Glass Blowing Near Asheville, NC: 2,000 Degrees of Fun
If you’re looking for glass blowing near Asheville, NC, look no further than Hearth Glass and Gallery. About 40 minutes from Asheville, this gem is located in Burnsville, one of the best mountain towns in NC. Since we have birthdays close together, my dad and I decided to take a glass blowing class to celebrate, and we had a wonderful time! Here’s why I think this activity is one of the best things to do near Asheville, NC.
Why You Should Visit Burnsville, NC
Burnsville doesn’t get the same spotlight as Asheville, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a small, walkable mountain town with a Main Street lined with shops. There, you’ll find Hearth Glass inside a beautifully retrofitted old Gulf gas station. The bones of the building are still there, but instead of gas pumps, there’s a roaring 2,000-plus-degree furnace and a gallery full of handblown glass catching the light. If you’re putting together a list of things to do in Burnsville, NC, this is an easy first stop and will allow for lots of time exploring the area after you’ve made your piece.
And if you’re looking for a place to stay in Burnsville, some of you may remember our stay at the NuWray Hotel, the oldest continuously operating hotel in North Carolina, sitting right in the town square since 1833. It’s an easy walk from there to Hearth Glass, which makes for a perfect Burnsville itinerary if you want to turn your class into an overnight trip.
A Family Legacy Behind the Furnace
Hearth Glass & Gallery was founded in 2022 by siblings Keikichi and Tadayoshi Littleton, the grandchildren of Harvey K. Littleton, widely credited as the father of the American Studio Glass Movement. Keikichi now owns both Hearth and Terrane, a glass line by artist Colin O’Reilly, and one of the studio’s affiliated lines has even landed on the shelves at Williams-Sonoma. There’s something special about learning a decades-old craft from people who are still keeping it in the family. They’re a major part of the reason Burnsville has become such a hub for glass and craft in Western North Carolina.
What to Expect at Your Glass Blowing Class
When you take a glass blowing class, you get to choose what you want to make: a stemless wine glass, a cup, two Christmas ornaments, or a vase. Then you get to choose your base colors, and you can add either black or white to deepen or soften them. We decided on confetti mix and lavender, and set to work on completing our stemless wine glasses.
Our instructor, Kevin, made the whole thing feel approachable, even though neither of us had ever worked with molten glass. He was patient, clearly knew the craft inside and out, and walked us through every step of gathering the glass, adding color, blowing it out, and shaping it. It took about an hour total for the two of us to finish our stemless wine glasses, working one-on-one with him the whole time.
One thing to note: The glass needs to cool slowly overnight, so we picked ours up the next morning.
Why You Should Try Glass Blowing in Burnsville, NC
If you’re searching for glass blowing near Asheville, NC, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s so much fun to do something different with someone you love. Whether it’s a daddy-daughter date, a girls’ group outing, or a date night, glass blowing in Burnsville should be at the top of your list.
Add in the history, the gallery afterward, and a town that’s earned its reputation as one of the best mountain towns in NC (including a feature in Travel + Leisure), and you’ve got a full weekend trip.
A few tips before you go:
- Book your class 2–3 weeks in advance, as spots fill up fast.
- Plan to stay overnight or plan to come back at a later date for your piece.
- Leave time to browse the gallery, which features work from dozens of local glass artists, not just the studio’s own pieces.
- Book your class during the spring, winter, or fall. Summer temperatures make it even hotter near the furnace.
- Check out my post on the NuWray Hotel for more ideas of things to do in Burnsville, NC.
