Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum Celebrates 60 Years
The Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum at Grovewood Village will celebrate its 60th anniversary on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with a special community event from 11am to 5pm. The celebration will honor the museum’s milestone year and pay tribute to its founder, the visionary Asheville businessman Harry D. Blomberg (1904–1991), whose entrepreneurial spirit shaped both the city’s automotive landscape and the legacy of Biltmore Industries.
This free event is open to the community, and no tickets are required.
Opened on June 20, 1966, the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum preserves Blomberg’s remarkable collection of vintage and antique automobiles—including highlights such as a rare 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham and Asheville’s own 1922 American LaFrance fire truck. Housed in the former weaving shop of Biltmore Industries, the museum stands as a testament to Blomberg’s lifelong passion for cars, history, and community.
Honoring Harry Blomberg: From Woodfin Street to Automotive Icon
Born and raised on Woodfin Street—just around the corner from Thomas Wolfe’s mother’s boarding house, the Old Kentucky Home—Blomberg was a childhood friend of the famed writer. In 1941, when the historic home faced demolition, he stepped in and purchased the property to save it, later returning it to the Wolfe family. Today, the Old Kentucky Home is a state-owned museum and National Historic Landmark thanks in part to Blomberg’s preservation efforts.
Blomberg’s automotive career began early. At 19, he and friend Clarence Sluder opened one of Asheville’s first filling stations. He soon expanded into Harry’s Motor Inns, one of the region’s earliest enterprises to combine fuel, service, and vehicle storage on one site. His big break came in 1937 when he was appointed Cadillac and LaSalle distributor for Western North Carolina. His Haywood Street showroom grew to include Pontiac and other makes before relocating to Patton Avenue in 1967, where the family business still operates today as Harry’s On The Hill.
A New Chapter: Blomberg and Biltmore Industries
In 1953, Blomberg visited Biltmore Industries intending only to buy a table. Instead, he spotted a moonshine still in a corner; when told he could only have it if he bought the entire property, he struck a deal in just 20 minutes—purchasing Biltmore Industries for $50,000. The still now resides at the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum.
Blomberg rehired former employees, restarting the weaving operation in 1954 with eight looms and honoring the craftsmanship traditions established by Eleanor Vance, Charlotte Yale, and, later, Fred Seely. With savvy marketing, he expanded the brand’s national reach, sending fabric samples to custom tailors and securing placements in prestigious stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, and Filene’s.
Although the looms eventually fell silent in 1984, Blomberg’s stewardship preserved the campus and its legacy, enabling today’s Grovewood Village to flourish as a center for arts, history, and craft.
60th Anniversary Event Highlights (June 13, 2026 | 11am–5pm):
● 11:30am: Guided Biltmore Industries History Tour
● 2:00pm: Talk by historian Heath Towson on the life of Harry Blomberg
● Light refreshments & museum-themed giveaways
● Free admission for all guests
Parking
Free parking is available on-site at Grovewood Village; however, parking is relatively limited, and carpooling is always encouraged. The Grove Park Inn does have a parking garage directly across the street from us. From January 6 through September 30, they offer 1 hour of complimentary parking. After that, 1-3 hours is $14, 3-6 hours is $24.