The Asheville Labyrinth (Asheville, NC)

by Jim MacKenzie

In the shadow of the famous Asheville "Stay Weird" water tower, which hovers peacefully over the River Arts District, is an experience that would challenge even the most adventurous Greek warrior.

The Asheville Labyrinth summons visitors to connect with its symbolic journey to its deepest, inner secrets. After you've been to the interior and back, you can emerge new and reborn.

Upon arrival, you are invited to enter through a rustic, stick portal. Follow the trail to the real excitement. The stones to the labyrinth have been laid out carefully, giving any maze-runner an interesting puzzle to solve.

You enter and exit the labyrinth at the same spot. While inside, meander along the determined corridor system that leads to a natural center. The length of time to solve the labyrinth really depends on the participant. Although it may be more enjoyable to walk slowly and take your time.

Labyrinths date back in Greek culture almost 2,500 years when King Minos of Crete designed one to house the Minotaur, a mythological beast with the head and tail of a bull and body of a man.

Luckily, you won't find any beasts at the center of the Asheville Labyrinth. But you will find a stone alter that invites you to leave a trinket, a bauble, or a special token or keepsake that is meaningful to you. Solving modern labyrinths is meant to be contemplative and symbolic of rebirth, triumph, or pilgrimage.

There is no fee to use The Asheville Labyrinth. It is located at 122 Riverside Drive in Asheville, right next to the Cotton Mill Site. (Look for the giant "Que' Linda" mural on the building). The bonus is there is lots of free parking along this corridor of the River Arts District.

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JIM MACKENZIE

Jim MacKenzie lives in Asheville, comfortably hidden away in the mountains of Western North Carolina. He's appeared in Bride of the Monster Serial, a horror compilation book about forgotten monster movies. Jim enjoys writing about authors, especially regional, and researching literary history. He enjoys the strange and the uncanny, but never both together. That's just overwhelming. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing music, and travel.

Read Jim's posts here.