News and Events

A new sign of the season greeted Western North Carolina last week when the first kid of spring was born at the Sandburg Connemara estate in Flat Rock. Bella, an eight-pound Toggenburg is the first baby goat of the season, joining an entire herd that currently roams the historic site. Just five miles from Fox Run Preserve in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the Carl Sandburg Home attracts more than 26,000 visitors a year and is a great way to get outdoors and enjoy the emerging life of another spring.

In 1945, Pulitzer Prize winner Carl Sandburg and his wife moved to their Greek-Revival style home. An ideal climate for Mrs. Sandburg's goat herd, Carl Sandburg also found that the rolling pastures, lakes, and mountains provided the peace and solitude required for writing his poetry. In face, Sandburg published over one third of his works during the time he lived in Flat Rock. After his death, his wife graciously sold the estate to the federal government, ensuring that it would be preserved as a historical site and memorial to him.

Today, visitors can learn about Sandburg's life on the Connemara estate during house tours. They may also explore the 264-acre property that encompasses two lakes, two mountains, and more than five miles of hiking trails. Or learn about Mrs. Sandburg's passion for raising goats. The Park Service now cares for the direct descendants of her herd, with Bella marking the newest generation.

And since you will be in such close proximity, now is also the perfect time to take a tour of Fox Run Preserve. See the blooming foliage at Skyview Park, a wonderful amenity that offers beautiful views of the mountains that have attracted and inspired the creation of poetry and paintings for decades. While you are there, you may even find your own haven for creativity, relaxation, and comfort.

For directions to the Carl Sandburg Home from Fox Run Preserve, click here. And be sure to contact the community representative to schedule your tour of Fox Run.