking experiences in the eastern United
States on many, well-marked trails, including those in Pisgah National Forest. Some
bike enthusiast may know the Cane Creek race is in Brevard at Camp
Carolina, home of the “Hated Henious” trail. Trail guides are
available at the Pisgah Rangers Station.
Swimming
Swimming is fun in the cool (often cold) mountain waters. If you have
somewhat less adventurous tastes, try one of the following locations:
Brevard Municipal Pool
Franklin Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-6959
Champion Park Pool
Rosman, NC 28772
Brevard College Indoor Pool (Gym)
Brevard College
400 N. Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-8230
Tennis
Brevard Racquet Club
Country Club Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-883-3005
Private. Indoor courts. Special rates for visitors.
Silvermont Tennis Courts
Silvermont Mansion
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-3156
Public.
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Camping
(See also Campgrounds on the Lodging page.)
Pisgah National
Forest
Anyone planning a camping trip to this area should not overlook the option of
Pisgah National Forest
Roadside camping is permitted throughout much of the forest, but there are
some restrictions. All areas along Highway 276 are designated as “day
use picnic areas” and camping is not permitted. Several non-paved roads
provide access to popular camping areas. In the Pisgah District. The
campsite must be at least 1,000 feet from the roadside. Also you should only
camp in areas marked with a tent sign. Such areas are periodically rotated in
order to minimize human impact on the forest. This allows the vegetation an
opportunity to rejuvenate. Information on camping in the Pisgah National
Forest can be obtained at the Ranger Station & Visitors Center on Highway
276.
Other resources for information on camping include:
The Forest Place
100 South Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-4734
Backcountry Outdoors
18 Pisgah Highway
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Phone: 828-884-4262
Looking Glass Outfitters
33 New Hendersonville Highway
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Phone: 828-884-5854
High Mountain Adventures, Inc.
Phone: 828-696-7955
Guided camping tours.
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Summer Camps
The following codes are used to designate the each camp:
- B = Boys’ Camp,
- G = Girls’ Camp, and
- C = Co-Ed Camp.
Brevard Music Center (C)
1000 Probart Street
P. O. Box 312
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-2011
Camp Buc (C)
Sapphire Road
Phone: 828-966-4715
Camp Carolina (B)
P. O. Box 919
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-2414
Camp Chosatonga (B)
2500 Morgan Mill Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-6834
Camp High Rocks (B)
P. O. Box 127
Cedar Mountain, NC 28718
Phone: 828-885-2153
Camp Illahee (G)
P. O. Box 272
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-885-2181
Camp Kahdalea (G)
2500 Morgan Mill Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-6834
Camp Rockbrook (G)
Greenville Highway
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-6151
Camp Winding Gap (C)
Route 1, Box 56
Lake Toxaway, NC 28747
Phone: 828-966-4520
Deep Woods Camp (B)
Route 1, Box 290
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-885-2268
Eagle’s Nest Foundation, Inc. (C)
43 Hart Road
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Phone: 828-877-4349
Green River Preserve (C)
P. O. Box 1000
Cedar Mountain, NC 28712
Summer: 828-885-2250
Winter: 828-324-5832
Gwynn Valley (C)
1080 Island Ford Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-885-2900
Highlander (C)
42 Dalton Road
Mills River, NC 28742
Phone: 828-891-7721
Keystone Camp (G)
P. O. Box 829
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-9125
Merrie-Woode (G)
100 Merde Woode Road
Sapphire, NC 26774
Phone: 828-743-3300
Pisgah Girl Scout Camp (G)
Girl Scout Camp Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-862-4435
Rockbrook Camp for Girls (G)
P. O. Box 792
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-6151
The Wilds Christian Camp (C)
1000 Wilds Ridge Road
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-7811
YMCA Camp Greenville (B)
P. O. Box 390
Cedar Mountain, NC 28718
Phone: 864-836-3291
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Nature & Wildlife
Cradle of Forestry
Highway 276
Pisgah National Forest
Forestry began in the United States over 100 years ago when George Vanderbilt
purchased land for the construction of the Biltmore House and a large game
preserve. He hired Gifford Pinchot, a European-trained forester,
to managed the land on which the house and preserve stood. As a result of
Pinchot’s success, Vanderbilt purchased an additional 100,000 acres (must
be nice!) which became Pisgah
National Forest and was the first tract of managed woodland in the
United States. In 1898, Carl Schenck, Pinchot’s successor, founded
America’s first school of forestry. The Cradle’s visitors center
hosts
programs, ranging from forestry education history to modern natural resource
management. The Biltmore Forest School Campus Trail and the Forest Festival
Trail provide visitors with the opportunity to see an old-style steam-powered
sawmill and one of the few remaining Climax logging locomotives.
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
P. O. Box 1600
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Phone: 828-877-4423
(Daily presentations, group programs, special events)
Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery
Highway 276
Pisgah National Forest
The Pisgah Forest Fish Hatchery raises trout from the egg until they are 9
inches long at which time they are released into local streams and lakes. The
hatchery is open to the public.
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Golf Courses
Photo Courtesy of North Carolina Division of Travel &
Tourism
A variety of excellent, many award-winning golf courses are available in the
area to challenge both the beginning and advanced player. Most are open to
the public on a daily basis, but others are private and may require
special arrangements.
- Connestee Falls
1000 Connestee Trail
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-885-2005
- Located about 7 miles south of Brevard on Highway 276. Open to
residents
and their guests. However, daily green fee play is accepted through the
Inn-Keeper program, in cooperation with area inns and motels.
- Cummings Cove
Phone: 828-891-9412
- Located east on Highway 64, then 2 miles down Cummings Road. A 6,008
yard Scottish-style golf course (lacking sand traps), open to the general
public.
- Deerwoode Fitness Center
Deerwoode Lane
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-862-4705
- A driving range that is open to the public.
- Etowah Valley
P. O. Box 244
Etowah NC 28729
Phone: 828-891-7141
- Located 9 miles east of Brevard on Highway 64. Rated 4 stars by
Golf Digest
magazine. Open to the general public.
- French Broad Golf Center
Phone: 828-687-1500
- Located near the Asheville Regional Airport on Highway 280. One of the
area’s newest golf courses. Open to the general public.
- Glen Cannon
P. O. Box 1155
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-883-8175
- Located three miles from town on Wilson Road. One of Brevard’s
oldest
golf courses, having served the community for over 30 years. Although a
private club, golfers who live outside of Transylvania County may play on a
per day basis.
- Lake Toxaway Country Club
Phone: 828-966-4667
- Located 19 miles west of Brevard on Highway 64. A very challenging
course. Visitors accompanied by club members are welcome, as are guests at Greystone Inn and summer residents who
are renting homes from club members.
- Sapphire Lakes
Phone: 828-966-9202
- Located between Brevard and Cashiers on Highway 64. Ranked among the
top 50 in
Golfweek
magazine’s “Best of the Best.” Sits at an
elevation of 3,200 feet. Open only to members and their guests.
- Sapphire Mountain Golf Club
Phone: 828-743-1174
- Located just beyond Lake Toxaway. A hilly, 6,200 yard, par 70 course
that is open to the general public.
- Sherwood Forest
Highway 276 South
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-7825
- Located 8½ miles south of Brevard on Highway 276. This course
presents some special hazards including a river. Open to the general public.
- Trillium Links
Phone: 828-743-4251/888-909-7171
- Located on Highway 64 just outside Cashiers. As one of the newest in
the area, this course was designed by
PGA
touring professional, Morris Hatalsky,
to conform to the land. The result is 60 to 70 mile views, radical
elevation changes and a rare mountain wetland amid hardwoods and
rhododendrons. Trillium Links property owners receive preferential rates and
tee times, but the course is open to the public.
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Indoor Fun
Bowling
Pisgah Lanes
37 Rosman Highway
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-2695
18 lanes plus a snack bar and game room.
Dancing
Ballroom Dancing
Silvermont Ballroom Dance Club
Silvermont Mansion
Brevard, NC 28712
Practice sessions held each Wednesday night, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Country & Line Dancing
Dance Ranch
Pisgah Forest, NC 28712
Little Sisters
Rosman Highway
Brevard, NC 28712
Square Dancing (Western Style)
Brevard Elementary School
Phone: 828-883-2249/966-4455
Beginners class each fall. Club dances on 2nd and 4th Friday night, 8 p.m. to
10 p.m. Visitors welcome.
Movies
Cinema Paradiso
Dunham Hall
Brevard College
400 N. Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-8209
The Falls Theater
101 W. Main Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-883-2200
Pool/Billiards
The Greens
102 N. Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-883-8584
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Festivals
(Check the Calendar of Events page
for the current dates of the festivals listed here and other
local activities.)
- Appalachian Spring Festival
- Begins on Arbor Day and continues
for one month at the
Cradle of Forestry in the Pisgah National
Forest.
- 4th of July Festival
- An all day celebration in downtown with
food, music, crafts, and antique cars. The day ends with fireworks at dark.
- Festival of the Arts
- A one week series of activities following the
4th of July celebration with.lots of music by local artists and musicians, a
plethora of arts and crafts, and a bounty of food and fun for all.
- Forest Festival Day
- 50+ exhibitors show their crafts in Pisgah National Forest. Held
in early October.
- Halloween Festival
- Come join the activities, see the decorations
and downtown parade.
- Festival of Trees
- An early December initiation of the season.
Everyone is decorated for Christmas. Lots of exhibits and craft shows. The
annual Christmas Parade and Twilight Tour on Main Street held during this
celebration.
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The Arts
Brevard Music Center
Probart Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-2011
This internationally renowned, world-class center for music education and
performance might best be described as the “Tanglewood of the
South.” (If you don’t know what that is, then you won’t
really be interested!) The center is in its sixth decade of bringing fine
music to the citizens of Brevard and Transylvania County as well as to
visitors to the area. Just a few of the noted performers who have taken part
in the center’s past summer festivals include Victor Borge, Tony Bennett,
Marilyn Horne, Isaac Stern, John Denver, and Vladimir Feltsman.
Paul Porter Center for the Performing Arts
Brevard College
400 N. Broad Street
Brevard, NC 28712
Phone: 828-884-2787/884-8330
The college hosts a continuing series of cultural events throughout the year
featuring faculty, students, visiting performers, and artists from the
surrounding area.
There are frequent performances by the Brevard Chamber Orchestra, Brevard
Little Theater, the Montford Park Playhouse, and the area’s Community
Theater.
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