Aloah Hotel
Also known as: The Hendersonville Inn; Carson Hotel
Why it's listed
Built around 1919 at 201 Third Avenue West, this three-story brick hotel sits on a corner lot just west of downtown Hendersonville. Deed records suggest J. O. Bell built it and operated it as the Aloah Hotel until selling in 1921 to Mrs. Etta Carson, after which it was known as the Carson Hotel or Carson House. It was sold at auction in 1932 and has been called the Hendersonville Inn since. The design is plain, with modest Classical Revival touches at the porch and entrance, a flat roof, six-over-six windows and a broad one-story porch on three sides. Inside, the lobby has a brick fireplace, dark stained woodwork, a paneled registration desk and original doors and floors. Once surrounded by other tourist hotels, many since demolished, it remains one of the few in town still operating as a hotel, and it is notable for its largely unchanged condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is one of the few Hendersonville hotels still operating as a hotel. It represents the Inns, Boarding Houses, and Hotels property type from the town's railroad-era tourism boom. Its plain, sturdy brick design and wraparound porch reflect comfort and continuity, and it is remarkably unaltered inside and out.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000036, listed February 24, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 3rd Ave. West, Hendersonville |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County |
| Listed | February 24, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000036 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1919-1929 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a hotel; exterior and interior are described as well preserved and largely unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.31595, -82.46137 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000036.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460171
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.