This driving tour will head south west of Asheville to the Cradle of Forestry. The Biltmore Forest School was the first school of forestry in North America. The school of “practical forestry” was founded by Carl A. Schenck in 1898 on George W. Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estate near Asheville, NC The school grounds are now part of Pisgah National Forest in Transylvania County, North Carolina.

Today, the former school forms the basis of the Cradle of Forestry in America, a 6500-acre heritage site which features exhibits about forestry and forest conservation history.

Treffen AshevilleSeptember 20– September 24, 2017

Cradle of Forestry TourThursday, Sept 21 and Saturday, Sept 23

The site includes the Forest Discovery Center, an indoor forestry museum, gift shop and cafe. There are two guided trails that include several of the school's buildings, a logging locomotive and a portable sawmill. The Center offers special programs, crafts demonstrations, nature education programs and special events. Come and explore the beautiful grounds and historic buildings of the first forestry school in America, located in Pisgah National Forest.

http://www.cradleofforestry.com/

Lunch is provided in the tour price.

Cradle of Forestry – Out bound route Drive 49 mi, 1 hours, 30 minutes Pit Stop – 25 minutes Tourist time at destination – 3 hr, 30 minutes Lunch Suggested departure time – 2:45 pm

Return from Cradle of Forestry to Omni Grove Park Inn – Return route Drive 44 mi, 1 hours, 15 minutes Return to the Omni – 4:00 pm