Welcome to
The Applewood Manor

A timeless piece of Asheville's history, where elegance and charm blend in every corner

Applewood

2025

We are repurposing The Applewood Manor into The Applewood Manor Foundation starting in 2025

* More details coming soon

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.

a two-story red brick house with a terrace

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.

A room with a chair, table and a chess board on it

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.

A room with a rocking chair, sofa and a bed

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

The Applewood Manor, a historic Asheville B&B, was acquired by Stephen and Robin Collins in 2020 and operated until September 2024, when it became a private residence earlier than planned due to hurricane Helene’s economic impact.

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.

The Applewood Manor Foundation, created by the Collins family, supports Asheville’s hurricane recovery and causes close to their hearts.

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.

In memory of Mary Grace Ritchey and Tom Collins, the Applewood Manor Foundation will initially operate as a non-501(c)(3) organization focused on direct contributions to local charities, with full accountability.

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

We encourage you to consider the following ways to support Asheville's recovery efforts, along with several specific partners and friends of The Applewood Manor who are in need of assistance

Asheville Always Fund

North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund

River Arts District Recovery

Hickory Nut Gap

On Your Bike in Marshall, NC

Artist Nadine Charlsen, River Arts District

Tom

Collins

Tom Collins, father of Applewood Manor’s owner Stephen Collins, was a man of stories and resilience. Born in 1941 and passing in 2023, Tom’s life bridged careers and passions, leaving an indelible mark on Asheville, where his ultra-short stories captured the charm, mystery, and local color of the Montford neighborhood.

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.

Tom’s storytelling was born from a journey of courage; diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2004, he defied the odds, surviving 20 years in a remarkable feat of endurance. Writing became his refuge, a powerful form of self-healing and expression. Through stories that highlighted Asheville’s heritage, Tom tapped into a deep well of inspiration, both preserving and mythologizing the town’s essence.

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.

In a moving eulogy, Stephen Collins described his father, Tom, as the most selfless man he’d known. Tom’s indomitable spirit kept him going despite chronic pain and failing health, which he endured to be present for his loved ones. With unwavering devotion to his family, Tom overcame great challenges for their sake, displaying relentless strength and love.

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.