Indian Cave Lodge offers a stunning, private mountain setting conveniently located just 10 minutes from beautiful downtown Hendersonville. The Lodge style home offers towering stone walls combined with contemporary Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design. Part of NC history, the lodge is documented as the 1926 training camp for famed heavyweight champion boxer Jack Dempsey (see history below). The vaulted ceiling allows light into the main living area with a catwalk above making this a truly unique home. Custom woodworking adorn every turn with oak and walnut two tone cabinetry in the kitchen, hand carved staircase railing, oak hardwood flooring, and solid pine planked vaulted ceilings. With multiple areas for comfortable relaxation and entertainment inside and out, you're sure not to miss the sweeping 25 mile panoramic vista of year round city lights and long range mountain and valley views. Historic Indian Cave Lodge offers a private tranquil setting with sweeping year round mountain and city light views.

Historical Provenance and Design: Construction on Indian Cave Lodge began in the spring of 1917. By the early 1920s, the lodge had become a popular vacation destination due to its tranquil mountain setting and breathtaking, long range mountain views. It also sits in close proximity to well known historical sights: Indian Cave and the popular Jump off Rock. Situated high atop Hebron Mountain, the lodge offers sweeping 25 mile vistas that include the town of Hendersonville, Laurel Park and majestic Mount Tryon.

In 1925, Harvey Hester, southern sales representative for Laurel Park Estates met heavyweight boxing champ Jack Dempsey at an event in Florida. In an effort to attract buyers, Hester and the Mayor of Laurel Park offered Dempsey $35,000 plus expenses to train in Hendersonville for his upcoming title defense against Gene Tunney. Given the incredible promotional fee and exceptional environment, Jack accepted the offer. On April 24 th ,1926, Dempsey, his movie star wife Estelle Taylor plus trainers, handlers and sparring partners were greeted with a raucous parade down main street. Hendersonville had instantly become the sporting Mecca of the world. Indian Cave Lodge was selected as the perfect training facility due to its ample accommodations, fresh mountain air, pure spring water and close proximity to town. A boxing ring plus viewing area for spectators and news organizations was set up on the sprawling front lawn. Thousands of locals and travelers from across the country happily handed over 50 cents to watch the champ train and spar. On the evening of May 25 th , Jack and Estelle were guests of honor at a large dance party hosted at the lodge. Hesters marketing strategy was, without question a major success as all his properties sold out at record breaking prices.

Numerous photographs and newspaper articles covering Dempseys visit are available through the Hendersonville historical society. Several history books covering Hendersonville and western North Carolina also document the event.

Over the years, Indian Cave Lodge continued on through various incarnations, including a boarding home and dude ranch. After the great depression, the Lodge remained vacant until the mid 1990s. It was then purchased by Charleston architect David Parrott. A devotee of Frank Lloyd Wright, Parrott decided the top portion of the lodge would be re-imagined and a modern, yet rustic design would be blended with the original turn of the century stone faade, interior walls, staircase and roof supports.