A Uniquely Asheville Afternoon
Plan a trip to Historic Grovewood Village for an entertaining glimpse into Asheville’s past, as well as the art and culinary specialties that reflect the city’smodern-day appeal.
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Built in the early 20th century, and encompassing six English-style cottages, the Village once housed the weaving and woodworking operations of Biltmore Industries, which was started with the help of Edith Vanderbilt and for a time was one of the largest handweaving operations in the world. Today it attracts a steady stream of both tourists and local residents.
Check out the itinerary below to help you experience everything this magical destination has to offer.
11:00am – Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum
Duck back in time to the era of wooden steering wheels and polished brass headlamps with a visit to the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum. Open April through December, the museum holds nearly 20 antique and vintage automobiles, including a 1914 Ford Model T Touring Car, a 1922 red American LaFrance Fire Truck (used by the City of Asheville) and a rare 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum was once home to the weaving shop of Biltmore Industries, where 40+ looms would have been in constant operation. Check out the hanging chandeliers, which were originally installed in nearby “Overlook” castle, and look for thoughtful quotes on the ceiling beams intended to serve as inspiration for the workers.
Admission is free, but a $5 donation is welcomed.
11:30am – Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum
Launched in the early 20th century as an education program to teach local men and women how to weave, Biltmore Industries grew to become one of the most respected global producers of handwoven wool cloth.
At its height, Biltmore Industries produced 950 yards of fabric per day, employed up to 100 workers and boasted a very well-heeled roster of customers including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Helen Keller and Eleanor Roosevelt.
At its beginning, Edith Vanderbilt oversaw the operations, interested in building a community of skilled workers in Asheville. But in 1917, a few years after her husband died, she sold Biltmore Industries to Fred Seely, the architect and manager of the Grove Park Inn, and the operation moved to the current site of the Grovewood Village.
Also open April through December, the Homespun Museum offers a charming glimpse into Biltmore Industries at its heyday, showcasing an antique four-harness loom, as well as a collection of letters, photos and other artifacts from its past.
Noon – Grovewood Gallery
This expansive two-story gallery is often referred to as a “hidden gem,” but the secret is definitely out because it’s a bustling destination for both locals and tourists looking for unique gifts and treasures.
You’ll find plenty of hand-crafted pieces for the home, including delicately carved wood furniture, original paintings and sculptures and fanciful home decor. There’s also a wide selection of stunning dinnerware, serving bowls and platters, hand-thrown ceramic mugs and beautiful wooden cutting boards. And don’t forget the jewelry and clothing, often including handmade throws and wraps.
Grovewood Gallery features the work of hundreds of artists and is nationally recognized for its dedication to American arts and crafts. Check out its website for a rotating list of exhibits and live demonstrations.
If you happen to be visiting during the weekends of May 18–19 or September 14–15, check out the Open Studio Art Tours, where the Village’s resident artists open their studios for tours. There’s complimentary wine on those weekends, as well as 10% discounts on merchandise.
1:00pm – Lunch or Brunch at ELDR
The celebrated local restaurant ELDR, located in one of the English-style cottages built for Biltmore Industries, offers lunch, brunch and dinner.
The restaurant opened its doors in 2022, after a renovation that lightened and brightened the space, by local restaurateur Carson Lucci and chef Eric Burleson—the team behind a popular breakfast destination, Over Easy Café, that closed in 2020—as well as partners Heather and Jim Cassidy.
ELDR means “fire” in Old Norse—a word Lucci and Burleson learned while traveling through Scandinavia—and the restaurant offers New American cuisine with seasonal, local ingredients. The lunch menu includes sandwiches, burgers, salads and plenty of artisan pizzas, while the brunch is a stellar sampling of hearty breakfast fare. Dinner gets dressed up with elegant pastas and stunning steak and fish dishes.
PRIVATE TOURS
Grovewood Village Private Tours
These tours are ideal for groups of 10 or more and include an overview of Biltmore Industries and its weaving operations. The tour begins at the Homespun Museum, where guests will watch a 12-minute video, and then concludes at the historic “Dye House,” normally closed to the public, which houses the original looms, mule spinner and dye vats used to make the homespun wool. Tours last about 1 hour and cost $200 for up to 30 people.
Mountaineer Motor Tours
Mountaineer Motor Tours is run by a docent at Estes-Winn Vintage Car Museum and offers private tours from the cool comfort of a 1923 Ford Model T! Learn about the history of Grovewood Village, as well as the broader Grove Park neighborhood and downtown Asheville—with a particular focus on the city’s boom era in the 1920s, as well as its automotive and architectural history.
The Homespun Museum at Historic Grovewood Village.
