An eye on the mountains: The county has so much to offer, and Llamas are an added bonus
“Wow, would you look at that!”
I find myself saying that a lot these days as I drive around Henderson County. As the Community Outreach Coordinator for Henderson County Tourism Authority, I spend a good amount of time on the road, checking in with our partners. I am blown away by the sheer grit and determination of people here.
Many opened businesses during the peak of the pandemic and others not only made it through but found a way to thrive. Apple growers, having survived a very disappointing crop last year due to a late spring freeze, found a way to change things up and grow their business.
Ellaberry Llama Farm was opened to the public in the summer of 2021 by the Justice family, long time apple growers. The addition of the llamas as an attraction offers an opportunity for the public to meet the animals, enjoy a hike or learn how to care for them – all that has added another revenue stream for the family and has brought joy to the community. I hate that I missed the chance to “Kiss a Llama” during their recent blood donation drive .
The Riveter, an adventure fitness facility, opened in February of 2020. If you haven’t been there to see the place you are missing out. The Riveter is the vision of Elizabeth Jackson and has 16,000 square feet of climbing gym, a covered bike park and a massive set of outdoor lines, yoga classes, fitness studio and retail, and when you’re done taking part in all the activities you can enjoy a beverage at the Libation Station. There is nothing else like it.
Throughout the county, many stunning accommodations are being built and existing ones are being added on to. Skylaranna, a boutique hotel that is quickly becoming a full-on resort has the existing rooms in the inn, and a restaurant, while additional cabins, an amphitheater and a tap room are all in the midst of construction.
The Horse Shoe Farm is a one-of-a-kind place. Besides its beautiful setting, the staff there is wonderful and work hard to curate just the right experiences for you while you stay. A spa treatment perhaps? Maybe some time meditating in the Silo?
Just a few weeks ago the farm played host to the James Beard Award nominees from the Carolinas (an award that recognizes exceptional talent and achievement in the culinary arts, hospitality, media and the broader food system). All who attended were overwhelmed and did not realize what a treasure Henderson County is. The chefs were inspired by the bucolic setting and were glad to have this food-filled retreat in such a remote feeling location.
Want to grab an adult beverage while watching some Beefalo graze? We now have that too. Packa’s Place, a working beefalo farm since the 1800’s, opened “The BARn” in the summer of 2021. It is a wonderful outdoor beer garden that offers local craft beer, wines and local ciders. A fun place for the family, it offers games, live music and a soon-to-be permanent food truck. The owners are also putting the finishing touches on an indoor space for cold and inclement weather and are excited for the coming Ecusta Trail, which is just steps from their property.
And since we’re on the subject of the Ecusta Trail, there is so much growth associated with that as well. This rails-to-trails program has been 16 years in the making and is finally becoming a reality. Already, entrepreneurs have begun to plan for ways to take advantage of their proximity to the bike/walking trail that will run from Hendersonville to Brevard.
Horse Shoe Gap Village is a small village of five local artisans and businesses including a glass blower, jeweler, antique shop, multimedia artist and a coffee shop that is just a short walk off the soon-to-be trail. The place is adorable and looks like a town from the old west. The village is already a wonderful place to learn, shop and grab a coffee.
Truly, there is not enough space here to tell you about all the hard work that is going on all over Henderson County. Needless to say, Henderson County business owners are committing a good deal of money on these projects. I take that to mean that for years to come, Hendersonville will continue to be a safe bet for visitors who are looking for a fantastic destination.
At the most recent annual tourism conference, hosted by Henderson County Tourism in January 2022, the theme of the day was “Rough weather makes strong timber.” All of us who call Henderson County home have made it through some very rough weather together. In the tourism industry, that is because of the strength of our partners, who have helped Hendersonville to become an even more amazing place to live and work.
We in the tourism industry, and especially at the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority, hope visitors to the area can sense that, appreciate it and care for it as much as we do.
And if I seem enthusiastic, it’s because I am. I have such a great community to reach out to and if you want to show off what is new and exciting in your business, reach out to me at outreach@visithendersonvillenc.org and I will come visit you too .Until the next time, I’ll be keeping “An Eye on the Mountains.”
Julie Hayes is the Community Outreach Coordinator with the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Henderson County Tourism: An eye on the mountains and the added bonus of llamas
