This Beautiful Rhododendron Wood Smoking Pipe Artifact These were sold as souvenirs to Tourist who went up the mountain. Mount Pisgah Where George Washington Vanderbilt's built his Fabulous Buck Spring Hunting Lodge, which now lies in ruin. This was once a part of the 125,000 acre estate of George Washington Vanderbilt's, there was a 25 mile dirt road that connected the hunting lodge to the Biltmore Estate.These souvenir are believed to have been sold at the foot of the mountain, at the time there was one road in the morning for up traffic only and in the evening down traffic only. at the base of the mountain was a souvenir stand own by Paul and Leota Pless cousins of the Cogburns. These souvenirs were made by the local peoples in the area and sold by the Paul and Leota Pless's, cousins to William Cogburns at there souvenir stand around 1920's or the 1930's. This vintage pipe is an example of some of the local craftsmanship of this era. When there was only one road up the mountain, in the early part of the day, traffic was only allowed up the mountain and in the evening only down traffic. I have not seen anywhere else online another example from this souvenir stand. According to Mr. William Cogburn who is very familiar with the history of Mount Pisgah Mountain and the Vanderbilt's hunting lodge this pipe is probably from this stand. I found an article in a local N.C. newspaper online that lead me to Mr. William Cogburn and the history of the extraordinary Rhododendron Pipe.
