Welcome to
The Applewood Manor
A timeless piece of Asheville's history, where elegance and charm blend in every corner
2025
We are repurposing The Applewood Manor into The Applewood Manor Foundation starting in 2025
Our History
Through the Years
As of September 29th, 2024, The Applewood Manor has permanently stopped room reservations and is being transformed into The Applewood Manor Foundation. Our initial charitable mission will be to aid Asheville’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
1908-1939
The Perry Era
1908-1912: Captain John Adams Perry purchased land on Cumberland Circle and built Applewood Manor, spending $8,000 (instead of the required $2,500). Designed by Asheville architect William Henry Lord, the home showcased New England Colonial Revival style and overlooked rolling agricultural lands.
1912-1939: The house featured fireplaces, a captain’s walk, and additional skylights (updated in 2021). Perry lived there until his death in 1939. His military career included service in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars. After retiring in 1903 due to illness, he settled in Asheville with his wife, Charlotte, and their daughter, Anne.
1939-1986
Changing Ownership
1939-1951: Ownership after Perry's death is unclear, but it's presumed his daughter Anne held the property.
1951-1958: E. Lyndon McKee, a vice president of Wachovia Bank, bought the house.
1958-1970: Rufus and Helen Page, with the Forestry Service, lived in the house.
1970-1986: Michael and Peggy Smith owned the home.
1987-2020
Bed & Breakfast Transformation
1987-1991: A. James and Linda LoPresti converted the house into Applewood Manor Bed & Breakfast, adding bathrooms and naming rooms after apple varieties.
1991-1995: Maryanne Young and Susan Poole, cytotechnologists, ran the inn.
1995-2006: Johan and Jacoba Verheij continued operations, with Johan later passing in 2007.
2006-2016: Larry and Nancy Merrill took over management until selling it to Dr. AJ Grein in 2016. Chase McWhorter became the operator during this period.
2020-Present Days
The Collins
2020-2024: Stephen and Robin Collins acquired The Applewood Manor in September 2020, operating it as a bed and breakfast until converting it back to a private residence in November 2024. The house remained well-preserved, with minimal changes, including updates to the skylights and landscaping.
2020-2024 Enhancements: They commissioned a custom welcome sign from Ion Art in Austin, Texas, and maintained the home’s welcoming atmosphere. Their three French Bulldogs became a beloved part of the property.
While no paranormal activity was reported, black bears frequently visited, using the grounds as a pass-through and occasionally resting under the apple trees.
This period marks the final phase of The Applewood Manor’s B&B history, with the Collins restoring its status as a private home.
The Foundation
our mission
To honor the inn’s legacy, the Collins family established The Applewood Manor Foundation to support Asheville’s hurricane recovery, continuing the B&B’s spirit of hospitality and support for the community it served since 1987.
Stephen and Robin Collins plan to assist families impacted by illnesses that affected their own family, including cancer and Alzheimer’s. Honoring Mary Grace Ritchey and Tom Collins, the foundation raises funds to support local causes, ensuring full transparency and commitment to positively impacting the community.
Mary Grace, who battled Alzheimer’s, and Tom, a cancer survivor who passed in 2023, are inspirations behind the foundation. Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated as we work to support Asheville’s recovery and well-being.
You can make a difference
Tom
Collins
From ghost tales to snippets of Asheville’s history, his words immortalized the quirks of a town he loved, which he called the “weirdest, happiest, quirkiest place in America.” An Asheville-inspired mystery novel, Treasure of the Diary, completed his legacy, adding to the soul of The Applewood Manor, which he honored with every story.
His legacy lives on at tomcollinsauthor.com, where readers can explore his work and discover the resilience that defined his life and writings.
In addition to his short stories, Tom created a toolkit for business management available at www.languageofexcellence.com..
His selflessness extended beyond family to friends, colleagues, and the fictional characters he created. Instead of taking a short path after his diagnosis, Tom chose a longer, more challenging road, filling it with love, mentorship, and lasting memories.
Image Gallery
Capturing the timeless charm and elegance of The Applewood Manor, where every corner tells a story.