Travel-Eat-Sleep at Foto Fest

Venue

Home for Foto Fest is Montreat Conference Center, near Black Mountain, North Carolina. This is the perfect location to hold Foto Fest, fulfilling all our hopes for a venue conducive to inspired learning. Montreat is a secluded mountain cove community nestled at the foot of Graybeard Mountain. It is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and blessed with a great variety of native flora and fauna, gently flowing streams, and gorgeous mountain vistas. There is no commercial development in Montreat, not even a traffic light. Most of the streets are narrow and winding, with much less vehicle traffic than larger towns or cities. Multiple trails wind through hundreds of acres of wilderness surrounding the town, along creeks, across rustic bridges and through preserved woodland areas.

For more information about Montreat, visit this comprehensive website.
Detailed directions to Montreat Conference Center.
Detailed map of Montreat.
Hiking trails at Montreat.

Foto Fest is held in Anderson Auditorium, which is across the road from Assembly Inn and Lake Susan. The physical address for Assembly Inn is: 401 Assembly Drive, Montreat, NC 28757

To reach Montreat from Interstate 40, take Exit 64 for Black Mountain/Montreat/ Route 9. This exit is about 10 miles east of Asheville. At the exit, turn north on Route 9 and go through three traffic lights in Black Mountain. Route 9 will become Montreat Road, and you will drive approximately two miles to the stone gate at the Montreat entrance. From the gate, continue approximately 1.5 miles to Lake Susan and Assembly Inn at the heart of the conference center. Anderson Auditorium is across the road from the inn and lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to Montreat is through double stone archways. The image on the left was taken in the 1940s. Kevin Adams photographed the image on the right in 2006 for his rephotography book entitled North Carolina Then & Now.

Lodging

Montreat Conference Center is located 5 minutes from the town of Black Mountain and 20 minutes from Asheville. There are many lodging opportunities in the area, ranging from B&Bs and quaint inns to luxury hotels. There are also several campgrounds nearby. The most convenient accommodations are at Assembly Inn on the grounds of Montreat Conference Center. If you stay here and sign up for the meal package, you can park your car when you arrive and leave it there until you depart.

Click here to download a list of area lodging accommodations.

If you wish to stay at Assembly Inn, pictured to the left, click here to register online. Folks who stay at Assembly Inn enjoy the historical charm and easy walking distance to Anderson Auditorium. Please note, however, that the inn is not a luxury hotel and does not have some of the amenities that you may be accustomed to. The rooms do not have phones, TV, or Internet service (WiFi is available in the lobby). Also, the rooms are not air conditioned, although this is not usually an issue in September.

Eating

Light refreshments, water, coffee, tea, and wine will be provided during the event. You are on your own for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Black Mountain offers several dining options and Asheville has anything you may want. Foto Fest attendees will receive a list of local restaurants and directions.