Horse Shoe Farm is an 85-acre riverfront estate that offers an intimate and totally unique farm stay experience. Nestled in a nook of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Horse Shoe Farm offers luxury amenities in a rustic and scenic setting.
There’s a place smack dab in the middle of Asheville, Hendersonville, and Brevard where the French Broad River bends like a horseshoe, cutting sharply west and then moving slightly south before boomeranging back east. The surrounding community and local businesses, including Horse Shoe Farm, have leaned into horseshoe lore. This unexpected river shape has become both a namesake and a promise of good fortune.
From Cattle Farm to Retreat
A vein of authenticity underlies the rustic decor and iconic farm buildings throughout Horse Shoe Farm. In the 1950s, this swath of land was cleared to create pastures that would sustain a thriving cattle farm for the next 40 years. During this time, a manor house, silo, and farmhouse barn were constructed on the grounds. In the 1990s, the Mullis family purchased the land. The family retired it as a working farm and instead established a collector’s playground. Here, an enviable collection of antique cars drew crowds of collectors to the farm for semi-regular events.
Finally, in 2017, Horse Shoe Farm passed to the Turchin family, who transformed it into a private retreat. The farm joined a larger portfolio of commercial properties in the US and furthering their connection to North Carolina. John Turchin currently sits on the board of advisers for The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University. A generous endowment from the Turchin family made the center possible.
Nowadays, Horse Shoe Farm functions as an ideal place to bring together family, celebrate a special occasion, get away for a spa weekend, or simply reconnect with nature. Just ten minutes away from the Asheville regional airport, Horse Shoe offers a range of spacious accommodation options. This includes Magnolia Manor and The Stable House. In fact, The Stable House encompasses five bedrooms that can sleep 12 or more people. Rest amid a combination of comforts like fireplaces, hot tubs, and elevated decks, to four modest cottages and a loft for smaller groups or couples. Each house has a full kitchen, living room, and dining area.
A Personal Touch
The Turchins brought their own vision and special touch to the place. Original works of art, including enormous glass pieces from a contemporary of Dale Chihuly’s, are everywhere on the property. Susan Turchin’s sparkling crystal sculptures are also all over the property. there are also various luxury elements, like large soaking tubs in the houses, a sauna, a large heated outdoor pool, and an incredible spa.
Outside, walk the property from your house and you’ll see chickens pecking around the grounds. Horses, goats, and ducks sharing space in the pasture. Next to the pasture is The Stable Spa.
The Stable Spa at Horse Shoe Farm
The Spa boasts a comprehensive menu of luxe services—from bespoke body and facial treatments to wellness classes. Located inside a large and beautifully renovated barn, The Stable Spa is open to the public by appointment as well as to Horse Shoe Farm guests. Each spa room is behind original stable doors. Relax with a deep tissue massage, specialty massage (such as a pregnancy or oil massage), foot therapy, facial massage, or acupuncture treatment. Or, use your escape at the Farm to promote your well-being by attending yoga, meditation, or forest bathing classes.
Farm-to-Table Goodness
After working up an appetite, head to the Silo Cookhouse for farm-to-table dinners in a spacious barn-style building with views of Mt. Pisgah. Here, the Turchins put their longtime love of fine dining and wine on full display. On Wednesday nights, it’s all about the pasta. Whereas Thursday through Saturday evenings feature menus designed on the backbone of local offerings and seasonal produce. Once a month, the chefs put on a “Supper Club” event in collaboration with local farmers and purveyors. Horse Shoe’s chefs craft multi-course, family-style menus. They build meals around the selected local purveyor of the month, highlighting, for example, Mars Hill Mushrooms or Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery.
Horse Shoe Farm is best set up for people traveling in large or small groups. It often hosts corporate retreats, yoga retreats, and larger family celebrations and events.
The amenities are many. There’s easy access to hikes and French Broad fly fishing spots, and even a luxury car storage facility. Enjoy the comfortable lodgings, delicious dining, and a breathtaking setting. Horse Shoe Farm has something for every type of guest, making it a rejuvenating, relaxing western NC weekend destination.
