Historic preservation efforts will preserve, promote Waynesville’s unique character
Local leaders are taking steps to protect Waynesville's unique charm. Cory Vaillancourt photo
In a town where history lives not just in the pages of books but on every brick-lined sidewalk, beneath every gabled rooftop and deep within every stately mansion, Waynesville’s Historic Preservation Commission is stepping boldly into the future by leaning into a past that, for many locals, hasn’t yet passed.
“As the chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, we think that there’s historical assets in town that need to be saved, especially at a time of encroaching development and lots of new building going on,” said Alex McKay. “We’d like to preserve our town for what it is.”
At the April 8 meeting of the Waynesville Town Council, the HPC, led by McKay and Land Use Administrator Alex Mumby, delivered a sweeping presentation on an array of historic preservation initiatives that span everything from murals and coloring books to signage, walking tours and multi-year planning documents.
The most significant effort unveiled at the meeting is the formal preservation plan for Waynesville’s three distinct historic commercial districts — Main Street, Frog Level and Hazelwood. Developed in collaboration with Annie McDonald, a senior architectural historian with Wake Forest-based Richard Grubb & Associates and funded through a $10,000 federal grant received from the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2023, the plan outlines a 10-year roadmap to guide preservation policy.
The project began with public engagement meetings in 2023 and fieldwork in 2024 and has now culminated in a comprehensive document addressing administration, survey, outreach and formal designation of historic properties. Public feedback was gathered through meetings and online surveys to inform the final draft.
The plan mentions “a significant concentration of attached one- and two-story commercial buildings” along Main Street from Walnut Street to Pigeon Street, highlighting the Citizens Bank & Trust Company at 74 North Main St., the Masonic Hall at 37 Church St., the Waynesville Library at 113 North Main St., U.S. Post Office at 16 South Main St. and the Waynesville Hardware Building at 226 North Main St.
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Frog Level presents a different identity than the Main Street District, a reflection of its links to the old Western North Carolina Railroad. Structures of note in the Commerce Street corridor include the Cherokee Garage at 222 Depot St., the G. C. Logan Auto Company at 70 Commerce St., the Grady Honeycutt Building at 313 Depot St., the two freight depots at 40 and 66 Commerce St. and the North Carolina National Guard Armory at 44 Boundary St.
Both the Cherokee Garage and the Logan Auto building have fallen into disrepair and have been vacant for some time.
The two most notable buildings in Frog Level, according to the report, are the T. N. Massie & Son building at 244 Depot St., built around 1900, and Burgin’s Market at 282 Depot St. Along with the Cherokee Garage, the Massey and Burgin buildings were partially submerged by Richland Creek during Hurricane Helene last fall.
The WNC Railroad also played a significant role in the development of Hazelwood, as nearby manufacturing concerns prompted the development of a small commercial strip along Hazelwood Avenue. Nearly every building along this strip is significant, especially 493 Hazelwood Ave., now home to Hazelwood Gun and Tactical, and 444 Hazelwood Ave., home to Smoky Mountain Coffee Roasters.
Along Virginia Avenue, the old Hazelwood School and its addition now home to Folkmoot remain noteworthy examples of the neighborhood’s character, while a few buildings on South Main Street, like Clyde’s Restaurant, are also important, according to the study.
The plan notes Waynesville’s strong commitment to preservation over decades, suggesting a road map to ensure buildings in the three distinct cores remain as authentic as possible.
At its Jan. 9, 1997, meeting, the National Register Advisory Committee added 16 individual Waynesville properties and the Woolsey Heights Historic District to the National Register Study List. In 2001, Waynesville became a Certified Local Government, qualifying for federal Historic Preservation Fund grants managed by the National Park Service. Since 1995, the town has received six grants totaling $39,800 for projects such as architectural surveys, historic district nominations and design guidelines. A notable 2017 grant supported the survey of African American heritage sites, and a 2020 grant funded updated documentation along key corridors.
The Downtown Waynesville Commission, originally the nonprofit Downtown Waynesville Association, continues to support preservation through its Main Street affiliation and is largely responsible for how downtown looks today, and why it’s so popular with the tourists that drive the town’s economy.
“Throughout Waynesville’s history, tourism has always been our thing,” McKay said. “The mountains, the water, the sulphur springs — they’ve always been a pull, and I think that’s still true today.”
During the public engagement phase of the plan’s creation, more than 65% of respondents expressed concern over the demolition of historic buildings while just over 56% were worried about inappropriate alterations to historic buildings.
Notably, neither the town nor the county is home to a dedicated nonprofit preservation organization. Such organizations have achieved exceptional results in other areas; the Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County, established in the 1970s, filled the gap left by lack of municipal government engagement while the Historic Savannah Foundation, established in the 1950s, is responsible for much of the historical character the 292-year-old Georgia city retains — along with the resultant tourism that powers the local economy.
Tourism, population growth and the demand for commercial space remain threats to historic structures, so the plan includes a series of goals for the town that could help Waynesville down the road.
Along with the implementation of ordinance-based municipal actions like the establishment of historic districts, bolstering public engagement and expanding awareness of existing resources, strengthening the HPC is paramount according to the plan. The HPC has long been working toward these goals.
Since 2017, the HPC has distributed illustrated coloring books to local fourth graders drawn by local artist Chris Sylvester and annotated by McKay. The books depict iconic buildings and sites across Waynesville, serving as an engaging introduction to the town’s architectural and cultural legacy. The program reached students at Hazelwood Elementary and Shining Rock in 2024, deepening the connection between youth and heritage.
Wayfinding through all that history is also about to get easier. The HPC is finalizing the design of interpretive signage for several key areas including Hazelwood, the Historic Haywood County Courthouse and, as part of a broader improvement plan with the parks and recreation department, Sulphur Springs Park, which will highlight the natural spring, its iconic springhouse and the long-lost Sulphur Springs Hotel.
Additional signs are planned for the Main Street district and Frog Level.
Waynesville’s self-guided tour book is also receiving a modern update. First published years ago, the new edition will include updated photos, a clearer map and more historic locations. The book is scheduled to go to press this spring and will be made available at the municipal building for a suggested donation of $5.
As part of its ongoing work, the HPC also received Town Council approval to apply for another CLG grant to nominate either the Love Lane neighborhood or the Country Club area for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The proposed $10,000 grant would be split 60/40, with the town’s $4,000 match already requested — albeit in a tight budget year — for the fiscal year 2025–26 budget.
