On Robinson Lane, 0.1 miles west of Briarcliff Drive, on the left when traveling west.
Originally built 1837, and reconstructed in 1912 by Mr.
Joseph Kirkland Singeltary, one of the early developers
in Laurel Park. The Robinson family has owned the
house and surrounding property since 1932. The house
is characteristic of mountain . . . — — Map (db m240982) HM
On Laurel Park Highway, 0.4 miles west of Hebron Road, on the left when traveling west.
In 1933, during the depths of the Great Depression, the U.S. Congress
passed the Emergency Conservation Work Act forming the Civilian
Conservation Corp (CCC). The resolution organized and employed
unmarried young men, ages 18-25, to battle . . . — — Map (db m240987) HM
On Crystal Springs Drive at Walnut Loop Road on Crystal Springs Drive.
In the 1890's W.A. Smith began the development of
Laurel Park as a recreational area with Crystal Spring
as the focal point. Visitors came here for many years to
picnic and drink the clear, cold water from this well
known spring. A latticed shed . . . — — Map (db m240988) HM
On Laurel Park Highway at Echo Circle, on the right when traveling north on Laurel Park Highway.
This stone structure, on the crest of Echo Mountain, was originally built
as a summer residence for John H. Patterson of Jacksonville, Florida. It
was purchased in 1925 by Dr. & Mrs. Charles DeGarmo of Coconut
Grove. Due to the financial . . . — — Map (db m240986) HM
Near Lake Drive at Silver Springs Drive, on the right when traveling west.
Pre-1800's habitat adapted to a 10-acre recreational lake in 1909 reverting to a nature park in 2018
In 1909, W.A. Smith, the founder of Laurel Park, built an earthen dam on the north end of this valley converting a native forest into a . . . — — Map (db m240976) HM
Near Laurel Park Highway, 0.1 miles north of Beechwood Circle.
In the mid 1800's, the family of Josiah Davis settled on
Jump Off Mountain. Shortly thereafter Josiah, his wife,
and his son, J.M. (Mountain Man) Davis, used dynamite
and an oxen pulled sled to begin building the road known
today as Davis . . . — — Map (db m240985) HM
On Old Laurel Drive at Westwood Drive, on the right when traveling south on Old Laurel Drive.
In 1888 approval was given for a bond issue, Hendersonville's first, to build a reservoir for a supply of pure water to Main Street. The reservoir, fed by pristine springs in Laurel Park, is nearby. The outflow from this reservoir travels under . . . — — Map (db m240981) HM
On Smith Drive south of Upper Laurel Drive when traveling south.
Early in W.A. Smith's crafting of Laurel Park, a sightseer could trek
up Echo Mountain to an observation tower just above Crystal
Spring. At 2600 feet above sea-level, Park Heights Tower offered an
unobstructed panoramic birds-eye view of the . . . — — Map (db m240980) HM
On Lake Drive at Rustic Drive, on the right when traveling north on Lake Drive.
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, . . . — — Map (db m240977) HM
On Laurel Park Highway at Birchwood Drive, on the right when traveling north on Laurel Park Highway.
Nearby was the site of the Fleetwood
Hotel, a 14-story edifice begun in
1925 and never completed. A
grandiose dream and victim of
the severe real estate downturn
that began in 1926, the steel
skeleton's ghostly frame stood for
a number of . . . — — Map (db m240983) HM
In 1909 “The Canal” was begun by W.A. Smith to connect the new Rhododendron Lake and the existing Rainbow Lake. The canal allowed visitors to Laurel Park to take excursions between the two lakes on gondola type boats. This section of the park . . . — — Map (db m169638) HM
On Canal Drive south of Crystal Spring Drive, on the right when traveling south.
W.A. Smith's improvements to the Park and Amusement Grounds started in
1907 with the construction of a 5,000 square foot modern roller skating rink.
The building's foundation, erected above water level on 8-foot piers, provided
boat houses, . . . — — Map (db m240973) HM
On Canal Drive at Laurel Park Highway, on the right when traveling north on Canal Drive.
In 1903 W.A. Smith obtained a charter for a railroad to transport folks out to
Laurel Park and in 1905 started laying tracks from Main Street out Broad Street
(now 5th Avenue) and then purchased a steam powered locomotive and passenger
car. The . . . — — Map (db m240971) HM
Near Laurel Park Highway, 0.1 miles north of Beechwood Circle.
Nearly 300 years ago the Cherokee Indians would gather each summer at Kanasta,
now known as Connestee. While the braves were busy shaping their war axes
making ready to fight other Indian tribes, one young Cherokee Chieftain found time
to roam . . . — — Map (db m240984) HM
On Canal Drive south of Crystal Spring Drive, on the left when traveling south.
With support of the Hendersonville Board of Trade, the Park and Amusement
Grounds were established in 1903 with the construction of a baseball field,
grandstand, and a 2-story clubhouse to “provide entertainment, interest, and
amusement for the . . . — — Map (db m240972) HM
On Old Laurel Drive at Upper Laurel Drive on Old Laurel Drive.
The granite foundations of Jump Off and Echo Mountains in
Laurel Park conceivably predate the Appalachian Orogeny
hundreds of million years ago. Massive sections of this bedrock
are visible today, breaking the surface at Jump Off Rock, . . . — — Map (db m240978) HM
On Crystal Spring Drive at Canal Drive, on the right when traveling west on Crystal Spring Drive.
Originally built as a clubhouse for the Fairgrounds and Baseball Field, in 1907
W.A. Smith had architect Erle Stillwell prepare remodeling plans “to convert the
building into a modern family hotel.” The lobby of the renovated 20-room hotel
had a . . . — — Map (db m240974) HM
On Smith Drive south of Upper Laurel Drive when traveling south.
In 1909 Laurel Park's founder, W.A. Smith, constructed
another attraction in his nature park, called the Swiss Railway.
This incline railway consisted of two tram like vehicles on
parallel tracks ascending the mountain at a junction of the
Dummy . . . — — Map (db m240979) HM
On Lake Drive north of Silver Springs Drive, on the left when traveling north.
After being admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1876, W.A. Smith
(1853-1922) settled in Hendersonville establishing a successful law practice.
Among his lifetime achievements were mayor, alderman, city attorney, county
attorney, banker, and . . . — — Map (db m240975) HM