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Arden, NC is an unincorporated community in southern Buncombe County, located about 10 miles south of downtown Asheville, with a population of roughly 22,000 to 23,000 residents. It's home to Biltmore Park Town Square, a walkable shopping and dining district, and to some of the region's most prestigious real estate, including The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. In September 2026, Arden will host the inaugural Biltmore Championship, marking the PGA TOUR's return to the Asheville area for the first time in more than 80 years. Between the golf, the outdoor access, and its proximity to downtown Asheville, Arden offers small-town character with genuine convenience.
If you've been searching for information on Arden, NC recently, there's a good chance the PGA TOUR is why. But Arden is worth understanding well beyond one tournament week. Here's a real guide to the area, starting with the news and working through everything else worth knowing.
The PGA TOUR returns to Arden after 80 years
The Biltmore Championship will be contested for the first time September 17 through 20, 2026, at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden. It's a new addition to the PGA TOUR's FedExCup Fall schedule, and it marks the tour's first event in the Asheville area since the Asheville Land of the Sky Open, which ran as an official tournament from 1939 to 1942. Golf Hall of Famer Ben Hogan won the final three editions of that event.
Biltmore Estate and Explore Asheville are co-title sponsors under a four-year agreement, meaning Arden is now on the PGA TOUR's fall calendar through at least 2029, not just for a single year. The tournament will be played on a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, and several national golf outlets have framed the event as more than sport: a symbol of the region's continued recovery following Tropical Storm Helene, and a statement that Western North Carolina is ready to host the world again.
Where is Arden, NC?
Arden sits in southern Buncombe County, roughly 10 miles south of downtown Asheville, nestled between the communities of Skyland and Fletcher near the Henderson County line. It carries the 28704 zip code and sits at an elevation of about 2,200 feet. Arden is unincorporated, meaning it isn't within Asheville's official city limits, but it's firmly part of the greater Asheville metropolitan area and shares in the region's economy, culture, and mountain setting.
The name itself has a literary origin. Arden was founded in 1872 by author and civil engineer Charles Willing Beale, who named the community after the Forest of Arden, the setting of Shakespeare's "As You Like It."
What it's actually like to live in Arden
Arden blends small-town character with real day-to-day convenience. At its center is Biltmore Park Town Square, a walkable, 42-acre mixed-use district with shops, restaurants, a movie theater, and a hotel, developed as a modern town center rather than a typical strip mall. Residents are also close to Asheville Regional Airport and Mission Hospital, both practical considerations that matter as much as scenery when choosing where to live.
Outdoor access is a major part of Arden's appeal. The Blue Ridge Parkway, Pisgah National Forest, the North Carolina Arboretum, and the Bent Creek Experimental Forest are all close by, offering hiking, biking, and trail access without a long drive. Lake Julian Park adds fishing, boating, and picnic space closer to town.
Arden's population is well educated and solidly middle to upper-middle income relative to national and state averages, and the area has seen consistent new home construction in recent years as more residents move in. It has a reputation as a family-friendly community with a healthy local economy.
Home to some of the region's most prestigious real estate
Despite its unincorporated, small-town character, Arden is also home to some of the most sought-after real estate in the Asheville area, most notably The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, a private, gated golf course community and the very course now hosting the Biltmore Championship. Arden's combination of relative privacy, mountain scenery, and proximity to both downtown Asheville and the airport has made it a genuine draw for luxury buyers, not just golf fans watching from the gallery.
A tournament that means more than golf
It's worth noting the timing here. This tournament arrives less than two years after Tropical Storm Helene significantly impacted Western North Carolina. National golf media covering the event have specifically framed its return as a "beacon of hope" and a signal that the region is ready to welcome the world again. For a community that's been working through a real recovery, hosting the PGA TOUR for the first time in more than 80 years is a meaningful marker, not just a scheduling announcement.
Frequently asked questions
Is Arden, NC part of Asheville?
Arden is not within Asheville's official city limits. It's an unincorporated community in southern Buncombe County, but it's considered part of the greater Asheville metropolitan area.
Where is Arden, NC located?
Arden is located in southern Buncombe County, about 10 miles south of downtown Asheville, between the communities of Skyland and Fletcher.
Is Arden, NC a good place to live?
Arden is known for a family-friendly atmosphere, a walkable town center at Biltmore Park, strong outdoor access, and proximity to both downtown Asheville and the airport. It's also home to prestigious communities like The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
What is Arden, NC known for?
Historically, Arden is known for Biltmore Park Town Square and its proximity to Biltmore Estate. As of 2026, it's also becoming known as the host site of the new Biltmore Championship, the PGA TOUR's first event in the Asheville area in more than 80 years.
When is the Biltmore Championship in Arden, NC?
The inaugural Biltmore Championship will be played September 17 through 20, 2026, at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden.
Curious what living in Arden actually looks like?
Whether the PGA TOUR brought you here or you're genuinely exploring a move to the area, Arden is worth a closer look. Contact us to talk through what living in Arden could look like for you, or visit our Arden Area Guide to explore the wider area.