Vardell Family Cottages Historic District
The National Park Service has not published a boundary polygon for this district; the map shows the listed properties inside it and the district's reference point.
Why it's listed
Four related summer residences and their wooded grounds occupy a knoll southeast of the center of Blowing Rock. The centerpiece, Opicherhoka, was built in 1899-1900 by local carpenters Roe Hartley and Joseph N. White for Charles Graves and Linda Rumple Vardell. It is a two-story weatherboarded Arts and Crafts house with multiple gables, dormers and an L-shaped porch on stone piers. Its name was formed from the first letters of woods used in construction. Inside, chestnut and other wood paneling, beaded ceilings and many original furnishings survive, and the dark green and red paint scheme has been maintained. Hemlock Cottage was built around 1903 for Dr. Jethro Rumple, and The Shoe was added in 1933 as the family grew. A fourth cottage, built in 1987, falls outside the historic period. The grounds include a rhododendron-enclosed lawn, stone retaining walls and footpaths linking the cottages. The estate was divided among the Vardell children in 1951.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Styles | Arts and Crafts / Craftsman |
|---|---|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | Vardell Family Cottages Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.