Flat Rock – After a seven-year pause, one of Flat Rock’s most beloved traditions is making its long-awaited return. On Saturday, August 2, 2025, Historic Flat Rock, Inc. will once again host its celebrated house tour, a cherished summertime event offering a rare glimpse into the region’s storied past. Participants will enjoy guided visits to four historic homes and the iconic Church of St. John in the Wilderness, each listed on the National Register of Historic Places and built in the 1800s.
Attendees will be transported between the four homes by air-conditioned van, with the church available for self-guided visits at their leisure. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 on the day of the tour, with proceeds supporting local preservation efforts. Tickets are available through Historic Flat Rock’s website, by phone, or at the Hendersonville Visitors Center and The Wrinkled Egg in Flat Rock. Guests are encouraged to begin the tour no later than 1 p.m. to allow time to view each location. Flat-heeled shoes are recommended, and no strollers, interior photography, or wheelchair access will be available.
Flat Rock, known as “The Little Charleston of the Mountains,” has long drawn visitors for its beauty, tranquility, and rich cultural legacy. Settled in the early 19th century by Lowcountry families escaping the summer heat, the village quickly developed into a retreat of elegant estates, shaded lanes, and timeless charm. Historic Flat Rock, Inc., the event’s host and a nonprofit organization founded in 1968, works to protect the area’s historic character and landscape.
This year’s tour features four private homes and one historic church, each offering a distinct window into the lives of Flat Rock’s earliest residents.
Church of St. John in the Wilderness
Set on a wooded hilltop above the village, the Church of St. John in the Wilderness stands as Western North Carolina’s oldest Episcopal church. The church was originally built in 1833 as a private chapel by Charles and Susan Baring, some of the first Charlestonians to build a summer house in Flat Rock. The structure has been expanded multiple times to accommodate growing congregations but maintains its historic charm. With handmade brick walls, a bell tower, and centuries-old grave markers, the church tells the story of a community deeply rooted in faith, tradition, and architectural grace.
Rutledge Cottage
Built around 1840, Rutledge Cottage began as a temporary residence during construction of the Glenroy estate. Designed in a German country style, the home was later relocated by oxen to its current site. Over the decades, it passed through the hands of several notable Lowcountry families and underwent thoughtful restoration by successive stewards. Today, Rutledge Cottage continues to reflect the craftsmanship and history of Flat Rock’s earliest years, including a preserved kitchen house with a historic beehive oven.
Dunroy
Located on a scenic rise along Rutledge Drive, Dunroy traces its roots to the mid-19th century and reflects the “Carpenter Gothic” style popular at the time. Originally known as Ambersley, the home once served as a seasonal retreat for a “who’s who” of the Antebellum South. After a series of ownerships, including a colorful chapter involving a Depression-era cash sale, the home was restored in the early 2000s and continues to stand as a testament to careful preservation and personal connection to place.
Longwood
Although the original name has been lost, the stately pebbledash stucco home now known as Longwood includes sweeping porches, native stone fireplaces, and soaring 12-foot ceilings. Located on part of the earliest Charlestonian estate in Flat Rock, the property reportedly has connections to the Civil War, French nobility, and a school for young ladies. With tiered Bluestone steps and fine architectural detailing, Longwood offers a refined yet welcoming atmosphere reflective of the era in which it was built. It has not been open to public tours since the 1980s.
Chanteloup
The most romantic of the tour’s offerings, Chanteloup—once known as “The Castle”—was the residence of Count Joseph Marie Gabriel de Choiseul, a French nobleman and diplomat. After building a modest home nearby, the count began work on this grander estate around 1836. The home, perched near the waters of Mud Creek, became the de Choiseul family’s year-round residence for more than two decades. Its elegant presence and mysterious past continue to inspire curiosity about the family’s place in Flat Rock history.
Together, these homes and the historic church represent a cross-section of the village’s architectural and cultural legacy. Their stories are lovingly preserved not only in brick and timber, but in the continued dedication of Flat Rock’s community to honoring its past.
For those who treasure history, architecture, or simply a day of quiet beauty in the mountains, this summer’s house tour offers a rare and memorable experience.