Whatever your acquaintance with Western North Carolina, you will discover within these pages a trove of regional treasures. Newcomers, longtime residents, natives and visitors alike will delight in the many highlights of this alluring corner of the Great Smoky Mountains, in one of our country’s most breathtaking, celebrated areas. With a warm, insightful style, Ruscin takes you on a journey to the early nineteenth century, when the city of Hendersonville and the village of Flat Rock were beginning to blossom in their roles as beloved North Carolina destinations. Meet the founding fathers and their descendants. Explore historic homes and churches. Discover the fascinating details of Henderson County’s stately courthouse and Hendersonville’s train depot, and tour a farmstead in the heart of the county. Then, return to the present with stunning photography and revel in all that the region offers today–from Hendersonville and Flat Rock to nearby mountain villages like Saluda, Brevard an