A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

This beautiful spring weather makes it easy to get out and train for our virtual Run for Justice 5K which kicks off next month!  Register today to participate anytime between May 29th through June 12th on a route of your choice and then join us for our awards ceremony June 12th!  Everyone who registers by April 30 will receive a Run for Justice t-shirt.

Three ways to sign up

1. Register for $25 per participant  (you can add a donation to support Pisgah Legal if desired)
2. Peer to Peer Fundraising:  Invite your friends and family to donate $1,$5 or more for each kilometer you walk or run.
3. Be a Sponsor:  Sponsor as an individual, a couple, a group or a business. Sponsors receive race entries, t-shirts and recognition. (Find out more about sponsor benefits here)

Check out our registration page for more details, a fun explainer video and FAQs.

Ride in style on the historic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad aboard your very own restored Caboose. These are great for family reunions, birthday parties, private meetings, corporate field trips or just any time!

Our cabooses accommodate up to 15 people with seating on the main level and in the cupola. (And, remember, babies are people, too!) The cabooses feature heat, private bathrooms, windows that can be opened, and open air vestibules at each end for unobstructed views. Advanced reservations are required and availability of caboose rentals are limited.

A platter of cheese and crackers, and an assortment of 15 bottled Coca-Cola products are included. Plus, the caboose is the only place where you can bring your own food and drink (please, no alcohol) in picnic baskets or coolers.

You can charter the caboose on:

• Nantahala Gorge
• Tuckasegee River

Best value for small groups and private parties up to 15 passengers. Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.

Rafting

Enjoy this trip combining the Great Smoky Mountains Railroads trip with the Waterfall Jeep® tour. You’ll begin your trip in Bryson City, NC, with a 2 hour (approximate) railroad excursion over Fontana Lake and into the Nantahala Gorge. As you travel on the train, watch paddlers challenge the rapids. At the top of the line, disembark from the train and climb aboard Wildwater’s customized Jeep® for a 2-hour (approximate) personal exploration up the mountain, past waterfalls and lakes, up to the Appalachian Trail and back. A delicious deli lunch is included.

Available by phone only. Book now by calling 800-872-4681.

* Children 40 – 80 lbs. are required to sit in the front passenger seat with the airbag disengaged using a child booster seat. Children 80 lbs. or greater will sit in the back using a lap seat belt. If there is more than one child in the 40 – 80 lb. range, the second child will sit in the back using a lap belt.

The construction of the Mountain Division of the Western North Carolina Railroad is widely considered one of the greatest human accomplishments in regards to both engineering and construction ever undertaken at the time it occurred. The project took place over a period of several years in the late 1800s. Many people are aware that the railroad provided the first dependable access to and from much of Western North Carolina for the rest of the state as well as much of the nation. Many also know the names of some of those who were instrumental in seeing through the completion of this ambitious project. Names such as Colonel Alexander Boyd Andrews, of Andrews’ Geyser fame. However, what most people are unaware of is that at least 95% of the labor which built the railroad across the Blue Ridge Escarpment was completed by inmates from the North Carolina State Penitentiary… and approximately 98% of those inmates were African American men… the majority of whom were unjustly imprisoned…

This project was created to share the true story behind this human endeavor and to honor the memory of those who labored and those who died here.

Western North Carolina has a rich assortment of county historical societies, archives, and museums. The Western North Carolina Historical Association seeks to help researchers, historians, genealogists, and the general public take full advantage of these resources.

SUPPORT THE MUSEUM We’re kicking off our Spring Annual Fund Campaign! With your help, we’ve been able to do some amazing things this past year, from hosting major traveling exhibitions like Across the Atlantic to delivering 1,600 Art Kits for Kids to local students and fostering in-depth conversations about art and artists through virtual programs. Your gift to the Annual Fund supports all of this and more.

Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” will reside in Antler Hill Village. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. The visual appeal of these large-scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures.

Tarzan Train

The One Act Festival is scheduled for June 11-26, 2021. Submissions are free and open to all local playwrights with plays 5-15 minutes long!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

• Please limit your cast to a maximum of six actors

• Scripts with minimal set, costume and prop requirements are preferred

• We are not considering Theatre for Young Audiences at this time

• We will not accept Screenplays or Musicals at this time

The Magnetic Theatre tends to produce plays that have not received major/recent productions in the Asheville area. We respond primarily to plays with a sure command of language, that are accessible to a diverse and discerning audience, and clear dramatic action that truly uses the resources of live theater.

If you wish to submit a play for consideration, please include a complete manuscript, bio, resume, and any other supporting materials (e.g. reviews) that might help pique our interest in you and your work.

This Divided Land is a video produced by our friends at Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity (AAHH). They discovered a racial covenant in the deed of an AAHH property, and documented how they took steps to address it, with assistance from Pisgah Legal staff attorney, Parker Smith. Here’s how AAHH describes the video: The home is the primary way Americans build wealth, but laws and systems have kept people of color- especially Black Americans- from accessing homeownership. Nationally and here in Asheville, white homeownership rates are significantly higher than people of color, and the racial wealth gap is as wide as it was in 1968 when the Fair Housing Act was passed.

After discovering a racial covenant in a deed of a South Asheville property AAHH developed for affordable housing, they decided to delve deeper and learn more about the history of discriminatory housing practices, how they shaped our city, and how practices like these contributed to current day racial disparities. The result is this 18 minute film, This Divided Land, featuring local partners including Pisgah Legal Services.

Join us for this virtual tour of three wonderful Asheville homes!  The tour link will be sent to you to watch at your convenience.  Thank you for your support of the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County and our work in the community!

The Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina (WNC Arts) was established in 1980s as a peer support group for arts councils and agencies in WNC. This group is now working to expand their advocacy support for the arts in WNC.