Local Area
Attractions
The Park at Flat Rock
Located just across the street from Highland Lake Inn & Resort, the Park at Flat Rock offers visitors 66 acres of open green space perfect for walking, biking, running, and other outdoor opportunities. The perimeter trail is about three-quarters completed. Once finished, it will follow the outer boundary of the Park at Flat Rock and provide a 1.5-mile loop through a variety of landscapes. The current loop of completed trail and part of one of the secondary trails totals about 1.3 miles of flat surface (that can be used year round). The trail begins and ends at the parking lot.
The Park is also home to a variety of animals and plants, making the area a naturalist’s dream. There is a great deal of wildlife and plant life to see throughout the Park such as sunflowers, lily pads and ducks.
The next time you stop by Highland Lake Inn & Resort make sure to take a stroll down to the Park at Flat Rock and experience all there is to enjoy.
Flat Rock Playhouse
The State Theatre of North Carolina. Over fifty years of performing comedy, American classics, plays, and musicals. Highland Lake Inn is only 5 minutes from the Playhouse.
Biltmore Estate
The largest privately owned home in America on an 8,000 acre estate with gardens, restaurant, gift shops, and winery. Segway tours are now offered as a unique way to see this beautiful property. The Estate is about 30 minutes from Highland Lake Inn.
Carl Sandburg Home
Carl Sandburg, American Poet, historian, author and lecturer spent the final 22 years of his life at his estate, Connemara. Daily tours. The Carl Sandburg Home is less than 5 minutes away from Highland Lake Inn.
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 496 miles long of beautiful mountains and colorful foliage. The highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway and some of the most beautiful views pass within 15 miles of Highland Lake Inn.
City of Asheville
Asheville is one of those unique cities that has so much to offer that it’s hard to make up your mind about choosing your next adventure! It is a city filled with music and art, history and culture, and enough wilderness and wide open spaces to make any traveler happy. Make sure to visit the Explore Asheville website for all of the latest news and information to help you plan your visit. The site lists Things to Do, Where To Eat, Attractions, Where to Shop, Outdoor Activities and lots more. Asheville is only 25 minutes away and is great day trip from Highland Lake Inn.
Chimney Rock
1,000 acres of beautiful wilderness with trails and vistas that reach 75 miles. Chimney Rock Park hosts special events year round. The park is about a half an hour drive from Highland Lake Inn.
Dupont Forest
DuPont State Forest has more than 10,000 acres of forest, trails, and waterfalls between Hendersonville and Brevard, North Carolina. Eighty miles of roads and trails exist on the forest. This forest is managed for many benefits including watershed protection, protection of unique natural communities and cultural resources, forest management and demonstration, recreation, wildlife, hunting, and fishing. Take time to visit the beautiful Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. It takes about 30 minutes to reach DuPont Forest from Highland Lake Inn.
Explore the Waterfalls of Western NC
The State of North Carolina is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of beautiful waterfalls, located mostly in its mountainous western area. And although many different natural attractions can be found in the Southern Appalachian Mountain region, waterfalls have without a doubt become one of North Carolina’s most treasured outdoor resources.
The Ultimate North Carolina Waterfalls Road Trip
The Waterfalls of DuPont State Recreational Forest
Waterfalls near Asheville – 60 favorites
Golf Courses
How can you pass up playing golf with the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as your backdrop? Our staff at Highland Lake Inn will be happy to arrange golf outings for you. For more information, please contact our Guest Services department by email, guestservices@hlinn.com or call 800-762-1376.
The NC Arboretum
The North Carolina Arboretum focuses on the education, economic development, research, conservation, and garden demonstration with respect to landscape, architecture, and plant sciences. Segway tours of the Arboretum are also available. The Arboretum is a 25 minute drive away. Click here to watch a video and take a look at how learning is a lifelong adventure at the NC Arboretum.
Bullington Gardens
Bullington Gardens, once the nursery of Bob Bullington, is a public botanical garden on 12 acres of rolling land providing hands-on education in horticulture and other sciences to students, youth clubs and adults. These gardens incorporate some of the many unusual mature trees that Mr. Bullington collected and introduced to the area.
Visitors are welcome to visit and enjoy the gardens and facilities.
The Gorge
The Gorge offers a unique and thrilling tree based zipline canopy adventure in the famous Green RIver Gorge in Saluda North Carolina. Located only 15 minutes from Highland Lake Inn this canopy adventure includes vertical descends of 1,100 feet, 3 huge rappels, a sky bridge, and 6,500 feet of ziplines.
Historic Johnson Farm
During the first half of the 20th century, Johnson Farm was a summer boarding house and tourist retreat. Visitors are welcome to walk the grounds, visit with the animals, and enjoy two nature trails and other outdoor exhibits. Picnic tables are available. Guided Tours: A docent is available to conduct tours of the farm house, the boarding house and the barn loft museum at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm year round Tuesday through Friday. The time of an average tour is less than one hour. The Farm is about 15 minutes away.
Henderson County Cheers! Trail
Long known for its orchards, the Hendersonville area is now turning locally grown
apples and grapes into delicious hard ciders and wines. Add to that five craft
breweries serving up their local beer creations, and you’ll find something for every palate on
this new tasting trail.
Brevard Music Center
A spirited deluge of musical artists, teachers, students of all ages, avid audiences and renowned performers from around the world. The Music Center is 30 minutes away.
Shopping
From Little Rainbow Row in Flat Rock, to the quaint shops along Main Street in Hendersonville, there are a lot of shopping options to peak your interest! You are minutes away from shops in Flat Rock, and about 5 minutes from downtown Hendersonville. You can also take a 25 minute drive to downtown Asheville and explore the art galleries and a variety of clothing and antique shops in the Historic Biltmore Village area. Also located in the heart of the Asheville area are the new Asheville Outlets. Asheville Outlets feature over 75 name brand outlet stores and additional stores that are indigenous to the Asheville area. Click here for a flyover video of Downtown Hendersonville, NC and see what awaits your visit.
Hiking
A variety of hiking opportunities abound only a short drive from our property including the breathtaking waterfalls of Dupont State Forest, scenic vistas along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the wonderful panoramas at Jump Off Rock, just outside of Hendersonville and right next door is The Park at Flat Rock. Maps and directions available at the Front Desk.
The Western North Carolina Nature Center
Want a one-of-a-kind adventure where you can really experience the animals of the Southern Appalachians? Visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center – home to over 60 species of animals including river otters, black bear, red wolves and cougars. See why over 120,000 people a year come visit us. From preschoolers to grandparents, from students to professionals, there’s something for everyone at the Nature Center!
800-635-5101