Buncombe County was formed in 1791 and named for Edward Buncombe, a Revolutionary War officer…read more Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina, the county quickly became a cultural and political center, with Asheville as its seat and growing rapidly in the 1800s thanks to railroads, tourism, and the region's reputation for restorative mountain air. The Buncombe County Courthouse, completed in 1928, stands as a towering example of Beaux-Arts architecture with subtle Art Deco touches. Designed by Douglas Ellington (who is also responsible for the neighboring Asheville City Hall), the courthouse rises seventeen stories, making it the tallest county courthouse in North Carolina. Its limestone façade, classical ornamentation, and richly appointed interior ‐ with marble floors, coffered ceilings, and bronze fixtures ‐ reflect the civic optimism of Asheville's boom years, just before the Great Depression slowed further development. Beside the courthouse stands a three-tiered empty plinth. From 1905 until its removal in 2021, it held a monument to Confederate soldiers, taken down following a vote by county commissioners. The vacant pedestal now serves as a quiet marker of the region's evolving public memory. Asheville is a city of smart parking meters and parking decks. You won't find free parking here. [Review 1234 of 2025 - 4419 in North Carolina - 24786 overall]

So....I got pulled over by the police for what they said was excessive speed....but they didn't…read morehave a Radar in their car, so it was his word against mine....what he did have was me and a car with an expired tag........hey....he had to get me on something if he couldn't nail me for speeding *grin* Having dodged the speeding ticket I still had to get my car inspected and off to the court house to get my ticket dismissed. Now.....mind you...I grew up in this town and have visited this place only a few times in my life (and NO I wasn't locked up here*wink*), but back in the day...you could come in and walk around anywhere....thanks to the idiots overseas, that world of being open has changed completely. You have to enter on the side of the building and pass through metal detectors? If you have a bag it is searched.....ugh! Then as you make your way up to the main foyer you can see what excellent old school architecture and craftsmanship is all about....... 1 more floor up and there is a "assembly line-esk" set up for VERY young attorney like folks that take your ticket.....see you've solved the problem....and send you on your way. And in 2 shakes of a lambs tail I was back out the building.

McDowell County is named for Joseph McDowell, who was a soldier in the American Revolutionary War…read moreand who took part in the Battle of Kings Mountain. The county was created in 1842 and Marion has been the county seat ever since. This building is the second to serve as the county courthouse, replacing the one that was built in 1844. It was completed in 1923. It has a Neoclassical architecture with a central block flanked by slightly recessed wings. The features horizontal brickwork on the first story and five tall vertical windows on the upper levels and a flat roofline. It was designed by Erle G. Stillwell who is also responsible for the Henderson (NC) City Hall and the Sumter (SC) City Hall plus a large number of theaters across the southeast. [Review 641 of 2025 - 4128 in North Carolina - 24202 overall]

Support staff, Clerks, Deputies, etc., all very nice and professional. District Attorney's Office…read morereasonable and friendly. Courthouse beautiful on the outside, a bit of a dog on the inside. (Needs to be renovated.) District Court is in the BASEMENT fo the building. Roadside parking available, but you made need to drive a block or two to find it. DON'T TRY TO BRING A CELL PHONE IN, as you'll have to turn around and walk back to the car. There also is a security checkpoint, so leave your knives, brass knuckes & mace in the car. Beautiful part of the state. Easy to find. Nice people.

Let me start by saying that there are some nice people who work here and they do try to help but…read moreoften their hands are tied. This is a very incompetent institution, I have been messed up several times with wrong court dates and fees applied to wrong accounts and I could go on and on. 2 crazy things are that you can only argue incorrect property taxes in a few weeks in June, they don't know which weeks until you get closer to June, too bad for you if the assessment is more then double what it should be, pay it, no other way around it. Wanna evict a scum bag Tennant? Can take up to 90 days because of how backwards it is here plus will cost you $200 just to file. In both of these examples the surrounding counties and states are totally different and far. The did manage to build a palace of a courthouse for themselves though.

This court is very incompetent. They are only interested in making decisions to get the most money…read morefrom you. They will screw up your court dates, your payments, and what the judge says. If possible verify your court dates, keep all receipts, and use something to record what all is said. The clerks are overworked and tend to screw up. And also I have noticed that the clerks do not know what they are doing I asked one clerk a question then asked another clerk the same question and I got two different answers. Sometimes the clerks will tell you what you want to hear just to get rid of you. I have been dealing with 1 simple ticket for over a year now. It is not like this in other county's. So beware if you have to get involved with this court.

What an amazing process. It's a civic duty to keep Democratic ideals in place for a judgment by a…read morepanel of your peers. It was a criminal case and I really enjoyed listening to the attorneys and the judge who thanked everyone for their time. The building is huge and ornate as well. Who knew they had a Cafe on the 1st floor? Lunch was pretty good: fried chicken well seasoned with that lovely brown "you know it was cooked all the way" color, collard greens and macaroni and cheese. Worth going in person to see how things work. All in All it was a good day.

I was at the courthouse for Jury duty. I spent the entire 8 hours reading a book and listening to…read moremusic. I was welcomed to the courthouse by the extremely "friendly" security staff. They got the job done through and ensured everyone was safe going into the building. I was very disappointed that the drink machine was out of order when they had advertised online that you could purchase refreshments in the waiting area. Towards the end of the day, I did find out that you can leave the waiting area to purchase drinks and snacks from vending machines on another floor. They really should have posted a sign indicating this information on their broken vending machines. Although I did not get picked to be on a jury, I enjoyed sitting in a comfortable chair and reading my book for 8 hours. Hopefully I don't have to go back soon.

98 steps. Not 100. I don't know why they missed this opportunity for a round number but I counted…read morethem going up and coming back down, getting the same. 98 steps. However, you can drive to the top where there is parking. If you do that, you'll miss the Jackson County Confederate Memorial that is midway on the stairs. The Historical Jackson County Courthouse is a 1913 Classical Revival structure that towers on a hill above and at the end of Sylva's main street. It has served here until 1994 when the new Justice Center opened a couple of miles away. It sat unused for several years until it was refreshed and restored, reopening in 2011 as the Jackson County Public Library complex that includes the Jackson County Historical Association, the Genealogical Society, and the Arts Council. Two stories and constructed of painted brick, it has a monumental portico at the front with large classical columns and is topped with a three-stage cupola above the central block. If you've been to Marshall NC, it does look a lot like the Madison County Courthouse. [Review 531 of 2026 - 4626 in North Carolina - 25713 overall]

All those stairs!!!! They just call to be climbed!! It's a 55 ft elevation gain…read more It's very pretty from the bottom and from the top of the stairs. Take a moment to notice the Mountain View's. It's just lovely. Don't want to climb those stairs? Don't worry you can get to the Library and Courthouse by car.

Tryon County was dissolved in 1779 when it was split into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties. Tryon…read moreCounty was named for a British colonial administrator, and we just can't have that. General Griffith Rutherford was a Revolutionary War Hero. Shepherd's Creek was the first county seat, later replaced by Rutherfordton in 1787. This is the fifth courthouse to serve the county after the 1836 Greek Revival-style building was destroyed by fire in 1907. It features Renaissance Revival architecture with a smooth stone veneer and a two-story portico. The classical detailing truly projects the quiet power of the law. It was completed in 1926. The Rutherford County Courthouse houses the County Superior and District Courts of the 29th Judicial District. There is a small annex building to the north. On a weeknight, there was easy parking. I'm not sure where you're headed when court is in session during the week as this is not a big city. [Review 652 of 2025 - 4139 in North Carolina - 24213 overall]

This beautiful Classical Revival structure is the Henderson County Courthouse and it was completed…read morein 1905. It was designed by Richard Sharp Smith, the former resident of the Biltmore Estate. Smith is also responsible for the Madison County Courthouse (Marshall), the Jackson County Courthouse (Sylva) and the Swain County Courthouse (Bryson City) among others. The building is two stories of gray colored stone atop a marble staircase with six stunning columns that rise to a pediment. Henderson County was established in 1838 from the southern portion of Buncombe County and is named for Leonard Henderson who was Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court (1839-1833). Hendersonville has been the county seat since 1847. There is street parking nearby and a parking lot adjacent. On a quiet weekend morning, there wasn't much going on so I had plenty of time to walk the grounds and peek through the front doorway. I'd love a tour but that was not available today. [Review 1144 of 2025 - 4373 in North Carolina - 24697 overall]

The Henderson County Courthouse was built in 1995 when the historic courthouse was condemned…read more Henderson County had also grown and outgrown the space the historic courthouse provided. Padgett and Freeman were the architects. The current courthouse was modernized and made ADA-compliant. It also meets the current fire codes and has a security system. If you are looking for the Historic Henderson County Courthouse, constructed with brick and the gold dome, that building is located at One Historic Courthouse Square, at the corner of 1st and Main streets. It was turned into a museum, so you can visit and tour the building when the Heritage Museum of Henderson County is open.

Watauga County, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northwestern North Carolina, was officially…read moreformed in 1849 and named for the Watauga River. Its name derived from a Native American term meaning "beautiful water." Boone, the county seat, was selected early on and has remained the administrative center ever since. The current Watauga County Courthouse is the fourth courthouse to serve the county and was completed in 1968. The building showcases a modernist style with buff-colored stone and concrete. It features a flat roofline, a recessed central entrance, and symmetrical window groupings. A front addition was completed in 1982. Parking is available directly behind the courthouse and along Queen Street in metered spaces designated for courthouse visitors. The building is handicap accessible via the rear entrance. I was able to find parking and walk the grounds - I did not spot any historical markers or historical monuments. [Review 1217 of 2025 - 4402 in North Carolina - 24769 overall]

Caldwell County is named for Joseph Caldwell (1773-1835) who was the first president of the…read moreUniversity of North Carolina. The county was formed in 1841 from parts of Burke County and Wilkes County. Since then, parts of Caldwell County were used to form other neighboring counties. This is the current county courthouse, the Caldwell County Justice Center and it is a modern building designed in the late twentieth century for function, security and efficient circulation rather than ornamentation. It houses the Superior Court, District Court, and the Clerk of Court. It has a simple facade with a secure, recessed main entrance that is designed for screening and controlled access. It is a buff brown brick and concrete construction that is far from ornate. Function over form. As one would expect on a Sunday morning, it was secured but there are still grounds to explore and monuments to view. The historic 1905 courthouse, is now the Caldwell Heritage Museum and it is a few blocks south. [Review 554 of 2026 - 4648 in North Carolina - 25736 overall]

I was here for a brief moment, but the interior was nice and looks fairly new. The deputies are…read morevery helpful as well as the clerks. If this is your first time visiting, be sure to go to the entrance on the street corner. The other courthouse immediately beside of it has no entrance and is part of the old courthouse.

Do you like GHOST STORIES and tales of haunted places? Then Helen's Bridge will be of interest to…read moreyou. Also known as Zealandia Bridge, it was constructed in 1909 as a roadway to Zealandia Estate, where there is (or once was) a mansion that looks like a castle. According to Urban Legend, a woman by the name of Helen who lived near the mansion hung herself from the bridge after her daughter died in a fire. The same designer of the bridge (R.S. Smith) also worked on the design of Biltmore Estate and Kanuga Lake Club, now know as Kanuga Conference Center near Hendersonville, NC. Kanuga is a Cherokee name thought to mean "gathering place". He also designed the Henderson & Swain County courthouses. ~ THE EXPERIENCE & LEGEND We learned about this bridge from our hotels front desk staff, whom also used to be a ghost hunter. She said there are stories of people having mysterious handprints on their cars if they parked near the bridge overnight. Some even say their car wouldn't start or the locks wouldn't work. She said some have even seen the distressed ghost asking passers-by if they've seen her daughter. INTRIGUED, I searched for more of the story and found several. Here is the one I liked best: Helen was single mother in her mid-40's when a fire broke out while cooking. She ran upstairs to get her newborn daughter but was overwhelmed by smoke and fainted. The baby and Helen were rescued by fire fighters, however, the baby could not be resuscitated. Helen, drowning in grief, wandered into the woods where she found the bridge and committed suicide by hanging herself. She remains attached to the bridge to this day not wanting to leave her daughter. Another report says she was the mistress of the mansions owner and decided to kill herself when she discovered she was pregnant with his child. In any case it could not have been the original owner John E. Brown, since he died 14 years before the bridge was built. Near the top of the bridge there is niche in an outcrop of stone that has a few figurines places in it. Our hotel staff member said it was placed there after a car accident death OR maybe Helen is still trying to find her daughter. Whatever you choose to believe, the aging bridge and its legend still stand after more than 109 years. ~ HISTORY Zealandia Castle was built by John Evans Brown in 1889. John inherited the land from his father whom died in 1884. John was living in New Zealand at the time in an area he helped establish called Swannanoa, which he named after the Swannanoa Valley in North Carolina where his father lived. John left North Carolina in 1849 at age 22 to head out West during the days of the Gold Rush. He eventually migrated to New Zealand where he became a gold miner, farmer and a member of Parliament. Tragedy claimed his eldest and youngest sons, first wife and then his father back in the United States. After returning with his new wife he discovered isinglass on his newly inherited land. It was a popular mineral at the time used in making a variety of heating items such as stoves, lanterns and carriages, and made him even wealthier! He died in 1895 at 68 years of age. The castles new owner, Philip S. Henry, added to its size in 1908 making it a 62 room home, but it was reduced to 28 rooms in the 1950's after demolition of the original John E. Brown structure. Much of Mr. Henry's art collection was featured in the very first Art Museum of Asheville established in 1948. If you are a fan if the movie THE LONGEST RIDE (written by the author of The Notebook), then you no doubt remember the Black Mountain College art featured in the movie. THIS was that art! ~ FINAL THOUGHTS To an unsuspecting passerby it's just an old unused bridge. But it has so much more intricate history than that! Now you also know why there is a New Zealand town named after North Carolina, and a North Carolina estate named after New Zealand! Isn't history fascinating? 2018/68

I love a good ghost story or a haunted place! Do you? If…read moreyou're anything like me you'll love this bridge. Urban Legend says that a woman by the name of helen hung herself from this bridge after her daughter died in a fire. She lived in a mansion near by. All I can say is the feeling I got at this bridge felt .... heavy. Like hard to breathe. Definitely one of the creepiest feelings I've ever felt. You come around a corner and there's a deserted area right by the bridge that you can park at. Don't park on the street it's on a curve and people might not see your car turning. I crossed the bridge and cut through some of the bushes .. through the fence you can see a portion of the mansion that she lived in and you can still see the burns from the fire on it!