Lowndes House, 1960

Some background on the Lowndes House, now on the grounds of the Flat Rock Playhouse (from Historic Flat Rock by Kenneth and Blanche Marsh, first edition published 1961, revised 1972):

From the text:

I'ON LOWNDES HOUSE

Late 19th Century

In 1847, Charles Baring sold Diamond in the Desert to Richard Lowndes. Mr. Lowndes conveyed to his son, I'on a tract on the eastern end of the property. It was there that I'on erected the lattice trimmed, towered porch residence in the style of late nineteenth century homes.

The residence is located beside the large outcropping of rock for which Flat Rock is named. According to the legend the Indians held their great annual councils seated around this large flat rock long before the famed Buncombe turnpike encouraged low country aristocrats to establish Flat Rock as a summer colony. Thus Cherokee Indians, white pioneers, tidewater newcomers, alike, enjoyed the cool air of the heights just as do the present day audiences of the State Theater, which now occupies these historic grounds.