What's New in (and around) Asheville for 2009
Also see: Top 10 Mancations | Top 20 Romantic Outings | Top 10 Art Outings | Top 10 Girlfriend Getaways
This is much to be excited about this year with even more to enjoy by visitors to the Asheville area in the North Carolina mountains. Here are our top choices for what's new in Asheville for 2009:

New Observation Deck atop Mt. Mitchell
Mt. Mitchell: For the past two years, the summit of Mt. Mitchell has been closed due to construction of a new observation deck. The new deck opened in January and provides easy access to the highest peak east of the Rockies. Drive to a large parking area near the summit, and take a paved trail to the deck for 360-degree views. See the views from Mt.Mitchell's summit!
 
Gorges State ParkGorges State Park: This "new" park will reopen its main parking area this Spring, complete with a new connector trail for easy access to the beautiful waterfalls of the Horsepasture River. Rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species in the eastern United States are found within Gorges State Park, just 57 miles from Asheville. An elevation that rises 2,000 feet in only four miles, combined with rainfall in excess of 80 inches per year, create a temperate rain forest and supports a collection of waterfalls, including the impressive Rainbow Falls.
 

Craggy GardensBlue Ridge Parkway Reopens: After being closed for more than a year for repairs, the section of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Craggy Gardens will reopen by May. This area of the Parkway features breathtaking vistas from 5,000+ feet in elevation and is a popular route from Asheville to Mt. Mitchell. The Craggy Gardens Visitor Center will reopen for the summer. Enjoy the crisp air, summer rhododendron, and easy to moderate hiking trails.

Blue Ridge Parkway 75th: Help begin the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the most visited unit of the National Park Service system, starting in October 2009 and continuing through 2010 with many special events.

 
Biltmore HouseBiltmore Estate: Guests touring America's largest home will have four more rooms to see! The Louis XV Suite will open to the public for the first time on April 4. Having been restored to their original splendor, the suite of rooms – The Damask Room, The Claude Room, The Tyrolean Chimney Room and The Louis XV Room – is Biltmore Estate’s first opportunity to fully portray Biltmore House as a family home and the Vanderbilts as parents. Biltmore’s Museum Services staff has spent years researching and planning for this restoration.
 
Park Square ParkDowntown Park: The much anticipated opening of Pack Square Park will happen in stages this year. This 6.5-acre park in Asheville's historic central square downtown has been undergoing a major renovation since 2005. The historic Pack Square is scheduled to be finished by the end of April 2009. The remainder of the park – Reuter Terrace and Roger McGuire Green – will be completed by the end of 2009. A park pavilion should be completed in 2010.
 
Elk in CataloocheeSmokies 75th: Join in the 75th birthday celebration of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during 2009 with a wide array of activities and events in the park and in neighboring communities. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is teaming up with its partners, Friends of the Smokies and Great Smoky Mountains Association, as well as the gateway communities in North Carolina and Tennessee to celebrate. Four entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are within 60 miles from downtown Asheville: Cataloochee Valley and Oconaluftee, Balsam Mountain and Big Creek.
 
HATCHfestHATCHfest: Asheville HATCHfest will launch its inaugural creative artists festival April 15-19, 2009, with events being held in prime downtown locations with film screenings, concerts and exhibits from groundbreaking artists from around the world. The magic of HATCHfest comes to life when this unique community of creative minds from many disciplines including film, music, journalism, architecture, photography, graphic design, fashion design, technology, performing art and fine art engage in the spirit of mentoring, networking and play.
 
NC Birding TrailNC Birding Trail: The North Carolina Birding Trail will complete its guide for Western North Carolina in the summer of 2009 with 105 sites approved for this region of the Trail. The NC Birding Trail is a partnership project to establish a driving trail linking great birding sites across the state. See our Birding Guide for Asheville.
 

Point Lookout Greenway Bike Trail: The best paved bike greenway in the Asheville area just opened. Point Lookout Trail is a 3.6-mile paved biking/walking path surrounded by Pisgah National Forest. It was formerly part of Old US Highway 70, winding through the woods with serene views of the mountains, railroad and forest. While the trail is only 3.6 miles one way, it climbs 900 feet in elevation from Old Fort to Ridgecrest (near Black Mountain). See our Point Lookout Greenway Trail Guide.

 
Grand Bohemian HotelGrand Bohemian Hotel: This hotel in the Biltmore Village near the entrance to Biltmore Estate opens in March with an authentic Old-World, rustic ambiance. This Tudor inspired boutique hotel, masterfully blended with all of the modern luxuries synonymous with a contemporary Kessler Collection hotel experience, features 104 guestrooms and suites, the Red Stag Grill, Poseidon Spa and a gallery. See our Asheville hotels guide.
 
Brookstone LodgeBrookstone Lodge: This new locally-owned hotel opens near Biltmore Estate in April 2009, resembling a mountain lodge. Some of their amenities will include a complementary deluxe continental breakfast, indoor pool and hot tub. See our Asheville hotels guide.
 
Hilton at Biltmore ParkHilton Hotel: This 165-room Hilton will be the flagship hotel of Biltmore Park Town Square in South Asheville. Opening in August 2009, this "green" LEED-certified hotel will be among the first hotels in the country to install a solar hot water system that will provide the hotel with over 2,000 gallons of hot water a day. Hotel amenities include an ultra modern fitness center, a full-service restaurant, lobby bar, and Sparrow Spa. See our Asheville hotels guide.
 
Hotel IndigoHotel Indigo is a new boutique hotel situated on the edge of downtown where the former Chamber of Commerce building sat. It can’t be missed towering over the highway 240 while currently under construction. The "artsy and eclectic" building will open late in 2009 with 100 hotel rooms and 12 condominium units. Hotel Indigo is a relatively new brand of InterContinental Hotels Group. See our Asheville hotels guide.
 
Asheville Mural ProjectLexington Gateway Mural: See this new art creation in downtown Asheville, on the support piers of the Interstate 240 Bridge over Broadway and Lexington, is part of the Asheville Mural Project. While walking around downtown, stroll down Lexington Avenue to see the vibrant colors and depictions of life in Western North Carolina. Much of the mural is completed, and the final sections will be completed in 2009.
 
REI at Biltmore ParkBiltmore Park: A new spot for shopping, dining and movies in Asheville is Biltmore Park, an urban village quaint "downtown" with national retailers like REI (opened in January) and Barnes and Noble (opens in August). A new 15-screen movie theatre features the only stadium seating in town.
 
Asheville condoDowntown Living: Many new downtown Asheville condos are being completed for 2009. Now is a great time to buy! There is an amazing array of architectural choices and diverse living styles; ranging from remodeled historic buildings to cool new contemporary structures. Read more about Downtown Asheville condos.
 

Airport Enhancements: The Asheville Regional Airport just completed $17.8 million in improvements to its terminal, including renovations and additions that added a staffed guest services desk, second baggage carousel, fifth rental car desk and reconfigured office space behind ticket counters. Added boarding ramps keep passengers using ground-level gates out of the weather. Plus, lower rates for flights arrived for 2009, making flying into the tiny Asheville more competitive in price. Read more about the Asheville Airport.
 
Fly Fishing Trail: North Carolina’s mountains have long been a haven for fly fishing enthusiasts. Now they’re also home to the first officially-designated fly fishing trail in the U.S., featuring some of the best trout waters in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is located in Jackson County, about 45 miles west of Asheville. The trail encompasses 15 prime spots for catching brook, brown and rainbow trout, and includes portions of four rivers. See our Fishing Guide for more.
 

Also see: DIY Blog Cabin 2009 Near Asheville Will Be Given Away

Washington Post: Asheville NC Has a Song at Its Heart
     

 

    

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