One man’s dream of Shangri-La has fostered countless dreams come true for others at Cummings Cove. It began in 1938 when chemist James Cummings sold his successful pharmaceutical companies in Buffalo and Toronto and began his search for the ideal climate to enjoy four seasons without the extreme winters of Buffalo or hot summers of Florida. He wanted a home near a town with a sense of history, but far enough from town to enjoy his privacy.
Sheltered by the Blue Ridge Mountains and bordered by the French Broad River, the place we know as Cummings Cove was home to James Cummings and his family for the last 20 years of his life. With the help of a farm manager, he raised cattle and lived in a comfortable house overlooking the river. A friend described him as “very down to earth and not one to show off his wealth.” Yet, his quiet generosity continues today through the James H. Cummings Foundation which has given away over $26 million to medical science, underprivileged boys and girls, the aged and infirm. Local beneficiaries include Pardee Hospital, Park Ridge Hospital, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club of Hendersonville, Four Seasons Hospice, Council on Aging and many others.
On the gentle slopes where Cummings’ cattle grazed, an 18-hole North Carolina Golf Community forms the centerpiece of Cummings Cove Golf & Country Club. The Blue Ridge Mountains and French Broad River can be seen from the high knoll now occupied by the clubhouse with a restaurant, lounge and golf shop. The new sports complex with the fitness center, tennis court, pool and walking paths, looks out on the same mountain views that drew James Cummings to his Carolina Shangri-La. The people who come to Cummings Cove searching for their special place to call home, will find what he found-a welcoming community surrounded by natural beauty and a place to live, play and thrive.