A Balsam Mountain Inn Class Lets You Cook the Recipes That Built Appalachia

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  July 9, 2026

There is something worth preserving in a pot of soup beans or a jar of apple butter put up for winter, and Balsam Mountain Inn in Haywood County is building an afternoon around exactly that. On Saturday, July 18, at 4 p.m., the inn's historian, Paula Rhodamer, will lead a class on Appalachian foodways and historic recipes, and every guest leaves with a recipe booklet they assemble themselves.

The inn sits at Balsam Gap, just off US-74/US-23 near the Jackson County line and a short hop from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is about a 40-minute drive west of Asheville by way of I-40 and US-74, which makes it an easy afternoon outing whether you are coming from Waynesville, Sylva, or farther out.

This is the second installment of the inn's "History, Heritage, and Culture of Appalachia" series, a good fit for a summer Saturday in the mountains. Rhodamer will talk through the connections between food, regional memory, and Appalachian identity, the reasons a recipe here is rarely just a recipe.

What actually happens at the Balsam Mountain Inn heritage class?

The afternoon opens with Rhodamer's presentation on foodways, the term historians use for the whole system around food, how it was grown, preserved, cooked, and shared. In these mountains that story runs deep, born of hard winters, remote farms, and the resourcefulness they demanded.

After the talk, guests get to work building their own Appalachian recipe booklets, filled with recipes and teachings pulled from the event. It is a nice touch. You do not walk out with a glossy handout you will lose in a drawer. You leave with something you made, and something you might actually cook from.

Light refreshments and charcuterie boards round out the event, so there is food to enjoy while you take it all in. Tickets are $14.99 plus tax, and you can reserve online at the inn's live events page or by calling 828-564-8111.

Why does Appalachian food carry so much history?

Mountain cooking was never about trend. It was about what the land gave you and what you could keep through a long season. Dishes like leather britches, chow chow, stack cake, and sorghum-sweetened everything came out of necessity and turned into tradition.

That is the thread Rhodamer is pulling on. A recipe passed from a grandmother in Cataloochee or a kitchen in Cruso is also a record of who lived here and how they got by. When you learn the dish, you learn a little of the family behind it.

Haywood County has held onto that heritage better than most places. You still find heirloom apple varieties at local orchards, folks canning in late summer, and church suppers where the recipes are older than the building. An event like this fits right into that living tradition rather than treating it like a museum piece.

What makes Balsam Mountain Inn worth the trip?

The inn itself is part of the draw. Built in the early 1900s to serve travelers arriving by rail at the Balsam depot, it is one of the oldest inns in the region still welcoming guests. The wraparound porches, the tin roof, and the long mountain views have changed very little in more than a century.

Perched at nearly 3,500 feet, it stays cooler up there than down in the valleys, which is exactly why summer visitors have been coming to Balsam for generations. Pairing a heritage class with a wander around the grounds makes for a full afternoon.

If you have been meaning to learn more about where you live, or where you are thinking of living, this is a relaxed, affordable way in. Bring a curious appetite and a little patience for good stories.

The pull of places like Balsam, where history and mountain living come together, is a big part of why people put down roots in Western NC. If an afternoon like this has you picturing your own life up here, Jon Tharp is always glad to talk it through.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Balsam Mountain Inn Appalachian foodways class?

The class runs at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, at Balsam Mountain Inn, located at 68 Seven Springs Drive in Balsam. It is the second installment of the inn's "History, Heritage, and Culture of Appalachia" series, led by the inn's historian, Paula Rhodamer. The session covers Appalachian foodways and historic recipes, and attendees will craft their own recipe booklets afterward. Light refreshments and charcuterie boards are served. Tickets are $14.99 plus tax. You can register at www.thebalsammountaininn.com/live-events or by calling 828-564-8111.

Where is Balsam Mountain Inn located in North Carolina?

Balsam Mountain Inn sits at 68 Seven Springs Drive in Balsam, an unincorporated community in Haywood County near the Jackson County line. It rests just off US-74/US-23 at Balsam Gap, one of the higher points along that stretch of highway, close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The inn is roughly 40 minutes west of Asheville by way of I-40 and US-74, and only a short drive from both Waynesville and Sylva. The historic inn dates to the early 1900s and once served rail passengers arriving at the nearby Balsam depot.

What will guests take home from the class?

After the presentation, each attendee assembles a personal Appalachian recipe booklet containing recipes and teachings shared during the event. Rather than walking away with a single handout, you leave with a keepsake that ties together the food, stories, and regional memory Rhodamer discusses. The class connects specific dishes to Appalachian identity and the way families here have cooked, preserved, and passed down meals for generations. It is a hands-on souvenir, useful in your own kitchen and meaningful as a small piece of mountain history you can keep.

How much do tickets cost and how do I register?

Tickets are $14.99 plus tax, which includes the presentation, the recipe booklet activity, and light refreshments with charcuterie boards. Because seating at the historic inn is limited and these heritage series events tend to draw a crowd, registering ahead is wise. You can reserve online at www.thebalsammountaininn.com/live-events or call the inn directly at 828-564-8111. The event begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18. If you are traveling from Asheville, Waynesville, or Sylva, plan a little extra time to enjoy the drive up to Balsam Gap.