The Ravenscroft Reserve: Its History and Importance

Presentation This Thursday, October 24 from 6:00-7:00

Pack Memorial Library, Lord Auditorium, lower level.

This event is free and open to the public.

Light refreshments will be served.

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Where is the Ravenscroft Reserve?

The Ravenscroft Reserve is located at 11 Collier Avenue north of Banks Avenue, at the southern end of Ravenscroft Drive.

What is the Ravenscroft Reserve?

Also known as the wood at 11 Collier Avenue, it is a circa .05 stand of 23 tall mature native oaks as well as many younger trees and shrubs. The subject trees are between 80 and 100 years of age.

What is the historical importance of the Ravenscroft Reserve?

This wood was a part of the former Ravenscroft School Campus. The one remaining building of that School, which is located just north of the wood on Ravenscroft Drive, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is located in the Downtown Asheville National Historic District.

A Look at Demolition

This is a photograph of 1926 demolition showing the creation of what we now call South Slope:  Millard, Buxton, and Banks Avenues were all carved out of that hillside. Coxe Avenue is in upper left with autos running on it. Note the trees, only some of which survived.

What is the environmental importance of the Ravenscroft Reserve?

The trees form an expansive canopy visible from many vantage points around the area and is an integral part of the South Slope’s scenery. According to one report made of the area, “the stand serves several ecosystem functions such as cleaning air, sequestering carbon, moderating noise, mitigating heat island effect and capturing stormwater runoff.”

Join the Friends of the North Carolina Room and five guests for an evening of learning and discussion about the area of the South Slope Neighborhood surrounding the former Ravenscroft School.

What will the presentation on Ravenscroft Wood cover?

There will be a 4-part presentation with ensuing Q&A session.

The History of the Collier Woods and its Connections to the Ravenscroft School, Thomas Wolfe, and the North State Fitting School, Until the Demolition of Buxton Hill, with Dale Slusser, Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County.

The Automotive History of Coxe Avenue and its Surrounding Auto Businesses, with Heath Towson, an avid amateur automotive historian.

The Ecological Significance of the Majestic Trees Located at 11 Collier Avenue, with Monty Wooten, certified arborist.

A Brief History of the 4-Year Effort to Save the Historic Wood on the Former Campus of the old Ravenscroft School & a Glimpse Into a Vision for its Future as “Ravenscroft Reserve”, with Inge and Imke Durre.