Blue Ridge Audubon manages this 8-acre wetland in north Asheville. In 1988, after raising over $400,000, we acquired about 4 acres in the area to protect the land from commercial development. (Read about the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary's beginnings in this article.) The Lake View Park Commission maintains ownership of the additional 4 acres. Blue Ridge Audubon and the Commission hold mutual easements that preclude the use of either property as anything other than a nature preserve. A boardwalk allows visitors to observe birds and other wildlife in several different habitat types. In addition to providing habitat for a multitude of bird species, the sanctuary is home to many species of butterflies and dragonflies/damselflies. The Sanctuary is open from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year although it is occasionally closed for maintenance. Sorry, no dogs allowed! After four years of planning, we completed a series of improvements to the Sanctuary in 2013. The boardwalk now makes a complete loop that is disability accessible. There is a new gathering space for groups, as well as expanded lake overlooks. New interpretive signs help visitors understand how special the sanctuary is to the birds that use its habitats. New fencing and signs guide joggers and walkers around the sanctuary perimeter, allowing the interior to remain an area of quiet for birds and people.
The History of Asheville
Before European settlement, Asheville was part of the Cherokee Nation. Bearing the name Untokiasdiyi, meaning “Where they race,” the Cherokee people used the area as a gathering place.
Settlement didn’t occur until after the Revolutionary War, in 1784, when Colonel Samuel Davidson and his family arrived, claiming land through a soldier’s grant. The settlement, initially named “Morristown,” was later renamed Asheville in honor of North Carolina Governor Samuel Ashe.
Asheville became an important outpost in the Blue Ridge Mountains, attracting famous travelers like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. The city flourished during the railway boom into the 1920s but faced a significant setback during the stock market crash of 1929. However, thanks to a committed urban renewal plan and efforts to maintain the city’s charm, Asheville transformed into the vibrant culture hub it is today.