Greetings from your friends at Chimney Rock Park!

Well, another school year is almost done, and temperatures are on the rise! Summer is just around the corner here at the Park – early summer flowers are blooming, the trees are in their verdant glory, and the birds and critters are buzzing about in the warm air. Join in on the fun and bring your whole crew – whether it’s family, friends or even the dog – to Chimney Rock for a day at play.

We get all kinds of visitors coming to the Park. We had a very special guest stop by last week to attend one of our field trip programs - Flat Stanley! He has been renowned as a world traveler, and his surprise visit to Chimney Rock was fun for all the students and their teachers - and for our Education Coordinator Emily Walker and Park Ranger Katharine Scala (pictured with Flat Stanley at right).

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park

That’s our new name! As you’ve heard, the state park being developed in our community is called Chimney Rock State Park and will encompass about 5,000 acres in the Hickory Nut Gorge. To distinguish different areas of the Park, they are being named by their locations, so we’ll be Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. Not to worry, if you continue to call us Chimney Rock Park, we promise we’ll still answer!

Superintendent Adrienne Wallace and Park Ranger Katharine Scala are settling in and have an office here on site. Future plans include the addition of another park ranger, a maintenance mechanic and an administrative assistant. The staff will be responsible for the greater Chimney Rock State Park and will assist our management team with the operation of Chimney Rock, the centerpiece of the state park.

Tickets and More on the Web

We’ve decided it’s time to offer online ticket and merchandise sales as well as event registration. Beginning this month, you’ll be able to purchase one-day tickets, Annual Passes, select merchandise including our brand new souvenir book (read about it below) and a special online-only Family Pass. This pass allows Park entrance for two adults and up to three children for $35 – a savings of up to $11.

We’ll also be taking online registrations for our “Off the Beaten Path” Guided Hikes, “Simon Says” Guided Bird Walks, education and homeschool programs and other events.

Watch our home page for the announcement of the official opening of our online store - coming very soon!

Take a Hike – National Trails Day

This year, we’re joining the countrywide celebration of trails. On Saturday, June 7 from 11am to 3pm, we’re planning an action-packed day focusing on trails. We’re offering free guided hikes with Park naturalists and trailwalkers at 11am on the Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop for hikers ages 12 and older and at 1pm on the Hickory Nut Falls trail for all ages. Learn about the flora and fauna along the trail while taking in some of the most spectacular views in Western North Carolina.

Chimney Rock – More Than You Imagined Souvenir Book

Our long-awaited new pictorial souvenir book has hit the shelves in our retail outlets! The book features stunning photography of the Park’s vistas, plant and animal life and geologic formations, as well as historical and seasonal images. Plus, the book tells the story of Chimney Rock, from Dr. Lucius B. Morse’s first impressions of Chimney Rock through our transition to an official North Carolina State Park.

The book retails for only $9.99 and will be available at the Cliff Dwellers gift shop, the Sky Lounge, the Old Rock Café and (very soon) online. This book makes a great souvenir of your visit to the Park or a wonderful gift for someone planning a visit. The remarkable photos will whet any nature-loving appetite. And be sure to check our Events Calendar for a coming-soon book signing by author Kent Priestley.

We Lured the Dragons

Dragons invaded Lake Lure on Saturday, May 10. The inaugural Lure of the Dragons Festival brought together more than 20 teams racing down the Rocky Broad River in canoes decorated to look like Chinese dragons. More than 2,000 people came out to watch the excitement. Our Chimney Rock team finished with some of the quickest times of the day.

Next year’s festival has already been set for Saturday, May 16. Check the website for more info at lureofthedragons.org. And check out the picture of the team in action below! That's Park General Manager Mary Jaeger-Gale in the drummer's seat up front.  

Hearing Wedding Bells

Seems Chimney Rock Park is the place to tie the knot. We’ve historically had lots of couples marry at the Park, and this year we’re on par for our most weddings yet. It’s easy to see why people are choosing the Park for their special day – unique outdoor settings, tasty food and memories to last a lifetime. 

If you or someone you know is getting hitched, let us show you why Chimney Rock Park is the perfect place to say “I do.” For information, email Kathryn Canant or call 828-625-9611 ext. *812.

Share Your Favorite Moments

What’s your favorite memory of Chimney Rock? Maybe it was the time you scared your sister in the Needle’s Eye. Or perhaps it was the time your 75-year-old grandpa beat you to the top of the Chimney. Was it the day you tried rock climbing for the first time and found yourself hanging from a new vantage point? We want to hear all about it. Share your memories with us by visiting chimneyrockpark.com. Stories and pictures you upload may be used in our advertising campaigns, so your favorite memory just might make you famous.

Pictures Are Worth More Than 1,000 Words

Our annual photo contest is going on now! The theme is “The Many Faces of Chimney Rock” and it’s your opportunity to show us what that means to you. Is it the smiling faces of your kids enjoying the Park, or the way the tree bark looks like a face? We love when you get creative, so interpret the theme however you want.

Your photo may nab you a weekend getaway in the Hickory Nut Gorge! Our friends at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn & Spa are giving a two-night stay and we’re topping off the prize package with Annual Passes, lunch for two at the Old Rock Café and some other fun stuff.

Hit the Beach

You don't have to drive to the coast to get to the Beach! The Beach at Lake Lure reopened for the summer on Memorial Day weekend, so after you’ve visited the Park, you can cool off in the lake surrounded by beautiful mountain views.

'Til next time, Live it UP!