Home Builds – The McFarland Parlor
Hi, I’m Steven Gorter and I’ll be taking you through a little virtual tour of The McFarland Parlor.
A Madison County, NC native and an 11th generation tobacco farmer, Mr. McFarland is no stranger to the tobacco industry or the community it encompasses. He is the owner, CEO and operator of The Carolina Cigar Company which has called Asheville, NC its flagship store home for over 30 years. Carolina Cigar Company grows their tobacco exclusively out of the Dominican Republic and sells their cigars all over the world. Mr. McFarland resides in his family built nearly 200 year old farm house with his lovely wife Sandy, a few pets and some horses.
My fiancé and I are invited over to his home to once again enjoy his company and fine Dominican cigars, and of course, learn about his smoking parlor.
Upon entering the parlor you are immediately surrounded by a warm cozy feel with very dark wood walls, a scarlet red pool table, gorgeous area rugs and comfortable leather chairs. Christmas decorations and; as always, a full bar welcomes us on this night. Table top lighters and ash trays accompany each chair. The full bar encompasses a plethora of liquors to choose from.
His parlor; much like a museum, has many beautiful items that each has their own story of how they ended up there. Mr. McFarland keeps music playing in the lounge and it ultimately sets a super comfortable and relaxing mood for any day. And made these next few Q&As much easier:
What is the history of the house?
“Built in 1869, We used to grow tobacco here, behind I’ve got a big field way behind the mountain here….there’s a field in front and then we have some up at Ivy Hill where we used to grow tobacco….our first crop we grew was burley tobacco that we sold to England for $0.06 a pound.”
Was the smoking parlor always a part of the house or did you add it on?
“Yes, but I had to do a lot of work to it but it was not a smoking parlor it was just a game room and then I changed it and built the bar and added the things I wanted to add like the humidor.”
Are there any items in here that you would call your favorites?
“Well I love my Remington’s (Bronze Horse figurines) I love my bear skin rug. I also have a grizzly bear rug coming from my Alaskan dealer.”
Was there anything in specific that inspired you to give it the look it has now?
“Most of the work was already done, I just kind of refaced it, and back in the day when my granny was still here it was just a game room.”
What’s your favorite spirit to enjoy when in here?
“Well I’m a bourbon drinker, I’m a whiskey drinker too but I prefer Bourbon.”
Do you have a favorite memory in here?
“I was very close to my grandmother and I remember the dresses she wore, I was at the refrigerator and I started walking and where my office is in there used to be my grandmothers bedroom and she was standing in the door in a grey dress with little blue flowers, I remember it like it was yesterday. And she was standing there watching me. It came and then *snaps finger* it left.”
What future plans, if any, do you have for the parlor?
“I want a fireplace and a walk in humidor, that’s my plans. Those 2 things and I’ll be set.”
