Chimney Rock Park
Encyclopedia
Chimney Rock State Park is a North Carolina state park in Chimney Rock
, Rutherford County
, North Carolina
in the United States
. The 4531 acres (18.3 km²) park is located 25 miles (40.2 km) southeast of Asheville
, North Carolina
, and is owned by the state of North Carolina.
It offers hiking trails for all skill levels, spectacular views, the Devil's Head balancing rock
and a 404 feet (123.1 m) waterfall
, Hickory Nut Falls
. Its most notable feature is a 315 feet (96 m) rock formation
, a granite
monolith
, Chimney Rock, accessible by elevator and providing views of the park and surrounding countryside. Areas within the park as well as surrounding the park were featured prominently in the 1984 film A Breed Apart
and most of the final scenes of the 1992 adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans
, including the Huron negotiation, the chase along the cliff, the fight between Uncas and Magua, Alice's decision, and the climactic fight between Magua and Chingachgook.
and The Nature Conservancy
purchased a 1568 acres (6.3 km²) tract of land south of Lake Lure known as "World's Edge" for $16 million with the intention of transferring the land as the first to be added to the new state park. World’s Edge contains a mile-long set of steep slopes on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment (an escarpment
of the Blue Ridge Mountains
), with more than 20000 feet (6,096 m) of streams and waterfalls. From an overlook point, the land falls away to provide a stunning view of the Piedmont
. The area provides habitat
for rare flowers
, diverse
forest communities
, endangered
bat
s and salamanders, unique cave-dwelling
invertebrates, and birds such as peregrine falcons and migratory
neotropical species
. Transfer of the World's Edge tract to state ownership was completed in 2006.
announced that the park is now fully owned by the state of North Carolina. The park will continue to be managed by Chimney Rock Management LLC through at least 2011. The state will begin receiving licensing fees based on a percentage of gross revenues. During this time, the state will continue its efforts to acquire land and develop a master plan for the new park, which is now 4531 acres (18.3 km²).
In July 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly recognized the former Chimney Rock Park as the centerpiece of the larger state park to which it was added when it formally approved the renaming of Hickory Nut Gorge State Park to Chimney Rock State Park.
Chimney Rock, North Carolina
Chimney Rock is a village in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 175 at the 2000 census. The village takes its name from a large granite outcropping located on a summit above the village itself in Chimney Rock State Park....
, Rutherford County
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The 4531 acres (18.3 km²) park is located 25 miles (40.2 km) southeast of Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, and is owned by the state of North Carolina.
It offers hiking trails for all skill levels, spectacular views, the Devil's Head balancing rock
Balancing rock
A balancing rock, also called balanced rock or precarious boulder, is a naturally occurring geological formation featuring a large rock or boulder, sometimes of substantial size, resting on other rocks, bedrock or on glacial till. Some formations known by this name only appear to be balancing but...
and a 404 feet (123.1 m) waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
, Hickory Nut Falls
Hickory Nut Falls
Hickory Nut Falls, also known as Hickorynut Falls, is a waterfall located at Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County, North Carolina.-History:...
. Its most notable feature is a 315 feet (96 m) rock formation
Rock formations in the United States
The following is a partial list of rock formations in the United States, by state:-Arizona:*Canyon de Chelly National Monument**Spider Rock*Chiricahua National Monument**Duck on a Rock**Organ Pipe**Mushroom Rock**Sea Captain*Monument Valley...
, a granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
monolith
Monolith
A monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock, or a single piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument...
, Chimney Rock, accessible by elevator and providing views of the park and surrounding countryside. Areas within the park as well as surrounding the park were featured prominently in the 1984 film A Breed Apart
A Breed Apart
A Breed Apart is a 1984 American drama film directed by Philippe Mora. The screenplay by Paul Wheeler concerns the need to protect endangered species, in this case the bald eagle.-Plot:Obsessive collector J.P...
and most of the final scenes of the 1992 adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans (1992 film)
The Last of the Mohicans is a 1992 historical epic film set in 1757 during the French and Indian War and produced by Morgan Creek Pictures. It was directed by Michael Mann and based on James Fenimore Cooper's novel of the same name, although it owes more to George B. Seitz's 1936 film adaptation...
, including the Huron negotiation, the chase along the cliff, the fight between Uncas and Magua, Alice's decision, and the climactic fight between Magua and Chingachgook.
Early Park Development
In May 2005, the North Carolina General Assembly authorized the creation of the "Hickory Nut Gorge State Park." In August 2005 the Carolina Mountain Land ConservancyCarolina Mountain Land Conservancy
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy Is a non-profit conservation organization working to preserve water and land resources in Western North Carolina...
and The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
purchased a 1568 acres (6.3 km²) tract of land south of Lake Lure known as "World's Edge" for $16 million with the intention of transferring the land as the first to be added to the new state park. World’s Edge contains a mile-long set of steep slopes on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment (an escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
), with more than 20000 feet (6,096 m) of streams and waterfalls. From an overlook point, the land falls away to provide a stunning view of the Piedmont
Piedmont (United States)
The Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division...
. The area provides habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
for rare flowers
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
, diverse
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
forest communities
Forest ecology
Forest ecology is the scientific study of the interrelated patterns, processes, flora, fauna and ecosystems in forests. The management of forests is known as forestry, silviculture, and forest management...
, endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s and salamanders, unique cave-dwelling
Troglobite
Troglobites are small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to their dark surroundings. Troglobite species include spiders, insects, fish and others. They live permanently underground and cannot survive outside the cave environment. Troglobite adaptations and characteristics include a heightened...
invertebrates, and birds such as peregrine falcons and migratory
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
neotropical species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. Transfer of the World's Edge tract to state ownership was completed in 2006.
State Acquisition of Chimney Rock Park
In 1902, Dr. Lucius B. Morse purchased 64 acres (258,999 m²) at Chimney Rock Mountain, including the Chimney and cliffs. Morse and his family owned and operated "Chimney Rock Park" as a privately-managed park from 1902 to 2007. Many small tracts purchased over the years expanded the Park to 996 acres (4 km²). In 2006 the land was put up for sale. Many feared the park might fall into the hands of private developers, but in early 2007 the State and the Morse family reached an agreement, and on May 21, 2007, Governor Mike EasleyMike Easley
Michael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
announced that the park is now fully owned by the state of North Carolina. The park will continue to be managed by Chimney Rock Management LLC through at least 2011. The state will begin receiving licensing fees based on a percentage of gross revenues. During this time, the state will continue its efforts to acquire land and develop a master plan for the new park, which is now 4531 acres (18.3 km²).
In July 2007, the North Carolina General Assembly recognized the former Chimney Rock Park as the centerpiece of the larger state park to which it was added when it formally approved the renaming of Hickory Nut Gorge State Park to Chimney Rock State Park.
External links
- Chimney Rock Park official site
- Chimney Rock State Park
- Filming Locations
- State Reaches $24 Million Deal To Buy Chimney Rock Park
- PDF Map of Hickory Nut Gorge Study Area, Including Chimney Rock Park
- Session Law 2005-26 established Hickory Nut Gorge State Park, which later was renamed Chimney Rock State Park.
- Session Law 2007-307 changed the name of Hickory Nut Gorge State Park to Chimney Rock State Park.