A Piece of History – Connecting the Past to the Present

In addition to maintaining the natural beauty of the surrounding land, Drovers Road Preserve incorporates a history and echoes the cultural heritage of the region in its development and preservation plans. Its very name and character reflect the past as it connects us to the present.

Running through our 190-acre Preserve is the original Drovers Road roadbed which was used for most of 19th century for both pleasure and commerce. There was a nine passenger Albany-style stagecoach, named “The Flying Cloud,” which carried traveling preachers, politicians, and prosperous families through the area taking in the inspiring mountain landscape and seeking cooler and fresher air. The original Drovers Road was also utilized to drive pigs, geese, turkeys, and cattle from Asheville to the important railhead in Rutherfordton, NC, from which most of the southeast was served. During the Civil War the confederate army lacked protein in their diets and the livestock which passed routinely through what is now Drover Road Preserve, served as important sustenance for the men.

Adjacent on the south end of our property is Sherrill’s Inn which opened in 1834. Along with providing much needed respite for weary travelers, The Inn also served as a staging point for the “drovers” (men who led and directed livestock drives) who would sleep at the Inn while the livestock were kept in pens overnight. The stagecoach driver would blow a horn as he approached The Inn a certain number of times to let Mrs. Sherrill know how many travelers to prepare dinner for. Sherrill’s Inn is still operational but it is now a private residence and home of a current lot owner and one of the three original founders of Drovers Road Preserve.

Please enjoy one of the many historical links below covering the rich history of the areas surrounding Drovers Road.