Rock Castle State Historic Site

Rock Castle State Historic Site Create your own memories at Historic Rock Castle! Stop by for a visit today and explore the sites and stories of this beautiful historic property!
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In 1784 a Virginian surveyor named Daniel Smith moved with his family to the Cumberland Settlement in present-day Middle Tennessee and began construction on a limestone, Federal-Style building that would house generations of the Smith family for almost 200 years! Located next to a Cumberland River tributary called Drake’s Creek, the house was built on part of the 3,140 acres that Daniel Smith rece

ived in land grants for his service in the Revolutionary War and his surveying work. Over the course of a decade, the Smiths constructed their home in three phases resulting in the story-filled, multi-cultural historic house that stands today. General Daniel Smith was a trailblazer, successful surveyor of Tennessee who named the state of Tennessee, a Revolutionary War patriot, Native American Indian negotiator, two-time Senator and one of the greatest Tennesseans of that era.

In addition to an unforgettable evening with the Nashville Symphony, we'll have some incredible local food and drink ven...
06/03/2026

In addition to an unforgettable evening with the Nashville Symphony, we'll have some incredible local food and drink vendors on-site to help make your night complete. 😋🎶

Tonight's lineup includes:

🍖 Andre's Barbecue
🌆 Soul of the City
🥢 Bangkok Belly
🥪 Cuban Cracker
🍦 Bruster's Ice Cream
🍻 Half Batch Brewing
🍷 AND a selection of wines

Whether you're craving barbecue, international flavors, a sweet treat, or a cold local brew, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Bring your lawn chairs, your appetite, and get ready for a beautiful evening of music, food, and community on the shores of Old Hickory Lake ✨

We'll see you tonight!

We are honored to recognize our Leadership Sponsors for Nashville Symphony by the Lake 🎶✨Their generosity and commitment...
06/03/2026

We are honored to recognize our Leadership Sponsors for Nashville Symphony by the Lake 🎶✨

Their generosity and commitment help make this beloved community tradition possible, creating an evening where music, community, and connection come together on the historic grounds of Rock Castle.

Thank you for investing in an experience that brings neighbors, families, and visitors together for a truly unforgettable night by the lake.

We are deeply grateful for your support.

Tonight is the night! 🎻 The Nashville Symphony comes to the banks of Old Hickory Lake, and we couldn't be more ready to ...
06/03/2026

Tonight is the night! 🎻 The Nashville Symphony comes to the banks of Old Hickory Lake, and we couldn't be more ready to welcome you.

There's something about live orchestral music under an open sky, the kind of evening that feels larger than ordinary life, that you find yourself talking about long after the last note fades.

Gates open at 4 PM; program starts at 5 PM. Grab your blankets, bring your people, and settle in for something truly special. We'll see you out here.

For information about shuttle buses, our drop-off-only location, and who can park on-site, please visit our page. We have videos going over all this information to make tonight seamless for you!

Today, we're proud to recognize our Patron Sponsors for Nashville Symphony by the Lake 🎶Every sponsor plays an important...
06/03/2026

Today, we're proud to recognize our Patron Sponsors for Nashville Symphony by the Lake 🎶

Every sponsor plays an important role in making this event a success. Through your support, thousands of community members and visitors can gather to enjoy a beautiful evening of music in one of Middle Tennessee's most historic settings.

Thank you for believing in the power of community, the arts, and experiences that bring people together.

We couldn't do it without you ✨

Rock Castle will be officially open for tours beginning this weekend, June 5th and 6th! 🎉To celebrate the reopening with...
06/02/2026

Rock Castle will be officially open for tours beginning this weekend, June 5th and 6th! 🎉

To celebrate the reopening with as many members of our community as possible, tours of Rock Castle will be open-house style for this weekend only! Tours will begin on the back porch of the Castle! 🏰

Explore the oldest home in Middle Tennessee and meet our incredible team of volunteer docents, who are happy to share information about each room as you step back in time!⏳

Hear stories of danger on the frontier, star-crossed lovers, and even take a peek “behind the bookcase” at the special display items straight from the Rock Castle Archives! 📜🪶

Rock Castle will be open from 9:30am to 4:30pm both Friday and Saturday. Tours are $8 for adults, and children 12 & under are free!

We can’t wait to see you this weekend! ✨

06/02/2026

The wait is almost over! The Nashville Symphony by the Lake is coming to Historic Rock Castle this Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026! Get ready for a magical, free community event under the stars that you won’t want to miss.

Pack your lawn chairs, grab a blanket, and prepare to sprawl out on the lawn for an unforgettable evening of live music, delicious food, and neighborhood fun. 🧺✨

📅 The Main Stage Lineup
We don't just have the symphony—we have two incredible opening acts to kick off the celebration:

5:00 PM: Kyshana takes the stage, performing live with a dynamic four-piece band! 🎸

6:00 PM: Brother Maven keeps the energy moving with another fantastic four-piece set! 🎙️

7:30 PM: The Nashville Symphony begins their spectacular performance by the lake! 🎼

🚌 Skip the Traffic: Use Our Free Shuttles!
To make your evening seamless, remember that there is no general admission on-site parking at Rock Castle. (For shuttle instructions, please visit our check out our latest instruction videos)

Instead, park at either of our two convenient shuttle locations and ride in comfort:

Hendersonville High School (HHS) – Home of the Commandos!
Heritage Park / Batey Farm – Located at 119 East Drive.

Our air-conditioned buses will be running back and forth all night long to bring you straight to the event site and safely back to your vehicle at the end of the evening.

🍔 On-Site Food Trucks
Come hungry! We will have a variety of local food trucks lined up and ready to serve dinner and treats throughout the entire event.

Gates open at 4:00 PM, so gather your friends, tell your neighbors, and come join us for a beautiful night by the water! 🌊🎻

A heartfelt thank you to our Benefactor Sponsors for Nashville Symphony by the Lake 🎻🌅Community events of this scale are...
06/02/2026

A heartfelt thank you to our Benefactor Sponsors for Nashville Symphony by the Lake 🎻🌅

Community events of this scale are only possible because of the businesses, organizations, and individuals who choose to support them. Your partnership helps create an evening filled with music, memories, and meaningful connections for our entire community.

Thank you for helping bring this special event to life.

06/02/2026

We are looking forward to sunny skies and perfect temperatures this Wednesday, June 3rd, for the Nashville Symphony by the Lake at Historic Rock Castle!

We’ve had several people ask: "Can we be dropped off at the event?"

The answer is absolutely yes! If you are taking a rideshare or having a friend drop you off, we have a designated drop-off zone to make it quick and easy. Here is exactly how it works:

📍 Drop-Off Location:
Our official drop-off zone is located at the back of the Rock Castle property, right where Castle View Drive dead-ends into Rock Castle's back driveway.

What to look for: Look for the "Drop-Off Location Only - No Parking" sign and the yellow traffic barricades.

🚶 How it Works
Pull Up & Unload: Pull up to the designated zone and let your passengers safely exit the vehicle.

Keep It Moving: To prevent traffic from backing up, we just ask that everyone make quick transitions along the road so the next vehicle can pull up.

Walk to the Stage: Guests will walk right down the back driveway, past the yellow barricades, and straight over to the event center where the symphony will be performing!

📅 Quick Event Reminders

Gates Open: 4:00 PM

Music Starts: 5:00 PM

What to Bring: Don't forget your lawn chairs or a blanket so you can sit back and enjoy the show! 🧺

Food & Drinks: We will have delicious on-site food trucks ready to serve you all evening. 🍔

It's going to be a truly spectacular night for our community, and we can't wait to see you all there!

06/01/2026

It might be rainy today, but we are anticipating sunny skies this Wednesday, June 3rd, for the Nashville Symphony by the Lake at Historic Rock Castle!

If you aren't parking at our Batey Farm location, your second parking option is Hendersonville High School (HHS)—Home of the Commandos!

Here is exactly what you need to know about parking and catching the shuttle at HHS:

📍 Shuttle Pickup Location: Behind HHS Gymnasium

What to look for: The pickup zone is right along the road next to the greenhouse and the gym entrance.

🚗 Where to Park
You are welcome to park anywhere in the main HHS parking lot. You have two great options:

👉 The Stadium Side: Parking here gives you the shortest walk straight to the gym entrance to meet the buses.

👉 The Cherokee Side: You can also park here, though keep in mind it will require a slightly longer walk across the lot to reach the shuttle pickup location.

📅 Event Schedule
4:00 PM: Gates open & Shuttles start running!
5:00 PM: Program begins

We will also have delicious on-site food trucks ready to serve you. It’s going to be an incredible night for our community, so grab your family, tell your friends, and we will see you there!

06/01/2026

The Nashville Symphony is coming to Historic Rock Castle this Wednesday, June 3rd, and we want everyone to have a seamless experience getting to and from this magical night under the stars! ✨

As a reminder, there is no general admission on-site parking at Rock Castle (on-site is reserved exclusively for musicians, sponsors, and event staff with placards). But don’t worry, we have a fantastic shuttle system ready to take care of you!

📍 Shuttle Parking Location #1: Batey Farm / Heritage Park
Our first major shuttle lot is located right here in Hendersonville!
Address: 119 East Drive, Hendersonville, TN
What to Look For: You’ll see the old house, the iconic white barn, and a huge open field.

🚗 How to Park & Ride:
➡️ Enter the Property: Drive in where East Drive intersects with Trail East down on the corner.

➡️ Park with Ease: Pull into the field, where our helpful crew will be ready to assist and guide you to a spot.

➡️ Head to the Bus: Walk down the grassy drive leading from the barn down to the road.

➡️ Catch Your Ride: You will load onto our air-conditioned shuttle buses right on the road. We will have local police officers on-site to direct traffic and keep everyone completely safe!

The shuttles will drop you right off at Historic Rock Castle for the symphony, and they will be running back and forth all night long to bring you right back to your vehicle whenever you're ready to head home.

📅 Event Schedule
Gates Open: 4:00 PM
Program Starts: 5:00 PM

Tell your friends, grab your lawn chairs, and come out for an amazing community night! Stay tuned for our next video detailing our second shuttle parking location!

Address

139 Rock Castle Lane
Hendersonville, TN
37075

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

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