Historic Johnson Farm

Historic Johnson Farm, a late 19th century tobacco farm located near Hendersonville, North Carolina, gives visitors a peek into days-gone-by and a way of life that is rapidly disappearing across America—the family farm.

The handmade brick Historic Johnson Farm was constructed in 1880 and an annex was added in 1923. During the first half of the 20th century, Mrs. Sallie Johnson and her sons, Vernon and Leander, operated Johnson Farm as a summer boarding house and tourist retreat. Visitors helped with farm chores but also enjoyed front porch rocking chairs, cool evenings, square dances and Sunday ice cream.

After their mother’s death, the sons did much to improve the educational facilities in Henderson County. They donated many acres of farm land for the construction of a new middle school, helped landscape West Henderson High School and supervised the building of the football stadium there. At their deaths, the Johnson Farm was bequeathed to the Henderson County Public Schools.

Now on the National Register of Historic Places, the Historic Johnson Farm is visited by school groups, tourists and others who relish the rare opportunity to experience an authentic 19th century North Carolina family Johnson farm.

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Visitors of the Historic Johnson Farm are welcome to walk the grounds, visit with the animals and enjoy two nature trails and other outdoor exhibits. The grounds include picnic tables. A small gift shop located near Hendersonville offers old-timey toys, candy and souvenirs.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Trail is a program of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership.