ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828NewsNow) — This is a new feature for 828NewsNow, where we will chronicle the events that happened in the 828 area code each week.
This first introductory article will highlight the events that happened just on Nov. 13, but future articles, which will publish every Sunday, will chronicle events that happened for the week ahead.
Nov. 13
1997 – Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Opens
One of Western North Carolina’s first multi-million-dollar casinos officially opened its doors to guests: The Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is located at 777 Casino Drive in Cherokee. According to its website, the resort has a 150,000-square-foot casino, along with 1,800 rooms, resort amenities, dining and entertainment, including a bowling alley. The resort is built on the land that was formerly home of Frontier Land.
1960 – Asheville Botanical Garden organization established
According to the Asheville Botanical Garden website, 61 Asheville civic leaders and nature enthusiasts met at Seely’s Castle on Town Mountain to establish the Asheville-Biltmore College Botanical Association. Their efforts eventually led to the creation of today’s Asheville Botanical Garden, a preserve dedicated to native Appalachian plants.
1904 – Asheville’s first largest, earliest snowfall record
According to the National Weather Service, on Nov. 13, 1904, Asheville recorded 4.6 inches of snow, its largest total for one of the first snowfall events of the season. Mount Mitchell recorded 7 inches, according to historical North Carolina weather-extreme data. In 1968, the record for Asheville was broken when it received 5.4 inches of snow on Nov. 11, 1968.