A Brief History of the Grounds
Many of the Lake Eden Events grounds and buildings were originally developed by E.W. Grove(of the Grove Park Inn and Grove Arcade in Asheville) who constructed some wonderful buildings with his trademark native stone fireplaces to be a private resort at the beginning of the 20th Century. While the project stalled, it did operate as the Lake Eden Inn & Resort in the early 1900’s offering a getaway for people seeking its healing waters and refreshing air. Mountain Stream Lodge and the Meadows / Leaf Office building originate from this era.
In the 1930’s, 40’s and 50′s the historic Black Mountain College operated on the grounds and built many of the more modern buildings on the site, including Sequioa & Albers Cottages and the Barns. When the College finally closed its doors in 1957, the property was purchased by the Pickering family and turned into Camp Rockmont for Boys (which is still adjacent to our location). After the family retired from the summer camp business, we retained the 90+ acre portion which we now use for Lake Eden Events & Lodging. The LEAF Festival also utilizes this amazing property for camping, healing arts, production, poetry tent and events during the twice annual festival, hosting over 10,000 guests each time.
A little info into BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE:
The site of the historic Black Mountain College in the 1940’s-50’s, many of the century’s most celebrated artists and thinkers attended the college as teachers or students: Albert Einstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Annie Albers, Merce Cunningham, Rothko and Buckminster Fuller (who designed the first geodesic dome here). The Lake Eden Events property was used as the BMC farm, administration buildings, staff & student housing, and towards the end all of the BMC operations.
For the curious check out: