A blacksmithing experience is a hands-on guided session where you forge a real object from raw steel — no experience needed. At The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry, 20 minutes north of downtown Asheville in Mars Hill, NC, guests choose what to make, do 80–90% of the work themselves, and leave with a blade they forged with their own hands. Sessions run 2.5–3 hours, start from $160 per person, and are open to all skill levels. Over 1,700 five-star reviews. Almost everyone says it was harder than they expected and more rewarding than they can put into words.
You've seen it on Airbnb. Maybe on a friend's Instagram. A photo of someone standing at an anvil, sparks catching light, holding something that looks like a knife they just pulled out of another century. You thought: is that actually something I could do?
The answer is yes. Here's exactly what a blacksmithing experience involves — what happens, what you make, what to wear, and why people who were certain it wasn't for them end up being the ones who can't stop talking about it.
1. What a Blacksmithing Experience Actually Is
A blacksmithing experience is a guided, hands-on session where you forge a functional object from raw steel using fire, a hammer, and an anvil. You are not watching a demonstration. You are not observing from behind a rope. You are doing the work — heating real steel in a propane forge, pulling it out glowing orange at 1,800°F, and hammering it into shape on a real anvil.
Best for: First-timers · Curious beginners · Couples · Groups · Anyone who has ever wanted to make something with their hands
At The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry in Mars Hill, NC, every session is led by Jeremy Ramsey — a 7th-generation Appalachian with Viking lineage tracing to Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, and a former fireman of 20 years. He discovered a hand-cranked coal forge and a 200-year-old anvil on his 60-acre farm, trained himself, and never looked back. The anvil from that day is still in daily use.
This is not a theme park version of blacksmithing. It is a real working blacksmith shop on a real working farm. The fire is real. The steel is real. The thing you leave with is real.
"I work in travel and consider myself blessed to have done amazing things around the globe. This was perhaps the most unique, authentic and immersive experience I've ever had." — Verified Airbnb Guest
2. What You Make
Every guest chooses what to forge before the session begins — and every finished piece goes home with the person who made it.
Best for: Anyone who wants a permanent handmade keepsake · Gift recipients · People who want a souvenir that actually means something
At The Forge, guests can forge:
- Knife — the classic. A full working blade shaped from a flat bar of steel.
- Chef's knife — longer profile, kitchen-ready when finished.
- Cleaver — wide, heavy, satisfying to make.
- Dagger — double-edged, symmetrical, requires precision on both sides.
- Throwing axe — popular with groups. A completely different forging motion than a blade.
- Fire poker — twisted handle, functional for anyone with a fireplace or fire pit at home.
If you're not sure what to make before you arrive, Jeremy will help you decide. Most guests have an instinct — and most are right.
3. What to Expect During a Session
A forge session runs 2.5–3 hours and follows a natural arc from arrival to finished blade — and every part of it is worth your full attention.
Best for: People who want to know what they're walking into · Anyone who's never been inside a working blacksmith shop
You arrive via a private road on Jeremy's 60-acre farm in Mars Hill — 20 minutes north of downtown Asheville. Jeremy meets every group like old friends and takes you through the shop: the forge, the blades on the walls, and the Throne of Blades he built from hundreds of pieces he forged himself. He tells you the story of his family and how the forge came to be before anyone touches the fire.
After the safety briefing — thorough, clear, not terrifying — you choose your piece and the work begins. The process: heat the steel in the propane forge until it glows the right color, pull it out, move to the anvil, and hammer. Repeat many times. Each pass changes the shape. Jeremy guides every step without doing the work for you. When the piece has its final form, it gets quenched, ground, and finished until it looks like the thing you set out to make.
Most guests stand around afterward not wanting to leave. Several have already booked their next session before reaching the car.
"Jeremy was a great teacher without acting like a helicopter dad." — Verified Airbnb Guest
"Ready to see what it feels like? Sessions fill fast — especially fall and summer weekends."
4. Is a Blacksmithing Experience Right for You?
A blacksmithing experience is right for almost anyone — and the people most likely to be wrong about that are the ones who think they can't do it.
"I'm not strong enough." Blacksmithing is technique, not strength. When you hit the steel correctly — angle, timing, follow-through — the hammer does the work. Jeremy teaches you this within the first few swings. Guests in their 60s and 70s regularly find the rhythm faster than people half their age.
"I've never done anything like this." Neither has almost everyone who books. Most guests have never held a hammer in a forge before. That's expected. Jeremy's entire teaching approach is built around first-timers. He doesn't let anyone leave with something they're not proud of — and he means it.
"Is it safe?" Yes. The safety briefing covers everything before you touch the forge. Jeremy provides leather aprons and all safety equipment. The main requirements — closed-toe shoes, long pants, no loose sleeves — handle the rest.
"I'm not a 'hands-on' person." This is the one that surprises people the most. They come in skeptical and leave changed. The forge doesn't care what you do for work or how coordinated you are. It only cares what you do in the next two and a half hours — and that turns out to be a surprisingly level playing field.
Vikings Don't Cry was named the most unique Airbnb experience in North Carolina by Only In Your State, and with over 1,700 five-star reviews from guests across all 50 states, nearly all of them say some version of the same thing: they were wrong about thinking it wasn't for them.
5. What to Wear and Bring
Dress for the forge, not the Instagram photo — though the odds are good you'll end up with both.
- Closed-toe shoes — required. No sandals, no flip-flops. The floor of a working blacksmith shop is not the place for open feet.
- Long pants. Jeans or work pants are ideal. Avoid anything you're precious about.
- A comfortable top. Natural fabrics like cotton are best near open flame. No loose sleeves, no synthetics.
- Layers. The forge runs hot, but the Blue Ridge Mountains can be cool in the morning. You'll warm up fast once you start working.
Jeremy provides leather aprons and all necessary safety equipment. Leave the jewelry at the hotel. Bring water if you run warm. That's genuinely it.
- A blacksmithing experience is a hands-on guided session where you forge a real object from raw steel. No experience, strength, or prior craft knowledge required.
- At The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry in Mars Hill, NC (20 minutes north of downtown Asheville), guests choose from knife, chef's knife, cleaver, dagger, throwing axe, or fire poker — and take their finished piece home.
- Sessions run 2.5–3 hours and are led by Jeremy Ramsey, a 7th-generation Appalachian smith. Guests do 80–90% of the work themselves. Sessions start from $160 per person.
- The most common surprise: people who were sure they couldn't do it end up being the most proud of what they made.
- Wear closed-toe shoes (required), long pants, and a comfortable top. Jeremy provides aprons and all safety gear. Ages 14 and up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blacksmithing experience?
A blacksmithing experience is a guided, hands-on session where you forge a real object from raw steel using fire, a hammer, and an anvil. No experience is required. At The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry in Mars Hill, NC — 20 minutes north of downtown Asheville — guests choose what to make, do 80–90% of the work themselves, and take their finished piece home. Sessions run 2.5–3 hours.
Is a blacksmithing experience safe for beginners?
Yes. Blacksmithing experiences are designed for people with no prior experience. At The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry, Jeremy Ramsey walks every guest through a thorough safety briefing before anyone touches the forge. He guides each step without doing the work for you. Leather aprons and safety equipment are provided. Main requirement: closed-toe shoes, long pants, no loose sleeves.
What do you make at a blacksmithing experience?
At The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry, guests choose from: knife, chef's knife, cleaver, dagger, throwing axe, or fire poker. Every piece is functional — not decorative — and leaves with the guest as a permanent handmade keepsake. Groups can all forge the same item or each choose something different.
How long does a blacksmithing experience take?
A forge session at The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry runs 2.5–3 hours from start to finish — including Jeremy's introduction, the safety briefing, the full forging process, and grinding and finishing the piece. Most guests say the time passes faster than they expect.
What should I wear to a blacksmithing experience?
Wear closed-toe shoes (required — no sandals or flip-flops), long pants, and a top you're comfortable getting warm in. Natural fabrics like cotton are best near open flame. No loose sleeves. Jeremy provides leather aprons and all necessary safety equipment.
Do I need to be physically strong to do a blacksmithing experience?
No. Blacksmithing is about technique, not strength. The hammer does the work when you hit the steel correctly, and Jeremy teaches you exactly how. Guests range from teenagers to people in their 70s, all fitness levels — every one of them left with something they made.
The Forge by Vikings Don't Cry is located at 5406 US-23, Mars Hill, NC — 20 minutes north of downtown Asheville. Sessions run 2.5–3 hours and are open to guests ages 14 and up with no prior experience needed. Groups of 2–8 welcome; up to 12 by arrangement. Learn more and book your session →