The North Carolina Arboretum is located on land within the Pisgah National Forest, and is operated under a special use permit issued by the National Forests in North Carolina.

Established in 1986 by the General Assembly as an affiliate of the University of North Carolina, the Arboretum was founded nearly a century after Frederick Law Olmsted, the 'Father of American Landscape Architecture,' first envisioned such an institution near Asheville as part of his legacy to the Biltmore Estate.

The permit authorizing The N.C. Arboretum to occupy National Forest system lands does not give the Arboretum the authority to allow for other commercial activities on National Forest land. Please visit the National Forests in North Carolina website or call the Pisgah Ranger District at (828) 877-3265 for more information regarding permitting.