Inspiring Asheville Events
Asheville is an ideal destination for events in a wide range of sectors, from outdoors and wellness to climate science and the automotive industry.
Click here to learn about this destination's sector-specific offerings and how Explore Asheville can deliver for groups of many kinds.
Asheville is an ideal destination for automotive events of all types. The North Carolina city’s striking scenery, robust portfolio of venues and hotels, and its behind-the-wheel experiences make it a great fit for a wide range of car-centric groups.
This is a place rich with history — and that’s particularly true of its automotive offerings. Asheville was home to a bustling automotive district in the earliest days of the automobile, and its “motor mile” attracted car fans from far-flung locations. This was a gem where innovators like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone made sure to stop during their annual road trips south more than a century ago. The Blue Ridge Parkway was an early example of a “designed drive” developed by landscape architects to best showcase — and conserve — the natural surroundings. The hot-rod-and-moonshine classic Thunder Road was filmed here.
Few drives are as beautiful as the one along the Blue Ridge Parkway.This legacy continues to enrich the destination, fueling its position as a terrific auto-event destination. An auto event in Asheville offers adrenaline pumping experiences such as off-road outings at Adventure Mountain and teambuilding activities as part of the Land Rover Experience on the sprawling (and stunning) estate at Biltmore. Looking for a majestic backdrop for your next impactful car launch? Look no further than the vistas of the area's ancient Blue Ridge Mountains.
That was just what General Motors did last April year when it selected Asheville as the host city for the unveiling of its new GMC Canyon truck. The company set up a home base for the event at Asheville River Cabins, a picturesque, all year-retreat with cabin and Airstream-rentals set on the French Broad River.
“GM set up a tent complete with catering and bathrooms and were able to access off-roading locations throughout the area,” says Florence de Geofroy, former assistant manager of Asheville River Cabins who worked with the company to execute the event.
She describes how GM’s team was able to show off the performance of their trucks in the area with off-roading through winding outdoor trails, then return to the River Cabins, clean the trucks up and give them a photo-worthy backdrop by the French Broad River.
“We’re an eight-acre property, so it was plenty of space for General Motors to showcase ,” says de Geofroy.
Off the Beaten Path
As the GM team understood, few places offer such exciting options for off-road adventures as Asheville. Groups looking to get their tires dirty will want to consider experiencing Adventure Mountain, a new off-road operator offering guided tours in four-person all-terrain vehicles.
At Adventure Mountain, visitors can get off road, rolling through former logging trails for a rugged tour of Asheville's natural wonders.“What you're going to experience in Asheville is the opportunity to get that mountain experience to climb to almost 4,000 feet in elevation,” says Jeff Greiner, owner of Adventure Mountain. “You're really seeing what the machine can do.”
Leveraging old logging roads, the trails visitors will enjoy no shortage of stunning views as part of the Adventure Mountain experience.
“These experiences can be great for teambuilding and inspirational for the folks who come and visit here,” says Greiner.
Incentive and corporate groups can take part in a Land Rover Experience, set on the Biltmore Estate.Another memorable driving option that groups can tap into here is the Land Rover Experience Driving Center. Located on the historic estate at Biltmore, this program offers a range of driving experiences and teambuilding activities from driving competitions to skill challenges. Visitors will be able to explore the wooded trails and lush vegetations surrounding this 250-room chateau (completed in 1895 at the behest of George Vanderbilt himself).
“There's miles and miles of trails, beautiful views, and the Biltmore house, which is a fantastic place to visit on its own,” says Eric Valtos, senior specialist at the Land Rover Experience Driving Center, part of Jaguar Land Rover North America. “Asheville is such a great place for automotive brands and automotive clubs to come and host their events.”
A Drive Through History
At the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, visitors can take a stroll through the history of cars and Asheville's connection to them.The Biltmore isn’t the only historic attraction in Asheville — particularly for those interested in exploring the destination’s deep relationship with the auto industry and car culture. Groups can book events at the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, which displays the vintage-car collection of local Cadillac-Pontiac dealer Harry D. Blomberg (including a 1922 American LaFrance fire truck and rare 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham).
It’s no wonder, with these historic bona fides, that Asheville attracts groups of vintage car enthusiasts, such as the Model A Restorers Club. The group brings 350 families together for educational events and even a fashion show of period costumes from 1928-1931 (the era of the cars). And, of course the event also includes showcases of the cars, which is why organizers look for a distinctive setting like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville.
Asheville's legacy as a destination for auto enthusiasts continues, as it draws groups of vintage car groups.“The Blue Ridge Parkway has that mystical quality,” says Paul Ganninger, vice president for the Model A Restorers Club. “I have had more people call me about the Asheville meet than any of the other ones that I've done.”
Whether looking for a leisurely cruise through history, a rugged off-road outing, or an Instagram-worthy backdrop for a treasured vehicle, Asheville is an ideal choice for auto events of all types. Whatever speed your group is looking for, Explore Asheville can help plan your next automotive event.
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