Apples, Pumpkins & Wine in Hendersonville, NC
- Ingrid Lemme
- Aug 13
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Escape from Paradise with Ingrid Lemme-Chalut
When the Blue Ridge Turns to Gold: Apples, Pumpkins & Wine
in Hendersonville, NC
As featured in the upcoming September issue of The Montauk Sun, in print from Montauk, and The Hamptons, to Manhattan and on line at MontaukSun.com -- Edited by John Lomitola
It was one of those soft Carolina afternoons when the mountains wore a veil of mist and the air smelled faintly of rain. We turned into the long, tree-lined drive of The Horse Shoe Farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina, passing white-fenced pastures and barns that spoke quietly of the property’s equestrian past.
The plan was to check in later, but for now, we simply parked, left our bags in the car, and waited for our ride. Right on cue, Ann Young — Hendersonville native and owner of The Regal Ride — arrived in her sleek Mercedes Sprinter. With the warmest smile and a burst of color in her outfit, she waved us aboard. Just like that, our adventure began before we had even stepped inside our cottage.
The Regal Ride and Ecusta Market & Café
Our first stop was Ecusta Market & Café, a casual yet stylish spot where locally sourced ingredients take center stage. The three of us shared a light lunch, chatting easily over steaming mugs of tea while the air carried the comforting scent of fresh-baked goods. We met the owner, who proudly told us about the adjacent Ecusta Trail — a newly opened six-mile recreational path already drawing walkers, cyclists, and nature lovers from near and far. It was the perfect fuel — and inspiration — for the afternoon ahead. ecustamarketandcafe.com
Point Lookout Vineyards
Ann’s itinerary continued with a scenic drive up to Point Lookout Vineyards, perched nearly 3,000 feet above the valley floor. Even under an overcast sky, the views rolled endlessly toward the horizon. Marcus sampled a flight of their award-winning wines while I breathed in the cool mountain air and let my eyes wander over the rustic tasting hall, its great windows framing those forever views. pointlookoutvineyards.com
The Marked Tree Vineyard
At Marked Tree Vineyard, co-owner Tim Parks greeted us with a tour of his chic tasting rooms before introducing us to his winemaker and assistant. This was wine tasting with personality — easy conversation, inside stories of the craft, and a genuine passion that infused every pour. Marcus compared notes with them over vintages while I found myself captivated by their enthusiasm and the way the sweeping vineyard views seemed to follow us from room to room. markedtreevineyard.com
By late afternoon, Ann’s route led us through miles of apple farms — soon to be heavy with the colors and scents of fall — before delivering us back to The Horse Shoe Farm. theregalride.com
The Pond Cottage at the Horse Shoe Farm
Our home for the stay, Pond Cottage – Cardinal Suite 1, was the kind of place that makes you exhale the moment you step inside. Rustic beams met refined finishes: a king bed dressed in luxurious linens, a spa-like bathroom with a deep soaking tub, and a private deck overlooking the glassy stillness of Willow Pond. One wall was anchored by a dramatic, dreamlike equine painting mounted on a sliding barn door — a nod to the farm’s heritage that felt both bold and poetic.
Dinner at the Silo Cookhouse
Dinner at The Silo Cookhouse set the tone for our stay. Under the guidance of Executive Chef Brett Suess and the attentive F&B Director Edward Reese, the evening unfolded like a dinner party in a country estate. We began with a bright spirit salad and a smoked trout pâté so silky it seemed almost unreal, followed by roast chicken — the kind you remember long after the plate is cleared. Dessert was a strawberry-rhubarb napoleon, a creation of Pastry Chef Kyle McAlee, whose house-made breads and jams have become farm legends.
Breakfast at the Silo Cookhouse
After a peaceful night, morning drew us back to The Silo, where cheerful waiter Charles greeted us as though we were already part of the family.
My plate arrived heaped with golden fingerling potatoes, farm-fresh eggs, and perfectly crisp bacon. The biscuits came warm from the oven, their crusty tops giving way to tender interiors — just waiting for a generous swipe of silky, house-cultured butter.
McConnell Farms
Before heading downtown, we made a sweet detour to McConnell Farms, one of 13 stops on the Hendersonville Ice Cream Trail. Founder Danny McConnell himself greeted us, sharing stories as we sampled his small-batch creations, each churned from the fruits, berries, and figs grown right there. Every spoonful tasted of summer distilled. mcconnells-farm.com
Downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina
Downtown Hendersonville revealed itself like a vintage postcard — elegant early-20th-century brick buildings, their cornices and arched windows lovingly restored. The historic courthouse stood sentinel at the center, its clock tower marking time since 1905.
Seasonal flowers spilled from window boxes, church bells chimed on the hour, and whimsical bear sculptures stood guard on street corners. We browsed the Mast General Store, where barrels of old-fashioned candies sat beside shelves of regional goods, then stepped into a historic drug store where the original soda fountain still frothed milkshakes and phosphates. visithendersonvillenc.org
The Book & Bee Café and Tea
Lunch at The Book & Bee Café and Tea was a romantic interlude. Just minutes from the farm, it was as though we’d stepped into a Jane Austen chapter — lace-draped tables, wisteria overhead, and walls lined with books.
My roasted red pepper soup was velvety perfection; our tea arrived in delicate china pots, with crystalline brown sugar lumps that caught the light. The café, lovingly run by a mother-daughter team, felt like a place where time might just slow down if you wished it hard enough. thebookandbee.com
The Horse Shoe Farm
By mid-afternoon, we returned to the farm for a tour with Rachel Turchin, whose husband Jordan manages the property. She led us to the stables, introduced us to the horses and goats, and showed us the art gallery, game room, and mountain-view pool. Since the Turchin family’s purchase in 2017, every corner had been reimagined — pastures reborn as guest spaces, barns transformed into sanctuaries.
The Stable Spa
At four o’clock, I slipped into The Stable Spa, where heavy swag curtains replaced barn doors and the air was laced with cedar and essential oils. My therapist, Logan Boothe, trained at the Sedona School of Massage, worked with a serene precision that dissolved time itself.
Dinner at SHINE
Dinner that night took us into the heart of town to SHINE, a vibrant, multi-level restaurant where the energy in the open kitchen was as rich as the food on our plates. From our vantage at the chef’s table, we watched Chef de Cuisine Carlos Hernandez and his team move like a dance — searing, plating, garnishing in perfect rhythm. I had shrimp over South Carolina grits; Marcus savored Mongolian beef with kimchi. Both were bold, layered, and deeply comforting. shinehvl.com
A last Breakfast at the Silo
Our final morning dawned cool and golden. We lingered by the fireplace at The Silo Cookhouse, biscuits still warm from the oven, their crusty tops yielding to soft, tender centers, and rhubarb jam so exquisite I could have eaten it by the spoonful.
Jump Off Rock
Bags packed, we met our friend Craig Distl for one last foray. First stop: Jump Off Rock, where the Blue Ridge Mountains spilled away in rippling folds. We stood in companionable silence, letting the view etch itself into memory.
Hendersonville Visitor Center
Back in town, we visited the Hendersonville Visitor Center and met deputy tourism director Debi Smith, whose love for her hometown was as bright as the autumn light. visithendersonvillenc.org
Grandad’s Apples ’n Such
Then it was on to Grandad’s Apples ’n Such, where the scent of cider and baked goods welcomed us from the parking lot. We wandered through orchards, picked apples straight from the trees, and finished with warm cider doughnuts and fresh-pressed cider — autumn, captured in taste and scent. grandadsapples.com
Fall in Hendersonville never stands still. September hums with apple harvests and bustling markets. By mid-October, pumpkin patches blaze orange, the air sharpens, and the surrounding mountains ignite in crimson and gold. By November, a quiet gold settles in — the kind of season best enjoyed fireside after a day in the crisp air. visithendersonvillenc.org
Getting here is effortless. From New York, direct flights to Asheville take under two hours; from the airport, The Horse Shoe Farm is a short 25-minute drive. Greenville-Spartanburg is another convenient gateway, making this an easy long-weekend escape — or a luxurious midweek indulgence.
Sometimes escaping from paradise means discovering another version of it. Here, in Hendersonville’s rolling apple country, we found exactly that. For more on The Horse Shoe Farm — and the quiet magic that lingers in its fields and kitchens — visit Escape from Paradise.
Until next month from another interesting location!
Yours in travel...
Ingrid Lemme-Chalut
Escape From Paradise, Travel-writer & Blogger www.EscapeFromParadise.net
Award-winning TV Host, Publisher, Travel Writer www.MontaukSun.com
Ambassador for www.Seven-Stars.com & 15 Emmy award winning www.aTasteofHistory.org
Comments