Tourism begins increasing again after World War II. There was a boom in tourism from about 1888 to 1930, followed by a decrease until post-World War II.
In 1950, there were 16 boarding houses in Henderson County, at least 12 hotels, and at least 13 tourist courts. Tourist courts are what today are called motels. The tourist courts included motel-type establishments, cabins, lodges and cottages. Those outside of the town of Hendersonville are not listed in the “Miller’s Directory;” therefore, the actual number is much higher.
Hotels in Hendersonville were the Bowen Hotel at 201 Fourth Ave. W., the Colonial Inn at 225 Fourth Ave. W., Duncraggan Inn at 1500 Third Ave. W., Hendersonville Inn at 201 Third Ave. W., the Marlborough at 203 and 204 Fourth Avenue, and the Skyland Hotel at 538 N. Main St. Hotels in the town of Laurel Park included Crystal Springs Lodge, Echo Inn and Poplar Lodge on the Laurel Park Highway and the Laurel Park Inn on Lake Shore Drive. Hotels on Osceola Lake in the Valley Hill community included the Lakeside Inn and Osceola Lake Inn and Beach.
Other hotels and inns located outside of Hendersonville are not included in the directory; therefore, the actual number is higher. It is known that some of these included the Mountain Home Inn in the community of Mountain Home; the Beehive Inn in Edneyville, and the Flack Hotel on St. Paul’s Road in Edneyville, the most popular site for country singers and square dancing. There was also a “dude ranch” inn located at the site of the old Salola Inn near Sugarloaf Mountain in the Edneyville/Dana area. There were several inns and tourist courts located in the Bat Cave and Gerton communities, a major tourist area before and after World War II.
As noted under “agriculture,” the Apple Festival began after the war.
During the war and after the war, street dances on Main Street were held with square dancing and folk dancing.
In 1942, Lenox Park on South Whitted Street was given to the city of Hendersonville. The amusement rides at the park had disappeared during the Depression. The city parks, in addition to Lenox Park, were Boyd Park on N. Main Street, Edwards Park on N. Main Street and Toms Park on Allen Street.
There was also Turner Park at 900 Ashe St. for black residents. Parks were also segregated at this time in history.
There was also the Jump-Off Mountain Recreation Center on the Laurel Park Highway in the town of Laurel Park. The lake at Laurel Park was also a popular swimming spot.
The early 1900s city swimming pool at Toms Park had closed. But, there was a swimming pool, Weeping Willow, at 316 N. Washington St.
There were two arcades in town. One was located on Main Street and the other on Fourth Avenue West.
There was a bowling alley at 205 S. Church St. and several riding stables throughout the county.
There were three billiards (pool) halls: Brunswick Billiards at 241 N. Main Street, the Pickwick at 412 N. Main Street and Rhodes Billiards on Ashe Street.
Three movie theaters were located in Henderson County by 1950: Carolina Theatre at 531-533 N. Main St., the State Theatre at 434 N. Main St. and the Hendersonville Drive-In Theatre on the Asheville Highway.
In 1940 the Vagabond Players led by Robroy Farquhar came to Henderson County. The first plays were held at the Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake in Flat Rock. During World War II, the plays ceased. In 1948, the Lake Summit Playhouse opened by the Vagabond Players and Farquhar in the Tuxedo community. It was in 1952, that the theater became known as the Vagabond School of Drama and moved to Flat Rock. It was designated the State Theater of North Carolina in 1961. For more information, visit http://hendersonheritage.com/robroy-and-leona-farquhar/
In 1945 the Elks Camp for Boys opened in the Green River community at the state line. Camp Blue Star opened in 1948 in the Crab Creek community and Camp Tekoa, a Methodist camp, opened in 1949 in the Crab Creek community. For more information on Camp Blue Start, visit http://hendersonheritage.com/camp-blue-star/
It was in 1946 that Carl Sandburg, poet and Lincoln biographer, moved from Illinois to Flat Rock. He purchased the former Rock Hill estate of Confederate leader Christopher G. Memminger from the Ellison Adger Smyth family, who had owned the estate since the early 1900s. Visit http://hendersonheritage.com/balfour/ and http://hendersonheritage.com/flat-rock-2/
The entertainment and recreation category in the 1950 census states that 89 people in Henderson County were employed in these areas that included radio, theater and other businesses. Those persons working in hotels and tourist courts were not listed in a separate category and it is impossible to separate them from other categories in the census.