Craggy Prison, a history

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Edgy Mama asked, so we thought we’d answer her query about the old Craggy Prison. Here’s some interesting history. Who knew they still operate a laundry there? Here you go, from the state Department of Corrections web site:

Craggy Correctional Center, near Asheville, is a medium security prison for adult males.

Dedicated in May 1924 by the Buncombe County Commissioners, Craggy was one of 51 county prisons for which the state assumed responsibility with the passage of the Conner bill in 1931. It was one of 61 prisons renovated or built during the late 1930’s to house inmates who worked building roads.

The General Assembly provided $8.4 million for replacement of the old prison with a new 312 bed facility as part of the $28.5 million Emergency Prison Facilities Development program authorized in 1987. The new prison, located about three miles from the old site, opened in May 1989.

The prison has three 104 bed dormitories and seven support buildings. Craggy was the first state prison to install an electronic detection system in the prison security fence to alert staff to attempted escapes.

Still operating in the old prison is a Correction Enterprise laundry. Eight Enterprise employees supervise 52 inmates who wash daily about 36 loads, with each load containing 200 sets of inmate uniforms, in six industrial sized machines. Inmates may be assigned to Department of Transportation road crews or as maintenance or kitchen help at the prison.