Laurel Park in Henderson County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Rhododendron Lake

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 4, 2024

1. Rhododendron Lake Marker

Inscription. W.A. Smith's evolving vision of Laurel Park included the construction of the 10-acre Rhododendron Lake and beach in 1909. A 30-foot high earthen dam was constructed blocking the stream running down the Cascades from the Reservoir. In addition, The Canal was built to connect with Rainbow Lake. The steam driven Dummy Line railroad was converted to the electric operated Laurel Park Street Railway with an extension from nearby Crystal Spring to Rhododendron Lake. These grand improvements made Laurel Park an extraordinary recreation area, giving visitors and residents of Hendersonville a location for swimming and boating, as well as dining and entertainment at the adjacent Laurel Park Pavilion. In the early 1980's, the earthen dam was deemed unsafe and removed. In 2009, the Town completed the purchase of the lakebed property to restore the natural flow of the stream and to create a nature park now called Rhododendron Lake Park.

Erected 2015 by Laurel Park Civic Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 35° 18.653′ N,

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82° 29.256′ W. Marker is in Laurel Park, North Carolina, in Henderson County. It is at the intersection of Lake Drive and Rustic Drive, on the right when traveling north on Lake Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 Lake Dr, Hendersonville NC 28739, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Mountains and in Greater Asheville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: William Alexander Smith (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); History & Restoration (about 500 feet away); The Canal (approx. 0.2 miles away); Original Water Reservoir and the Cascades

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, February 4, 2024

2. Rhododendron Lake Marker

(approx. 0.3 miles away); The Laurel Park Railroad (approx. 0.3 miles away); Park Heights Tower (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Swiss Railway (approx. 0.3 miles away); Crystal Spring (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laurel Park.

Rhododendron Lake image. Click for full size.

from Everywoman's Magazine via NC Digital Collections (Public Domain), May 1919

3. Rhododendron Lake

from Everywoman's Magazine via NC Digital Collections (Public Domain), May 1919

4. Rhododendron Lake

from Everywoman's Magazine via NC Digital Collections (Public Domain), May 1919

5. Rhododendron Lake

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 12, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 13, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.