| Waynesville |  |
 At the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the town of Waynesville is quickly becoming a hot spot for nature lovers. With countless opportunities for hiking, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing and skiing, Waynesville is only 30 miles from Asheville by way of I-40.Eighteen peaks surpass 6,000 feet in Haywood County. One of these is Cold Mountain, made popular by Charles Frazier’s book and the recent movie. Part of the Pisgah National Forest, Cold Mountain reaches 6,030 feet and can be easily viewed from the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 411.8. The area around Cold Mountain remains relatively untouched by civilization. Hikers can climb the 2,800 feet from the Daniel Boone Scout Camp to the summit, but the last mile and a half is extremely challenging and only recommended for experienced hikers. When Haywood County broke off from Buncombe County in 1808, Waynesville was established as the county seat. Originally called Mount Prospect, Waynesville was named after Revolutionary War hero General “Mad Anthony” Wayne. Today, nearly 10,000 people call Waynesville home. A small-town atmosphere with a strong connection to the arts makes Waynesville particularly appealing. Its old-fashioned Main Street is lined with art galleries, coffee shops, bakeries and specialty stores. The median house value of about $162,900. In Where to Retire magazine’s list of America’s 100 Best Places to Retire, Waynesville was called a “low-cost Eden,” the best main street town and best mountain town. One of the greatest contributors to Waynesville’s appeal is the Haywood County Arts Council, which sponsors music, art and theatre productions in addition to arts events throughout the year. By enhancing the lives of its citizens by promoting the arts, the council ensures that Waynesville remains a center for artistic expression. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Shelton House was built in 1875. Its museum of North Carolina Handicrafts features 19th century crafts and furniture in addition to Native American artifacts and displays from the North Carolina State Fair’s Village of Yesterday. In 1997, Shelton House became home to one of the strongest theatre companies in the region. Established in 1984, the Haywood Arts Repertory Theatre (HART) performed at the Strand Theatre on Main Street in downtown Waynesville until building codes forced it to relocate. Dedicated to its arts program, the community managed to raise $500,000 to construct a new facility: the Performing Arts Center at Shelton House. Now referred to as the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre, HART is the most active theatre company in the region, putting on five main-stage plays, two musicals and six studio theatre productions each season. Waynesville’s artistic appeal also involves the visual arts. A number of galleries are lined up on Waynesville’s Main Street, also referred to as “gallery row.” One of the most popular galleries in Waynesville is Twigs & Leaves. Since opening in 1998 with 1,200 square feet and showcasing the works of 40 artists, Twigs & Leaves has grown to occupy 2,000 square feet and features 150 exhibitors with works in glass, ceramics, fiber, wood, metal, jewelry, painting, photography and sculpture. For two weeks in July, the North Carolina International Folk Festival (also known as Folkmoot) in Waynesville welcomes more than 350 dancers and musicians from a dozen different countries to celebrate the world’s cultural heritage. In its 22nd year in 2005, the International Folk Festival has previously featured guests from Italy, Israel, Spain, Norway, Russia, Uzbekistan and Egypt. The festival is held at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. North of Waynesville, Lake Junaluska is a 200-acre lake surrounded by more than 1,200 acres of rolling hills and valleys covered with trees and wildflowers. A community of private homes is located around Lake Junaluska, and the area is home to the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, the headquarters of the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church. Just one hour west of Asheville adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee Indian Reservation offers opportunities to explore Cherokee culture – past and present. With more than 13,000 enrolled members, the reservation features a recreated vision of a 1750s Cherokee village, a newly renovated museum and 200-foot Mingo Falls. Outdoor enthusiasts can go mountain biking, tubing or trout fishing, and others can place their bets at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. About 10 miles west of Waynesville on U.S.19, the resort area of Maggie Valley offers opportunities for skiing and snow tubing in the winter as well as rafting, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and horseback riding. PHOTO COURTESY OF HAYWOOD COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY |
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