| Brevard |  |
 On the cusp of the Pisgah National Forest, Brevard is a town surrounded by nature with a fervent tradition in music. Brevard is the county seat of Transylvania County, which comes from the words “trans,” meaning “across,” and “sylva,” meaning “woods.” About 30,000 citizens occupy Transylvania County – much of which is the Pisgah National Forest – and just over 7,000 live in Brevard.Brevard was named after Dr. Ephraim Brevard, a Revolutionary War colonel and surgeon who drafted the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. A monument to Dr. Brevard stands in front of City Hall. With a thriving downtown that features major chain stores, unique shops and fine restaurants, Brevard is a growing community. About 60 percent of newcomers to Brevard are retirees who long to return to nature and small-town living. Spawned by growth in the area, the Transylvania County Airport opened in the spring of 2000 just five miles east of Brevard. The community celebrates with a number of festivals throughout the year including a Fourth of July celebration on Main Street and a Halloween festival. Additionally, Brevard becomes more populous in the summer, as more than 20 summer camps are located in the area. Brevard is also a college community. Created by merging Rutherford and Weaver colleges in 1934, Brevard College’s roots go back to 1853. Affiliated with the Methodist church, Brevard College is a four-year, private college spread over a 120-acre campus in downtown Brevard. The school enrolls about 660 students and offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in 14 different majors and pre-professional degrees in law, dentistry, medicine and veterinary studies. Brevard’s tradition in music spans seven decades and attracts visitors from throughout the region. For nearly 70 years, the Brevard Music Center has provided young musicians with the opportunity to display and nurture their talents. More than 400 students from 14 years old to post-college perform 80 public concerts, operas and musicals. The young performers also have the opportunity to play with faculty and guest artists. The center is located on the outskirts of Brevard on Probart Street. The Transylvania Community Arts Center on South Caldwell Street features 10 exhibits of local and regional artists. Displays include the works of 34 regional fiber artists as well as photography, clay, paper, wood and mixed media. The center is owned by the Transylvania County Arts Council. At 2,230 feet in elevation, Brevard stands at the entrance to the Pisgah National Forest, an area that includes more than 470 miles of hiking trails, 200 waterfalls and land elevation that ranges between 1,000 and 6,000 feet. The forest also features more than 200 miles of well-marked mountain biking trails that have been hailed as some of the best in the Southeast. Some of the most popular areas of the national forest are within 15 miles of Brevard. Most of these are located right off U.S. 176 in Pisgah National Forest. Plummeting 60 feet, Looking Glass Falls is aptly named for the way the sun reflects off the surface of the cliffs when the water freezes – much like a looking glass or mirror. The area includes roadside viewing and steps down to the falls. Another attraction is the Cradle of Forestry, which has connections to George Vanderbilt. Once part of Vanderbilt’s 125,000-acre estate, the area that now includes Pisgah National Forest was cared for by forest managers that Vanderbilt employed. Today, the 6,500-acre site is established to commemorate early forestry conservation efforts in the United States. The Cradle of Forestry features guided trails to seven historical buildings and offers educational programs for schools. The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education is an educational facility that features aquariums, educational programs and videos, hands-on exhibits, a paved walkway, gardens, trout feeding and viewing and a gift shop. The center is sponsored by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Perhaps the most interesting spot near Brevard is Sliding Rock, a naturally occurring, 60-foot waterslide that plunges into a seven-foot deep pool. Popular on summer days, the cold water is invigorating, and some visitors come even when the temperature cools in the fall. The Davidson River, which flows through Pisgah into the French Broad River near Brevard, is known for its fishing. Trout Unlimited named it one of the Top 100 wild trout streams in the nation. The area also offers opportunities for whitewater rafting, kayaking and tubing, and a campground is located right on the banks of the river. Another outdoor escape is Dupont State Forest, located east of Brevard. The forest occupies more than 10,300 acres in Henderson and Transylvania counties. With waterfalls and 80 miles of roads and trails through the mountain terrain, Dupont State Forest is open year-round for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Fishing and hunting are authorized with a permit. PHOTO COURTESY OF N.C. DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES |
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