Home Care In Hendersonville, NC

Where do you see Hendersonville in 20 years and beyond? You can be a part of the future of Hendersonville by getting involved in Gen H: Hendersonville’s Comprehensive Plan!

About Gen H

The City of Hendersonville is starting to develop a 2045 Comprehensive Plan to establish a long-term vision for sustainable growth and conservation. The Comprehensive Plan is being referred to as Gen H, to encourage the community to think generationally about the future of Hendersonville. This plan will build on the foundation of the existing 2030 plan while updating and expanding the policy framework for the future.

The Gen H Comprehensive Plan will provide guidance and recommendations for the following topics:

Get Involved

Over the next ten months, the City of Hendersonville will be providing a wide range of public engagement opportunities for you to learn more and help us create the Gen H plan.

Step 1: (Now) Enter your email to subscribe to Gen H updates.

Step 2: (August 14 – November 14) Take the Gen H Survey starting August 14. The survey will be available at www.hvlnc.gov/GenH.

Step 3: (August – March) Attend Gen H community input events. Input meetings and open houses will occur at different stages of the plan’s development. This year’s Council Conversations are Gen H Council ‘Comp-versations’ where you have five opportunities to participate in activities and discussions focused on building the Hendersonville of 2045. Meetings and pop-up events will be posted as they are announced at www.hvlnc.gov/GenH.

Step 4: (March – May) See your input incorporated into the draft Gen H plan by City of Hendersonville staff in partnership with Comprehensive Plan Consultants Bolton & Menk. The Gen H plan is expected to be adopted by City Council in the Spring/Summer of 2024.

Your Participation is Important

Every Hendersonville resident, and those who work in or visit Hendersonville, are stakeholders in the development of the Gen H Comprehensive Plan. We want all of Hendersonville to participate and make the process as inclusive and successful as possible.

The success of the Gen H Comprehensive Plan depends on YOU! Visit www.hvlnc.gov/GenH to learn more!

Are you looking for things to do in Hendersonville, NC? Just over the border into North Carolina is the mountaintop town of Hendersonville, NC. There are lots of things to enjoy, but the thing Hendersonville, North Carolina is most famous for is their apple orchards! If you are planning a trip to Hendersonville, we’ve got all the info you’ll need to fill your day with fun, or enjoy a day trip or weekend getaway any time of year.

We Love Adventures in Hendersonville, NC

Pick Apples

Free & Cheap Things to Do

Unique Things to Do

Parks & Playgrounds

Restaurants in Hendersonville

Family-Friendly Breweries & Vineyards

Where to Stay in Hendersonville, NC

Check out our Guide to U-Pick Apple Orchards Near Greenville & Spartanburg for more apple options.

Apple Orchards in Hendersonville, NC

Go apple picking! One of the first signs that cooler weather is on the horizon is people flocking north to Hendersonville and neighboring Flat Rock, to enjoy everything apple! Freshly picked apples, apple cider, apple cider donuts, and my favorite, frozen apple cider. We’ve been to most of them, and you can learn all about each orchard and what it has to offer, below.

Check out some less crowded farm and orchard options in Hendersonville, NC

The huge pumpkin-shaped silo of this farm is hard to miss! You can grab pumpkins of all shapes and sizes here, as well as an apple cider slushie! There are tons of photo opportunities to be had, so bring that camera along! Nix Pumpkin Patch Facebook Page

Apple Valley Model RR ClubCheck out this totally FREE model train museum with indoor and outdoor model train displays. They are open on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Bearfootin’ Bear HuntMay through October, custom-decorated bear statues line the street. In October they get auctioned off to benefit the downtown area and local non-profits.

Carl Sandburg HomeLocated in Flat Rock, this poet’s home is open to the public and free to visit. It is not only a historic site but also a working goat farm. If you are heading to the Carl Sandburg Home, you should sign up for the Kids In Parks incentive program! It’s free and allows kids to earn prizes for spending time outdoors.

Fairy Trail at Bullington GardensThese free-to-visit gardens include a popular fairy-themed garden that is open seasonally.

Team Ecco Aquarium This aquarium is home to aquatic life as well as reptiles. Plan your trip to be there for the Shark and Sting Ray feedings. Admission is under $10 per person.

Mineral And Lapidary MuseumAdmission is free, which is awesome because craking open your own geode is something everyone should get to do, and the free entry makes it more affordable.

Western North Carolina Air Museum

See historic aircraft for free at this former hanger converted to a museum. There are opportunities to climb into aircraft and learn how they fly. Everything is free, and donations are accepted.

Great Parks and Playgrounds: Hendersonville, NC

Jackson Park: Inclusive Playground

The new inclusive playground at Jackson Park is open, and it is truly a place where all kids can play together!

The Park at Flat RockA beautiful park with restrooms, a playground hiking trails, and more.

Jump Off Rock

Beautiful mountain views at the scenic overlook, short hiking trails, and a great place for a picnic.

Check out this local mom’s recommendations of where to eat and how they spend a day in Flat Rock, NC

Appalachian Pinball MuseumVisitors to the museum can play all day for just $12 per person.

Kanuga Bike ParkThis mountain bike park has everything you need to enjoy a unique family outdoor adventure.

Hands On! Children’s MuseumA “hands-on” children’s museum targeted at children ages 10 and under.

Moonshine MountainIf you’re looking for some wintertime fun, Moonshine Mountain has it. Tubing and other fun winter activities will keep your family entertained.

Black Bear Snow TubingDon’t let the name fool you–they have winter and summer tubing! Tubers must be at least 4 years old.

Arabella’s Breakfast and BrunchOne of our family’s favorite breakfast spots in Hendersonville, you’ll enjoy some delicious and unique breakfast options with a little southwestern flare. They also have great coffee and coffee drinks.

HenDoughGo to where all the magic began, the original HenDough location! Did you know, that the nickname for Hendersonville is “Hendo”?

McFarlan BakeryRecommended by readers this nearly centuries-old bakery consistently wins local “best of” awards.

Black Bear Coffee ShopThis great coffee shop offers coffee lovers and diners tons of options. They feature locally made baked goods, plus super fresh salads, soup, sandwiches, breakfast meals, and more. Of course, they also offer a wide array of coffee beverages and teas.

Mike’s Sandwich ShopRight on Main Street, you’ll find this 1950s Soda Shop style restaurant. Here you can grab a great sandwich and enjoy indoors at a table on the sidewalk out front. Mike’s also has classic diner breakfast options, and all your favorite classic soda fountain desserts, malts, floats, shakes and more!

Just a couple minutes from downtown, you’ll find the adorable Southern Streams Coffee House. You’ll feel like you’re off somewhere on a mountain vacation as soon as you pull into the large gravel lot beside this coffee house. You’ve got your pick of indoor and outdoor seating options including a large sunny deck. They offer house-made pastries, breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, salads, and all the coffee and tea drinks you could want.

1628 5th Ave West, Hendersonville

Family-friendly Breweries: Hendersonville, NC

Located in historic Lennox Station, Trailside Brewing Co. offers a wide variety of beer made in-house, as well as wine and non-alcoholic options. Food trucks are frequently on site beside the beautiful beer garden, and the brewery hosts live music and other events regularly.

Here’s our review of Trailside Brewing Co.

In the heart of Downtown Hendersonville lies a former gas station building converted into Hendersonville’s Blue Ridge Beer Garden. This gathering spot features a space for food trucks, open outdoor space with a variety of seating options, a fireplace, covered seating and indoor seating.

You’ll find a very large variety of local beer here at the beer garden, more than I’ve seen most places. And you’ll find extremely friendly service. This is a great spot to hang out, play a board game, and talk.

Hendersonville also offers visitors a great selection of stops to enjoy locally produced wine, beer, and more. You can explore them with the passport program offered by the Hendersonville Visitors Information Center.

The Cheers! Trail Passport may be purchased for $10 at the Visitor Center. Visit at least 12 venues and get your passport stamped to redeem it for your choice of several trail souvenirs and swag.

Choose from a selection of 27 different tasting experiences along the trail.

Tasting experiences include:

Breweries

Vineyards

Hard cideries, and meadery

The Passport is available at the Visitor Center at 201 South Main Street, online, and at the participating vendor locations.

Where to Stay Near Hendersonville, NC

There are some super cute places to stay near Hendersonville, NC!

This map contains Stay22 affiliate links. Kidding Around earns when you book through these links.

Find all our WNC ideas in Kidding Around WNC, our guide to Western North Carolina.

Looking for more places to spend the day with your family? Here’s our list of Day Trip Towns, just a short drive from the Upstate.

HENDERSONVILLE - The O'Charley's located at 65 Highlands Square Drive in the Walmart shopping center plaza has officially closed for good.

The Strategy Group's managing director, Thomas Mulgrew, who handles public relations for O'Charley's, told the Times-News on Nov. 7 the Hendersonville location closed permanently Nov. 6. Mulgrew said he didn't know the exact number of employees at the restaurant.

Mulgrew said W. Craig Barber, O’Charley’s CEO, released a statement about the Hendersonville closing.

More:Hendersonville-area restaurant openings from January-June 2023

“Like many brands in the casual dining space, we have faced unprecedented disruptions to our business over the last few years. Based on a variety of these industry challenges and the current macro-economic environment, we closed this O’Charley’s location as of Nov. 6," Barber said in the statement. "It is always a difficult decision to close a store, but the decision aligns with a variety of actions to ensure we continue to thrive as a brand.

"The O’Charley’s brand is proud to have been the place for great food and good times for more than 50 years and we look forward to continuing this legacy for the next 50."

The Hendersonville location closing comes one year after the O'Charley's located at 2 Kenilworth Knolls closed, Mulgrew said.

More:A new chicken wing restaurant set to open soon in Horse Shoe ... find out what's in store

With the Hendersonville location closing, that leaves just two O'Charley's restaurants in North Carolina (one in Hickory and one in Concord).

Barber said in the statement that the company is working with employees affected by the closing to try to relocate them to another one of the restaurant's locations.

"We are working with these team members now to relocate any to another store if they are able, as well as helping those who may need new employment. We encourage our guests to visit us at any of our other restaurants across the Southeast and Midwest," he said.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at [email protected]. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

The City of Hendersonville is upgrading the Water Shortage Advisory issued on September 28, 2023, to the next stage of water conservation requirements. A Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert has been declared by the City Manager to begin tonight, October 5, 2023, at midnight. The Water Shortage Alert includes a strong request to the community to conserve water. The escalation from Advisory to Alert was prompted by drought conditions and continued lower-than-normal flow levels on the Mills River.

“We are experiencing a drought in our area, and we are urging our customers to be water wise,” said City Manager John Connet. “Our team at Hendersonville Water & Sewer has been diligently monitoring the water levels in the Mills River, and we unfortunately have not received any substantial rain events to replenish the levels in the watershed. We have instituted a Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert to eliminate non-essential water use.”

In a Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert all customers are expected to reduce their water use by employing water use conservation and efficiency measures by 20%. If conditions continue to worsen, the utility has the authority to charge fees to customers who are in violation of the ordinance.

“Our water system and Water Treatment Facility are fully operational, but we are continuing to ask our approximately 80,000 water customers to work with us to conserve water,” said Utilities Director Adam Steurer. “Since we issued a Water Shortage Advisory on September 28th, our treatment facility operators have seen a slight reduction in water use. We appreciate our customers voluntarily taking steps to conserve, however with levels in the watershed continuing to lessen and with no substantial rain in the forecast, the utility has a responsibility to its customers to upgrade to a Water Shortage Alert to ensure that essential water uses can occur without interruption.”

In addition to following the conservation recommendations listed below, the following restrictions apply during a Stage 2A Water Shortage Alert: only irrigating landscapes as needed to insure survival of plants; washing of vehicles is prohibited unless done by a vehicle washing facility that is equipped to recycle water; eliminating all non-commercial pressure washing and the washing down of impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, etc.; halting the filling of swimming pools; and limiting hydrant use other than for fire suppression and public safety uses.

All water customers are strongly requested to conserve water using the following recommendations:

"Our Utility is currently constructing an additional water intake on the French Broad River,” said Utilities Director Adam Steurer. “This project will add a fourth water source and help the system to become more resistant to drought.” The French Broad River intake and pumping station is expected to be completed next summer. Hendersonville City Council and utility leaders have been working toward this $23.5 million dollar project for a number of years to enhance the resiliency of the utility system and lay the foundation for the future.

Other steps water customers can take in addition to the conservation measures listed above are identifying and repairing household water leaks to reduce wasted water and save money in the process. The City offers a service called AquaHawk Alerting for water customers. This free service offers information about water usage, allows customers to receive alerts when usage indicates a leak, and gives more control over household water expenses. Customers can monitor how their water conservation efforts are reflected in their usage totals. Visit www.hvlnc.gov/aquahawk to sign up.

The City’s Stormwater Division offers a rain barrel program where community members can purchase discounted rain barrels to capture rainwater for irrigation. Visit https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/news/city-hendersonville-continues-rain-barrel-program for more information and how to order a rain barrel.

These strongly encouraged conservation measures will remain in effect until either conditions and water levels improve, or a Stage 2B Water Shortage Alert is declared by the City which involves mandatory water use reduction measures.

Additional information about the Water Shortage Alert and conservation tips can be found at www.hvlnc.gov/watershortage.

With the Poplar Drive Fire entering its final stages and now 95% contained according to a news release from the North Carolina Forest Service, the State of Emergency for Henderson County was canceled at noon on Nov. 15.

The fire size remains at 434 acres, the Forest Service said in the release.

"Today firefighters are working on continued fire line reinforcement, while also implementing any rehabilitation and repair needs from heavy equipment affecting the landscape," the release said.

The Forest Service said the Poplar Drive Fire response effort will be transitioning from the N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team to local Forest Service units Nov. 16.

More:Edneyville wildfire now 434 acres, 30% contained, UNC expert gives advice on air quality

With the fire nearly contained, Henderson County Board Chair Rebecca McCall announced the county was canceling the State of Emergency, which was first issued on Nov. 5, the third day of the fire.

"Working closely with our partners at the North Carolina Forest Service we have been able to return our local fire departments to their normal duties, allowing them to focus on their districts," McCall said in the release.

More:Hendersonville vineyard owner describes Poplar Drive Fire, community response

The cancellation of the State of Emergency does not affect the status of the local or state ban on open burning, the release said.

"Henderson County remains in a high danger level for wildfires, while the rain received late last week provided some relief we still have a considerable amount of risk resulting from any open burning," Henderson County Fire Marshal Kevin Waldrup said in the release.

The duration and complexity of the Poplar Drive Fire strained local resources requiring assistance from across the state.

“For years Henderson County has benefitted from strong partnerships across the state of North Carolina,” said Henderson County Manager John Mitchell. “The teamwork and cooperation with the North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Emergency Management, North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal and fire departments from across the state have been critical to the successful management of this fire. I join the fire marshal and our partner agencies in asking all citizens in the county to help our firefighters by continuing to abide by the burn ban.”

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at [email protected]. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.