Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce 201 East State Street, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711 828-669-2300, 1-800-669-2301 Established in 1893 as a summer resort once known as Grey Eagle, Black Mountain bills itself as the "Front Porch of Western North Carolina." It was once the site of the avant-garde Black Mountain College, which operated here from 1933 until 1956. Instructors included poet Charles Olson, composer John Cage, choreographer Merce Cunningham and artist Robert Rauschenberg.
Today, Black Mountain is home to the world's largest concentration of religious retreats, including Montreat, Blue Ridge Assembly and Ridgecrest. Antique lovers will have a field day strolling along Cherry Street, which contains a variety of quaint antique shops, craft stores, art galleries and bookstores. The Old Depot is now an arts and crafts gallery. Don't miss the Swannanoa Valley Museum, which features interesting exhibits about the area's rich history. Black Mountain is located 15 miles East of Asheville. Take Exit 64 off of I-40. For more information about Black Mountain, visit www.blackmountain.org.
