Introducing the Legend Herself, Ivy
If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting Waynesville NC‘s main street and detoured down Depot Street to the coffee shop and adjacent leather shop (us), you probably already know her. She probably greeted you with a chirp as you said, “man, it smells good in here” and you probably gave her a little head scratch while taking in the artfully curated store full of leather goods handmade by our leather crafters over on the other side of town. Our retail associate probably said hi and tried to engage you in friendly banter, but you probably only had eyes for Ivy and the ambiance of the 100+ year old building our shop currently occupies that she calls home.
Our founders, Spencer and Courtney, are big cat lovers. There are many cats and always counting in their care. But Ivy is special. They adopted her from FUR when she was a year old and had already had a liter of kittens, it was clear from the start that she is a star and we know y’all feel the same. That’s why this Norwegian Forest Cat is debuting her second collection of apparel here at Axe and Awl Leatherworks. The softest, sweetest merch you’ll ever wear: Ivy’s Good Cat Motel ringer tee, crewneck, and long sleeve tee.
The Lore Behind the Design
The building that houses our retail shop in downtown Waynesville North Carolina has definitely had nine lives and then some. Once a church, a diner, a law office, type writer repair facility, cafe, motel, and for now our leather shop. We like to think Ivy’s lived all nine of her lives here- it only makes sense, she just fits.
Our new line of Ivy merch tells the story of one of her former lives, when the building operated as The Good Cat Motel. As this is the second drop of Ivy merch, this is also chapter 2 in our series dubbed The Forgotten Waynesville Society– where Spencer writes the tales of Waynesville’s storied past so Ivy can go down in history as the goodest cat there ever was on this side of the Smoky Mountains.
The Story of Ivy’s Good Cat Motel, Nestled in Western NC
The second chapter in our Forgotten Waynesville Society series dives into the eerie legend of Ivy’s Good Cat Motel — a downtown Waynesville relic nestled beside the historic courthouse, lost to time but not to memory.
The motel first opened in 1942 and quickly became a beloved stop for traveling families across the South. It even gained national attention as the filming location for the 1955 Frank Sinatra classic, In the Pines. But things weren’t always so sunny at Ivy’s.
Originally known as the Depot Street Motor Lodge, the motel had a darker past riddled with mismanagement, unlocked doors, and fallen guests. That is, until the mysterious disappearance of its original owner, Beatrice Sinclairt, one stormy night in 1963. Locals say she vanished during a strange late-night exchange with a group of feral cats whom most believe where fed up with the motels declining visitors. The next morning, the motel had a new name—Ivy’s Good Cat Motel—and a new feline manager, one who’s never missed a day of work since.
Today, the original motel may be gone, but its spirit lives on through whispered stories, ghostly sightings, and the small group of feral cats that still roam the property… each of them bearing an uncanny resemblance to cats past.
Celebrate Our Favorite Western NC Legend
The other week two local men came into the shop to browse and have a beer. One said to the other, “I’m thinking about stealing Ivy.” His friend joked back, “there’s about 3 people here who will shoot you if you try to.” Every one wants a piece of her, and now’s your chance to wear yours in a crew neck, ringer tee, or long sleeve. Guaranteed softest in the South.
