Lights, Camera, Hendersonville NC: How North Carolina’s Film Boom Benefits Our Mountain Town

If you’ve been wondering what’s it like living in Hendersonville these days, here’s a fun twist: you’re not just sharing the mountains with hikers and apple growers anymore—you’re sharing them with filmmakers, camera crews, and storytellers from around the world.

North Carolina’s film and television industry generated an estimated $185.5 million in direct in-state spending in 2025, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. That number places 2025 among the strongest production years since the state’s current film grant program launched in 2015. And while a lot of that action happens in the usual suspects like Wilmington and Charlotte, the ripple effects are absolutely reaching communities like Hendersonville.

North Carolina’s Film Revival, by the Numbers

The 2025 totals aren’t just a headline—they’re a sign that film and TV are firmly back in the mix as a major economic driver for our state. Production spending flowed into:

• Feature films
• Streaming and television series
• Reality and unscripted programming
• Commercials and branded content
• Independent and smaller-scale projects

State officials estimate that more than 7,000 jobs were supported across North Carolina last year, ranging from on-set crew and actors to caterers, drivers, carpenters, and local vendors. When a production chooses North Carolina, it’s not just renting cameras—it’s renting hotel rooms, ordering from restaurants, hiring local talent, and putting real dollars into local communities.

Gov. Josh Stein summed it up well in a recent release, noting that producers choose North Carolina because they find a supportive environment and an experienced workforce that understands how to get the job done. You can read more about the statewide program and recent productions on the official North Carolina Film Office site.

Why Filmmakers Love the Hendersonville Area

So what does this have to do with Hendersonville specifically? Quite a lot, actually. Directors and location scouts are always on the hunt for fresh backdrops—and Henderson County offers a visual buffet that’s hard to beat.

Within a short drive, a production can find:

• Quintessential small-town Main Street with historic brick storefronts and walkable charm.
• Blue Ridge vistas that look like a movie poster, especially around the Blue Ridge Parkway and Pisgah National Forest.
• Working farms and orchards (think late-summer apple harvest scenes) that feel authentically Carolina.
• Waterfalls and rivers that double as dramatic outdoor locations.
• Quiet neighborhoods perfect for storylines set in cozy mountain communities.

Pair those looks with easy access to Asheville Regional Airport, a growing creative community, and a business-friendly climate, and you start to see why the Hendersonville area appears more often on filmmakers’ location lists. Even when productions base themselves in nearby Asheville or Charlotte, it’s common for them to slip down to Hendersonville for key scenes or B-roll.

How Film Production Boosts Local Life

If you already live here—or you’re planning to move to Hendersonville—you’ll mostly feel the film boom in subtle, positive ways. It’s not about red carpets and paparazzi; it’s about steady, local opportunity that blends right into everyday mountain life.

Here are a few ways production dollars can touch Hendersonville residents and businesses:

• Jobs and side gigs: From drivers and extras to scenic carpenters and makeup artists, productions hire locally whenever they can.
• Boosted business for locals: Restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, and boutiques see spikes when a film crew is in town for a few days or weeks.
• Short-term rentals and lodging: Crews often fill hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals, particularly in shoulder seasons.
• Long-term creative energy: Some film professionals fall in love and decide to relocate to Hendersonville, bringing year-round skills and entrepreneurship with them.

For many people considering moving to Hendersonville, this creative undercurrent is a big plus. There’s a sense that you’re not just living in a scenic town; you’re living in a place that’s plugged into larger cultural and economic currents across North Carolina and the Southeast.

Everyday Perks: When Your Town Looks Like a Movie Set

Film popularity also has a quieter, quality-of-life benefit: it highlights exactly what makes living in Hendersonville so appealing. When locations scouts rave about Main Street’s walkability, or directors shoot sunrise over a local overlook, they’re confirming what residents already know—this place looks and feels special.

Imagine this as part of your normal week:

• Sipping coffee downtown while a small indie film sets up around the corner.
• Seeing a restaurant you frequent pop up in a streaming show.
• Running into a friend who just spent the weekend as a background extra on a nearby set.
• Attending a local film screening or festival that showcases scenes shot right here in Henderson County.

These aren’t everyday occurrences, but they’re increasingly part of the “texture” of what’s it like living in Hendersonville today—small-town rhythms with the occasional splash of on-screen magic.

Thinking of Relocating? Hendersonville Has Range

If you’re planning to relocate to Hendersonville, you might be looking for more than just film buzz. The good news: Hendersonville’s strengths run far deeper than its cinematic good looks.

People are drawn here for a mix of lifestyle advantages:

• Four true seasons without the extremes: spring blossoms, warm summers, crisp falls, and mild winters.
• Outdoor access to hiking, cycling, paddling, and waterfall-chasing, all within a short drive.
• A vibrant downtown full of local eateries, breweries, galleries, and live music.
• Strong sense of community with festivals, farmers markets, and volunteer opportunities.
• Proximity to Asheville for airport access, healthcare, and a wider range of cultural events.

To get a deeper feel for neighborhoods, housing options, and local insights, you can explore the Henderson County Homes Learning Center at What Is It Like Living in Hendersonville, NC?. It’s a great companion if you’re researching schools, commute times, or simply trying to picture daily life before a big move.

Film-Friendly Fun: Things to Do in Hendersonville

Of course, even if the cameras never rolled again, there would still be plenty of things to do in Hendersonville. If you’re scouting the area—either as a future resident or a future extra—consider this your short list:

• Stroll Historic Main Street: Grab a coffee, browse boutiques, and enjoy the bear statues and seasonal flower displays.
• Tour local orchards: In late summer and fall, Henderson County’s apple farms come alive with u-pick, hayrides, and cider tastings.
• Hit the trails: Explore nearby DuPont State Recreational Forest, Pisgah National Forest, or the Blue Ridge Parkway.
• Sample the craft scene: Breweries and cideries dotted around town make for an easy evening out.
• Catch local events: From Garden Jubilee to the Apple Festival, there’s nearly always something happening downtown.

Visit the official Visit Hendersonville site for a current calendar of events, festivals, and seasonal happenings.

Hendersonville’s Future in the Spotlight

As North Carolina’s film and television industry continues to invest hundreds of millions in the state, towns like Hendersonville are well-positioned to benefit—quietly, steadily, and in a way that complements the community’s existing strengths.

If you’re moving to Hendersonville or just starting to flirt with the idea, know this: you’re choosing a place where mountain-town authenticity and creative opportunity coexist. You might spend your mornings hiking or strolling Main Street and your evenings streaming a show that, just maybe, was filmed not too far from your front porch.

And whether the cameras are rolling or not, Hendersonville will keep doing what it does best—offering a welcoming, scenic, and delightfully livable corner of the North Carolina mountains to call home.