Brevard is a city in the Western North Carolina Mountains near Asheville and Hendersonville, North Carolina. It is in Transylvania County, founded in 1862. Transylvania is a combination of trans = across and vania = forest. The county is 50% public lands with Dupont State Forest, Gorges State Park and Pisgah National Forest. Known for its concentration of waterfalls, Tranyslvania County is also known for its music, arts and outdoor recreation. Brevard, the county seat, is the center of commerce and tourism for the region. Brevard College, a 4-year liberal arts institution, is an integral part of the community.
Brevard is 20 mi (32 km) southwest of Exit 40 on I-26 between Hendersonville and Asheville. Exit 40 is also the location of the Ashveille airport. Hwy 280 (4-lanes) goes through Henderson County, across the French Broad River and into Brevard at the entrance to Pisgah National Forest. Other routes include US 276 from Greenville, SC by Caesar's Head and US 64 from Hendersonville on the east and Franklin and Highlands on the west. Brevard is 15 mi (24 km) north of Caesar's Head State Park, SC; 25 mi (40 km) east of Cashiers, NC; 20 mi (32 km) west of Hendersonville, NC; 12 mi (19 km) south of the Cradle of Forestry, 15 mi (24 km) south of the Blue Ridge Parkway; and 25 mi (40 km) southwest of Asheville, NC.
Get in
editGet around
editSee
editWaterfalls are everywhere, with over 200 identified or named.
- The most viewed waterfall in NC is 1 Looking Glass Falls.
- 2 Sliding Rock. About 5 mi (8.0 km) further up US 276 from Looking Glass Falls, is the most visited natural attraction in WNC with thousands of "daredevils" sliding approximately 100 ft (30 m) into an icy mountain pool.
- 3 DuPont State Forest. Features many waterfalls including ones made famous from The Last of the Mohicans and 2012's The Hunger Games.
- 4 Lake Toxaway. The largest private lake in NC, and the Sapphire area are in the western portion of the county.
- 5 Gorges State Park. Features a multi-million dollar facility off of Hwy 281 West of Rosman
Do
edit- 1 Brevard Music Center. Considered one of the premier summer music institutes in the United States, Brevard Music Center hosts 450 high school and college students each summer. Students learn from faculty representing many of the nation's finest college music programs and professional orchestras. Performances nearly every night, June through August, and feature students and faculty with many of the world's leading performers in orchestra and opera.
Buy
editExcellent restaurants abound in a town of this size (7,600 in the 2010 census). Main Street restaurants include: Falls Landing, Mayberry's, Hobnob, Marco Trattori, Jordan Street Cafe, Big Mike's, Phoenix Lounge, Square Root, Kiwi Gelato, Cielito Lindo and Quotations. Others within walking distance of Main street include: Dugan's Pub, Pescados, Sunrise Cafe, Jets Pizza, Rocky's Soda Shop, Pad Thai, New China Restaurant, Julie's Subs, Henry's, Blue Ridge Bakery, Bracken Mountain Bakery, Sunrise Cafe, Cardinal Drive-in and El Ranchero. Other favorites in the area are Twin Dragons Buffet, Sora Japanese Restaurant, Pisgah Fish Camp, Hawg Wild Bar-B-Que, Fuji Yama, Daggie's, Clock of Brevard and the Cardinal Drive-In.
Drink
editBrevard is blessed with abundant great restaurants and bars.
- Brevard Brewery (opened in 2012, is located on Main Street just down from the courthouse). They are open after 2PM daily. Kyle Williams has put together an amazing group of craft beer and his tap room is the best place to taste. The brewery is in the back and a spacious tap room fronts on Main. Frequent live entertainment and a lively crowd make this a must stop when in Brevard. Many local restaurants now serve Brevard Brewery beer on tap.
- 185 King Street (which also their address), is another 2012 addition to the night life of Brevard. Jackson Wine has combined a top notch bar with an excellent music venue. Seating less than a 100 people, musicians rave over the sound quality of the room. is open in the evening.
- Dugans Irish Pub, that's North Broad Street in the French Broad Place (at the bottom of Jailhouse Hill). Combines the best of Irish and American cuisine with an excellent beer menu. They feature over 20 local and national brews including locally brewed Oscar Blues Dale's Pale Ale and Brevard Brewery Dunkil. The bar features multiple screens showing all current sports activities.
- Oskar Blues, opened its East coast brewery in 2012 in Brevard. Originating in Colorado, owner Dale Katechis fell in love with Brevard's mountain biking and music. The brewery features a tap room on the second floor overlooking all of the brewing and canning operations. All Oscar Blues brews are available on tap along with a gift and apparel store. They are generally open afternoons and evening, 7 days a week.
Sleep
edit- Hampton Inn Brevard, 275 Forest Gate Dr, Pisgah Forest (From 280-S, turn right into the Walmart shopping center), ☏ +1-828-883-4800. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.