How Did Kenmure Country Club Come to Be?

Amid the peaceful slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Flat Rock, North Carolina, Kenmure Country Club stands as an enduring haven of beauty, heritage, and Southern mountain charm. Yet long before the estate became a private club and community, the land itself held deep significance. For generations, the Cherokee people lived, hunted, and traveled through this region, following ancient trails crossing the mountains and valleys of what is now Henderson County. Their respect for the land and stewardship of its natural resources are an important part of Kenmure’s story and the history of Flat Rock.

By the early 1800s, European settlers began establishing farms and mills in the area, and the crystal air and natural springs soon drew families from the South Carolina Lowcountry seeking summer refuge from coastal heat. Among them was Dr. Mitchell Campbell King, who in 1836 purchased nearly 300 acres to build a grand estate he named Glenroy. The mansion, completed around 1850–1856, was designed by a Scottish architect and shipbuilder, incorporating Greek Revival architecture and remarkable ship-style timber construction with few nails—a testament to both craftsmanship and ingenuity. During construction, the King family lived in The Cottage, later known as Rutledge Cottage, which still stands today.

Dr. King practiced medicine on the property for nearly 60 years and famously advocated that patients recovering from yellow fever benefit from the mountain climate. His beliefs helped establish Flat Rock and Hendersonville as renowned health retreats. The Glenroy estate grew to include 23 buildings, formal gardens, and farmland, and was widely considered one of the most beautiful private homes in Western North Carolina.

In 1920, the estate entered a new chapter when Gordon McCabe II, a Charleston businessman, purchased it and renamed it Kenmure, honoring the historic Kenmure Castle tied to the Gordon clan of Scotland. The McCabe family enhanced the estate with a lake, cattle barns, gardens, and the iconic wraparound porch that remains a beloved architectural feature today.

The transformation from private estate to country club began in 1978, when new owners developed the property into a residential community and built the 18-hole golf course designed by Joe Lee. The original mansion became the clubhouse, establishing the foundation for the Kenmure Country Club experience—where historic character and modern amenities coexist with effortless grace.

Today, Kenmure spans roughly 1,400 acres and offers golf, dining, fitness, tennis and pickleball, aquatics, and an active social community. In 2023, Kenmure entered an exciting new era under the ownership of Mr. Steven Schorr, whose vision underscores preservation of history, investment in quality, and a culture of hospitality and connection.

Kenmure is more than a place to live or play—it is a living legacy. Each visit to the clubhouse veranda, each stroll beneath the old hardwoods, and each round of golf played along land once used as pasture connects today’s members to the stories, craftsmanship, and families who shaped this remarkable estate.

Interested in touring the historic house and learning more about membership? Reach out to our Membership Director.