Moore, Arthur W., House
Also known as: Rockhaven
Why it's listed
Built in 1936 as a summer residence for Arthur W. Moore of Dade County, Florida, this one-story river rock house sits on a rise on the north side of Highway 64 near Horse Shoe. It lies within the Brightwater Farm area developed by S. J. Childs. Local contractor Albert Drake built the U-shaped, solid masonry house, which has a steeply pitched multi-gable roof and multi-light casement windows. Inside are knotty pine and poplar paneling, an exposed truss ceiling, stone fireplaces and original hardware. Terraces, retaining walls, boxwoods and an extensive rock garden surround the house. It was the last river rock house built in the area and the most intact of four in the development. It was later named Rockhaven by the Gray family, who bought it in 1946. It is recognized for its craftsmanship, its blending of building and landscape, and the survival of a formal rock garden, which is uncommon in western North Carolina.
Significance in brief: The house is a highly intact Craftsman-influenced residence with excellent craftsmanship and materials. Its elaborate terraced rock garden has stayed intact, unlike other rock landscapes in the area. It was also unusual for a house and garden this elaborate to be built in western North Carolina during the Depression. It is listed under Criterion C for architecture and landscape architecture.
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 00001613, listed January 4, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 299 Sunset Dr., Horse Shoe |
|---|---|
| County | Henderson County |
| Listed | January 4, 2001 |
| Reference number | 00001613 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936 |
| Architect / builder | Drake, Albert |
| Architectural style | Craftsman-influenced |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains a single-dwelling residence with its garden; the house has stayed in the Gray family since 1946. Late-1940s changes include a fieldstone front porch and a finished attic with a dormer. |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.34146, -82.52730 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 00001613.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19987164
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.