When the weather outside is cold or its raining, these are the best indoor activities in Hendersonville, NC to enjoy. These fun destinations are perfect for kids and adults. And the great thing is, many of them are free attractions!
So whether you are looking for things to do in Hendersonville on a rainy day, or trying to get out of the snow or heat, there is no need to be bored!
Western North Carolina Air Museum
Spend an hour or two walking among a hangar filled with antique aircraft. There is an eclectic mix of airplanes in this free museum, ranging from the early days of flight to modern day planes.
The Western North Carolina Air Museum is only open on Wednesdays and weekends. If you really love aviation, check out their extensive library and pull up a chair to read a book or flip through magazines.
Location: 1340 Gilbert Street, Hendersonville, NC 28793
Phone: (828) 698-2482
Hours: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
Admission: Free (donations appreciated)
Pisgah Forest Gem Mine
The longest indoor sluice in North Carolina can be found at Pisgah Forest Gem Mine on Main Street! Kids (and adults) love sticking their hands in a running river of water and sifting buckets of dirt to find small precious stones. You’ll get help identifying your finds afterwards so you know what you found.
Location: 507 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 367-8330
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Hours may be longer in summer)
Admission: $12 for a Little Nugget bucket, prices increase for larger buckets
Henderson County Heritage Museum
If you want to know more about the unique history of Hendersonville, visit the Henderson County Heritage Museum. Located in the Courthouse at the end of Main Street, there are multiple exhibits, including railroad heritage, the Civil War and a turn-of-the-century general store.
A new patch program is available to earn a Heritage Museum Patch.
Location: 1 Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 694-1619
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
Admission: Free
Veteran’s Hall
An off-site location of the Henderson County Heritage Museum, Veteran’s Hall is located in the Henderson County Human Services Building. The displays honor veterans from World War I through Afghanistan.
Location: 1200 Spartanburg Highway, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 694-1619
Admission: Free
Apple Valley Model Railroad Museum
You might have seen a bright red train caboose on the tracks while driving around downtown Hendersonville. It is parked at the Apple Valley Model Railroad Museum in the Seventh Avenue district. The museum itself is in the 1902 Hendersonville Train Depot and has lots of train memorabilia, railroad videos, a working model railroad, and a different model railroad for kids that they can help control.
Location: 650 Maple St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 270-0858
Hours: Wednesday, 1-3 p.m; Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission: Free
Timber Axe Throwing
Need to work off some energy or destress from being cooped up inside? Then throwing axes is the answer!
This indoor recreational axe-throwing range is kind of like bowling or throwing darts. The lanes are divided, no kids under 13 years are allowed, and coaches are on site to help you figure out this new kind of sport.
While walk-ins are welcome, you might want to call ahead and reserve a lane before you leave to make sure that you can enjoy the unique experience of Timber Axe Throwing (Oh, and wear plaid! It makes it more fun LOL!)
Location: 218 Duncan Hill Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 595-9909
Hours: Thursday, 5-10 p.m; Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 1-11 p.m.; Sunday, 1-8 p.m.
Admission: $25 per person (1 Hour)
Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County
If the weather outside is gloomy, enjoy the colorful world of crystals and gems in the Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County. You can even cut your own geodes and take home a souvenir.
Location: 400 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 698-1977
Hours: Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Free (donations appreciated)
Hands On Museum
Hands on Museum is fun for younger kids with a Giant Light Bright, a pretend ice cream store, a Lego raceway, a kids-sized grocery store and more.
For Hendersonville locals, find out how you can get free admission to the museum.
Location: 318 N. Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 697-8333
Hours: Temporarily closed for renovations as of February 2022
Admission: $8
Aquarium and Shark Tank by Team Ecco
With a focus on ocean learning education, the Aquarium and Shark Tank by Team Ecco is the first inland aquarium in NC. As part of a pilot program with UNC Chapel Hill, the goal is to introduce the wonders of the ocean to residents of Western North Carolina.
More than 275 fish, salamanders, and reptiles can be discovered among two dozen exhibits. Go in the afternoon to see the shark and ray fee around 1:30 p.m. (subject to change based on animal needs) and reptile feedings.
Location: 511 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Phone: (828) 692-8386
Hours: Closed for winter
Admission: Adults $6.75
Flat Rock Playhouse
Enjoy a performance at North Carolina’s State Theater. The Flat Rock Playhouse offers Broadway musicals, comedies, dramas and musical salutes to famous musicians, as well as theater for kids.
Location: 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC 28731
Phone: (828) 693-0731
Hours: Check for showtimes
Admission: Depends on each show, but on average about $35-65
Fox-N-Otter Adventure Escapes
If you have heard about escape rooms, here is your chance to try one in Hendersonville. The term “escape room” might be scary, but don’t worry. You’re not locked into a room and you certainly aren’t pressured to escape! You and your group will simply solve clues inside the room to see if you can win the puzzle.
Fox-N-Otter has Adventure Escapes in the Blue Ridge Mall, as well as in Asheville.
Location: 1800 Four Seasons Blvd.,
Phone: (828) 585-4302
Hours: Friday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m.
Admission: $84 for 2-3 players
Cideries, Wineries and Breweries
Indoor tasting rooms are a great way to spend some time enjoying locally crafted drinks. Escape the cold or rain by enjoying a tasting or a glass of cider, wine or beer. See our guides for more information on the options:
Blue Ridge Mall Walking
Walking indoors at the Blue Ridge Mall is a very popular past time. It’s the perfect way to get exercise no matter what the weather is like outdoors. No matter what time of day you go, you’re sure to find someone mall walking.
Location: 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792
Admission: Free
If you liked this indoor activities for Hendersonville, NC, be sure to check out our other guides to our town: