We're excited to partner with Pardee Hospital for this fall's "Hike to Health." Pardee first hosted the event back in June and it was such a success they've decided to bring it to Chimney Rock in October. Here's a sneak peak at what is in the works from the Pardee Hospital blog. Stay tuned for more info.

Men's 5K Run Overall Results:
Men’s 5K Run

Women's 5K Run Overall Results:
Women’s 5K Run

Men's 7K Cycling Time Trial Overall Results:
Men’s 7K Cycling Time Trial

Women's 7K Cycling Time Trial Overall Results:
Women’s 7K Cycling Time Trial

Here's a slide show of images from the finish line!

Check out the images from the Asheville Mushroom Club's recent visit to Chimney Rock. The club is working with NC State Parks and Chimney Rock education staff to develop an inventory of all the different types of mushrooms found in the Park.

Once again, runners and cyclists can “Race to the Rock” at Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. The 5K run and 7K cycling time trail are set for Sunday, August 29 at 8am. Both events are part of the 6th Annual Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad and professionally managed by Set Up Events. The run is an Asheville Track Club Grand Prix Race.

Beginning in Chimney Rock Village and continuing up the Park’s winding entrance road, the race finishes just below Chimney Rock, the ancient monolith which gives the Park its name. While completing the race, averaging an uphill seven percent grade, is certainly reward enough, participants will also be treated to 75-mile views of Lake Lure, Hickory Nut Gorge and the Carolina Piedmont. Concessions after the race will be provided by the Chimney Rock Village Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.

Spectators may watch the race’s finish, but must be in the park before 7:30am so the road is clear for runners and cyclists.

Advanced registration is $35 and includes a commemorative Olympiad T-shirt (while supplies last). Register online. Walk up registration will also be available beginning at 6:30am at the Old Rock Café in Chimney Rock Village and is $40. Proceeds benefit charitable organizations in the Hickory Nut Gorge. In its five years, the Olympiad has given nearly $50,000 to local charities.

The Hickory Nut Gorge Olympiad is a four-day sport and community celebration. With dozens of events from kayak races to a fireworks extravaganza, sand volleyball to live music, the Olympiad has something for everyone. More information can be found at www.hickorynutolympiad.com.

This morning, a crew from Aircrane Inc. out of Atlanta, GA airlifted two reservoir tanks and a base from the meadows area at mid-mountain to their new site near the Sky Lounge on the side of Chimney Rock Mountain. This is one of many capital improvements North Carolina State Parks has planned for Chimney Rock.

“When you’re a mountain attraction, no project is simple,” said PR and Events Manager Meghan Rogers. The upgrade to the reservoir system began several months ago when crews built the framework for their foundations. Next, workers had the challenging task of moving concrete more than 300 vertical feet up the mountainside before it set.

The reservoirs serve as the main water supply for facilities on the top of the mountain including the Sky Lounge, Cliff Dwellers Gifts and the upper restrooms.

Rogers continued, “It was an impressive sight watching the helicopter hover above Chimney Rock. The pilot and crew were amazing, not to mention efficient; they made the three trips in about two hours.”

Click here to view more photos.

Birthdays are special, so to make your day even brighter we're offering FREE one-day admission on your birthday. Offer valid on birthday only and does not apply to other guests in party; must show a valid ID. This complimentary admission cannot be upgraded and is not good for next day re-entry.

When 5-year-old Ariel Mercurio heard about the Gulf oil spill from her parents Elizabeth and Mitchell, she immediately wanted to help the affected animals. In fact, she wanted to go to the Gulf herself to lend a hand.

“I want to help get the oil off the pelicans and animals,” Ariel says, adding, “I don’t want them to die because I love animals.”

While Ariel was a bit disappointed she couldn’t travel to the Gulf, she wasn’t to be deterred in her desire to do something. After some neighborhood kids came by her house to sell raffle tickets for their soccer team, Ariel had an idea. She sorted through her toys, games, books and stuffed animals and told her parents she wanted to raffle them off to raise money for the animals.

The family invited friends and neighbors to an ice cream party at their home. Kids gave whatever they could and each received a raffle ticket. Ariel’s passion inspired their parents to donate as well and she raised more than $400. Her story is spreading by word of mouth and donations keep coming in bringing the total to nearly $600. All money raised will be donated to The National Audubon Society’s oil spill cleanup efforts.

Ariel continues, “I want the money to go to the animals and I hope others will help too.”

Her parents couldn’t be more proud saying, “Ariel is the most humble, caring and compassionate little girl. We think she’s extraordinary.”

Ariel participates in Chimney Rock’s homeschool programs. Programs are offered quarterly in April, June, September and December.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park is excited to announce that a pair of Peregrine Falcons has successfully nested in the Park. Two juvenile falcons, one male and one female, have been spotted near the nesting site high on the Park’s cliffs.

Avid birder and contributor to Chimney Rock’s education department, Reese Mitchell, spotted the birds this morning (June 9, 2010).

“They engaged in a lot of ‘play,’ diving at each other and chasing. The male did most of the ‘attacking’ as he is more agile than the female and flew faster,” noted Mitchell.

In 1984, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reintroduced Peregrines to Western North Carolina and the birds have been documented nesting in Chimney Rock almost continuously since 1989. They were absent in 1995 and 1996, but returned in 1997.

Until this year, only once was a pair successful in raising chicks in Chimney Rock. In 1990, three chicks fledged and were raised in the Park by their Peregrine parents. Chimney Rock is the only state park currently known to have a successful breeding pair this year.

The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the US Endangered Species List in 1999, and although it remains on the FSC (Federal Species of Concern) List, its numbers have increased throughout the Southeast and Western North Carolina and it was also removed from the North Carolina Endangered Species List in 2007.

It is a large, crow-sized falcon, with a blue-gray back, barred white underparts and a black head and "moustache." Peregrines have been clocked at speeds over 200 mph in a stoop (dive) making them the fastest creatures on the planet.

Public Planning Session Will Consider Chimney Rock State Park Master Plan

RALEIGH – As part of the process to create a master plan for Chimney Rock State Park in the Hickory Nut Gorge, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation will conduct a public planning session May 26 at the Lake Lure Town Hall. Citizens are invited to visit the drop-in session anytime from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Proposed design alternatives for the state park will be presented and the public will be able to ask questions and offer comments to officials of the state parks system and Greenways Inc., a Durham-based environmental planning and landscape architecture firm responsible for completing the plan.

“Creating a world class state park at Chimney Rock has been and continues to be a partnership effort between the state parks system and the community,” said Lewis Ledford, division director. “Chimney Rock State Park has benefited from strong support in the community, and it’s important that citizens continue to be involved in the process.”

A state park’s master plan is essentially a blueprint for long- term development of facilities and recreation opportunities and a guide for protection of natural resources. It is meant to be an organic document, evolving as the park grows and as knowledge is gained about a park’s natural resources and public use.

The N.C. General Assembly authorized Chimney Rock State Park in 2005, and more than 4,300 acres in Rutherford, Polk, Henderson and Buncombe counties has been acquired in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and others. In 2007, the former Chimney Rock tourist destination was added to the park and offers the principal current public access.

The drop-in planning session will involve a workstation format allowing citizens to attend at any time during the day and spend as much time as necessary to review and discuss design alternatives. Proposed designs will also be available beginning May 26 at www.greenways.com/chimneyrock. Written comments may be submitted through June 23 either by using an online comment sheet or by mail to: General Management Plan Coordinator, NC Division of Parks and Recreation, 1615 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1615.

Our friends at Possum Hollow Farms came out to Bark in the Park (held April 24) to demonstrate sheep herding with working dogs. Check out the video below.

Visitors have the opportunity to tour the Conservancy’s Bat Cave Preserve this summer. The 186-acre preserve in Henderson and Rutherford counties is only accessible by guided hike. Hikes begin June 12 and continue every Wednesday and Saturday until August 14.

The rugged slopes around Bat Cave contain an equally important array of habitats and creatures. A mature cove hardwood forest covers the rocky middle and lower slopes of the gorge. Carolina hemlock and chestnut oak forest dominate the cliff tops and ridgeline. The cove forests harbor a number of threatened or endangered plants, such as wild bleeding heart. The rare cerulean warbler also inhabits the preserve’s cove forest. Two rare salamanders – the crevice salamander and the green salamander – are found here as well. Another unusual inhabitant is the lampshade spider, whose web resembles its name.

The cave itself is off limits to visitors, but hikers can stand near the cave opening and feel the cool breeze coming up even at the height of summer.

The trail to Bat Cave is a mile long (one-way), with the last half mile fairly steep and strenuous. Participants should wear long pants and sturdy footwear and carry water. Walking sticks may also be useful. No pets are allowed.

Hikes begin at 10 a.m. Hikes cost $10 per adult and $5 per child under 12. There is no fee for children who are carried. Advance reservations are required. To make a reservation, call The Nature Conservancy’s Mountains Office at (828) 340-1431, ext. 100 or email.

Tara Darity wrote this fun poem about her visit to Chimney Rock. Thanks for sharing, Tara! Read more of Tara's work here.

Walking, Walking
Up the mountain
When will I find
A water fountain
My feet are tired
But I can't stop
I have to make it
To the top

It's a challenge
I'm up for it
No matter what
I will not quit

The sun is shining
So much to see
I stop on the path
To lean on a tree

Almost there
How much longer
Maybe this
Will make me stronger

Yes, I made it
I'm at the top
Where's a seat
So I can drop

The flag looks beautiful
Its flying high
As the wind blows
In the bright blue sky

America's largest home is once again North Carolina's most visited historic attraction, according to the annual attendance rankings compiled by Carolina Publishing Associates.

Biltmore, the lavish Vanderbilt house and gardens on a mountainside in Asheville, once again attracted more than a million visitors. A total of 1,038,348 guests visited during 2009, only a slight decline from the 2008 attendance total of 1,070,900.

"A visit to Biltmore is an extraordinary experience and an escape from everyday life," said Julie Hanser, Vice President of Attraction Marketing for Biltmore. "We believe those qualities have really resonated with people even during these tough economic times."

Newcomers to the 2009 top 25 museums and historic attractions list include the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh and Hickory's Catawba Science Center.

Nine of the top 25 museums and historic sites are located in the coastal area, while six of the top 25 are in the mountains. The Raleigh-Durham Chapel Hill triangle has five listings.

The Top 25 North Carolina museums and historic attractions survey is conducted annually by Carolina Publishing Associates of Matthews, publishers of the annual Carolina Heritage Guide, Carolina Field Trips Magazine and The African American Heritage and Visitor's Guide.

The top 10 most visited museum and historic attractions, along with their 2009 attendance numbers, were: 1. Biltmore, Asheville 1,038,348; 2. Fort Macon, Atlantic Beach 818,704; 3. North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro 748,417; 4. NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh 670,264; 5. Fort Fisher State Historic Site, Kure Beach, 575,581; 6. Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills 478,480; 7. Discovery Place, Charlotte 454,053; 8. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach, 453,715; 9. NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, Atlantic Beach, 403,769 and 10. NC Museum of Life and Science, Durham 400,486.

Rounding out the top 25 were 11. North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville 371,884; 12. Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo 339,556; 13. NC Museum of History, Raleigh 324,679; 14. NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island, Manteo 290,000; 15. Natural Science Center, Greensboro 278,858; 16. Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh, 260,263; 17. Grandfather Mountain, Linville 235,029; 18. NC Maritime Museum, Beaufort, 216,516; 19. Cherokee Cultural District, Cherokee 211,265; 20. Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington 211,234; 21. Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock 206,983; 22. Catawba Science Center, Hickory 204,309; 23. Linville Caverns, Marion 167,431; 24. Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill 161,416; and 25. Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo 141,899.

SOURCE Carolina Publishing Associates

There's really nothing we love more than hearing about our guests' adventures at Chimney Rock. That's why we have a photo contest each year as well as our Share Your Favorite Moments campaign which encourages visitors to share their most special memories.

The third place winner of our 2009 photo contest was Scott Rigdon. Scott is a big fan of Chimney Rock and posted this blog entry about his win, his love for our Park, and most importantly, his love for his kids (and their dogs). Check it out.

WLOS, the ABC affiliate out of Asheville, recently featured a story on the impact of this winter's wild weather on Chimney Rock. Click here to watch the video.

And boy how the winter weather and its lingering issues has affected us. But, on the bright side, the elevator is up and running.

We're excited to announce the winners of our 2009 photo contest. Nearly 100 entries were received for the “Share Your Favorite Moments” themed contest.

“Our guests always surprise and delight us with their creative and fun photos making choosing the winners really tough,” said Meghan Rogers, public relations and events manager.

Click here to view all the winners and read about their favorite moments at Chimney Rock.

Recently, Jamarcus Gaston from WSPA's Scene on 7 featured Chimney Rock's ornithologist Simon Thompson in the "Cool Jobs Series." Check it out below.

Recently Jamarcus Gaston from WSPA News Channel 7 featured our director of climbing, Tyler Parker, it his "cool jobs series" on the station's Scene on 7 show. Check out the video below.

With heavy hearts we announce that former Park owner, Lucius B. Morse III, has passed away in St. Louis.

Morse's great-uncle, Dr. Lucius B. Morse, founded Chimney Rock Park in 1902 with the support of his brothers Hiram and Asahel. The Park was family-owned until 2007 when it was acquired by the state of North Carolina as the focal point of the greater Chimney Rock State Park.

In the 1980s, Lu became involved in the management of Chimney Rock, and his son Todd served as president of the company until 2007.

Mary Jaeger-Gale, who worked with Lu in her early days at Chimney Rock, says, "Not only did Lu continue to carry out his family's dedication to providing access and enjoyment for guests to his beloved Chimney Rock, he also put a greater emphasis on the preservation of plants and wildlife in Hickory Nut Gorge. Due to his interest and enthusiasm for all things natural, he opened the Park to botany, geology and other natural science students and professors. Their findings among others provide visitors a better understanding of the rich natural diversity of the area."

With a passion for preserving park lands, Lu was a founding member of the Missouri State Park Foundation and served on the board of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, Mo. 63166; or to the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280, Washington, D.C. 20077.

Lu will be missed by all who knew him and share his love for this special place.

The trails out to the top of the waterfall REMAIN CLOSED for improvements, but the portion of the Skyline trail up to Exclamation Point, the highest lookout in the Park, has been reopened.

A rock slide on Interstate 40 near the North Carolina/Tennessee border has caused the interstate to be shut down in both directions. However, Chimney Rock and the Western North Carolina mountains remain accessible from the west via detours.

Express Route via Scenic Interstate Byway
The NC Department of Transportation advises I-40 travelers from the west to take I-81 north to Johnson City, then I-26 east to Asheville. The I-26 route adds roughly 50 minutes to the travel time and is one of the nation’s only interstate Scenic Byways. I-26 takes motorists through the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering scenic observation points, a welcome center and stunning views of the highest peaks in the East.

Detour Option via Dixie Highway
Travelers coming from the west on I-40 may also take exit 432-B for US-25/US-70 toward Newport. After Newport, TN, 25/70 becomes the Dixie Highway. Follow signs to stay on 25/70. Shortly after entering North Carolina, you will pass through the town of Hot Springs. Continue until you reach I-26. Take I-26 east to get to Asheville. This route adds roughly 30 minutes to the travel time and is a beautiful scenic mountain highway. Passenger vehicles only are permitted on this road (i.e. motorcoaches, RVs or dual-axle vehicles) – it is not a commercial travel route. Please consider possible weather and traffic congestion issues on this winding two-lane road.

Click here for more information.

The Associated Press and ABC News recently including Chimney Rock's Hickory Nut Falls as one of the best places in North Carolina to see fall foliage and waterfalls. We're thrilled to be part of this list of beautiful places in Western North Carolina. Click here to check out the story.

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park today announced that the portion of the Skyline trail up to Exclamation Point has been reopened. The trails out to the top of the waterfall still remain closed for improvements. The trail ascends from the Chimney approximately .7 mile past the Opera Box and Devil’s Head lookout points to Exclamation Point, the highest point in the Park at an elevation of 2,480 ft.

“We’re thrilled to bring guests back to Exclamation Point. This viewpoint offers simply spectacular panoramic views of Hickory Nut Gorge and the walk along the trail to the summit offers guests an invigorating workout,” says Mary Jaeger-Gale, General Manager, Chimney Rock Management, LLC.

The project took approximately 11 months to complete and was a collaboration of state parks system staff, contractors, Chimney Rock Management, LLC trail staff, and a work crew with the Isothermal Youth Summer Work Project Planning Crew.

Improvements began by removing some boardwalks and stairways so that they could be replaced with more natural trail elements. Then, a retaining wall ranging in height from one to four feet was built and the trail was filled in with gravel. A new wood and cable fence was also installed along the trail and at Exclamation Point.

“The biggest challenge in a project of this scope is the location of trail work,” said Donnie Tessneer, trails supervisor for Chimney Rock. Work crews transported all construction materials, including more than 125 timbers and 25 tons of gravel, to the work site using motorized wheelbarrows and an off-road utility vehicle.

A master plan to guide long-term development at Chimney Rock State Park is being developed by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation and its planning consultant, Greenways Inc. That plan will assess the existing trails at Chimney Rock as part of a comprehensive trails system for the park.

Chimney Rock is located 25 miles southeast of Asheville in Hickory Nut Gorge on Highway 64/74-A. The Park is the focal point of the developing Chimney Rock State Park. Admission for 2009 is $14 for adults and $6 for youth ages six through 15. Children under six are admitted free. For a full list of events and activities, visit www.chimneyrockpark.com or call 800-277-9611.

Click here to see some pictures of the breathtaking views you'll see when you reach Exclamation Point.

Our former Naturalist Clint Calhoun recently captured a timber rattlesnake courtship dance. This ritual is rarely seen by humans. Many thanks to Clint for allowing us to share this video with you.

The above video was shot in the Hickory Nut Gorge area and shows two males competing for a nearby female. The males do not injure each other, rather continue to writhe around trying to dominate until one finally gives up.

Here's more information about timber rattlesnake young from the very knowledgeable folks at the St. Louis Zoo:

The female gives birth to live young in late summer or early fall. A litter may have anywhere from five to 14 snakelings, with eight being the average. Newborns are about 10 to 13 inches long, and are somewhat lighter in color than adults.

Babies are born with a single tiny rattle segment (called a button) on their tail. Each time the skin is shed, a new segment is added to the base of the tail. You'd think this means the rattle will grow longer and longer throughout a snake's lifetime. But no! As the rattle becomes longer, the end pieces become weak and break off.

Female timber rattlesnakes, and some other pit vipers, keep close watch over their young, a trait that's rather unusual among snakes. Female timber rattlers even lay scent trails to help their offspring find winter dens.

Source St. Louis Zoo website.

Our first Music on the Mountain event with the Rutherford County Arts Council, held Saturday, August 15, was a big success. The event featured Phil and Gaye Johnson and The Dowden Sisters. A big thanks to all of you who came out for the event. Check out the pictures below.

We're excited to be one of the North Carolina locations featured in National Geographic Traveler's "Family Vacation Planner." The magazine posted on its website the best places across the nation to take a family with children.

Here's how they describe the Family Vacation Planner: Spice up your family’s travels with this comprehensive collection of memorable local attractions from every state and the District of Columbia. These family-friendly sights and activities were chosen by National Geographic Traveler for their authenticity and lasting value. You’ll find entries grouped by states and by categories of interest—adventure, animals, culture, entertainment, history, nature, and science. Whether they’re in your own backyard or across the country, you’re sure to find a wealth of attractions—many of them free—that your whole family will enjoy.

Click here to see the Chimney Rock listing.

Jack Betts, an associate editor with the Charlotte Observer, recently named Chimney Rock as one of the "best places to stand in North Carolina." Click here to view the full list.

On Monday, July 13, the WOKR Antique Car Club visited Chimney Rock. Check out the slideshow of images below.

Budget Travel picked its favorite eight lake towns across the country and Lake Lure and Chimney Rock made the cut. Click here to check out the article. Be sure to click on the slide show for more pictures.

The Skyline-Cliff Trail Loop is currently closed while these improvements are made. We've begun work on the portion of the Skyline trail leading to Exclamation Point. Click here for more information and to see pictures of the project. Please note: At this time, just the portion of the trail leading to Exclamation Point is being worked on. The remainder of the Skyline-Cliff trail loop will be part of the state park's master plan for Chimney Rock State Park.

The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources has announced that Greenways, Inc. will develop the master plan for Chimney Rock State Park. Click here to read the press release.

Not to worry! You can still access our most popular features – 315’ Chimney Rock, 404’ Hickory Nut Falls and our 26-story elevator inside the mountain, as well as the Opera Box, Devil’s Head and Moonshiner’s Cave.

All other trails remain open. From high atop the Chimney, take in 75-mile views of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. Stroll along the Hickory Nut Falls trail winding through hardwood forest to the bottom of the waterfall – the most spectacular spot to view the dramatic drop. Often overlooked, the Four Seasons trail begins near the Meadows and takes you through beautiful deciduous forest and boulder fields up to the Hickory Nut Falls trail. Families won’t want to miss the Great Woodland Adventure trail, featuring 12 discovery stations that educate kids (and parents!) about the animals that call the Park home. Stop by Grady the Groundhog’s Discovery Den and pick up a Scavenger Hunt sheet. Admission is $14 for adults and $6 for kids ages 6-15.

This link to the NC Parks & Recreation website page will keep you updated on the status of our trail improvements. You can also share your comments here.

MORGANTON, NC – The ridge, summit and slopes of Cane Creek Mountain are now part of the developing Chimney Rock State Park thanks to two acquisitions totaling 330 acres secured by Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina on behalf of the North Carolina state parks system.

Cane Creek Mountain extends the new state park northeast from “Worlds Edge” and offers outstanding views of Chimney Rock, the Pool Creek watershed and Lake Lure. The mountain is also part of the stunning view looking south from Lake Lure and east from Chimney Rock.

Foothills Conservancy negotiated the first purchase agreement a year-and-a-half ago with landowners Bob and Anne Washburn for a pristine 174-acre wilderness tract which was purchased by the state parks system in December. The purchase of 156 adjoining acres from John and Alan Moore was made by Foothills in February, using a loan from The Conservation Fund.

The state completed the acquisition of both tracts last week for addition to Chimney Rock State Park. Funding awards to state parks in 2007 and 2008 by the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the N.C. Natural Heritage Trust Fund made the $6.5 million needed for the purchases possible.

“Lasting protection of Cane Creek Mountain represents another milestone in safeguarding the scenic views and nationally significant natural heritage of Hickory Nut Gorge,” said Tom Kenney, Foothills Conservancy’s land protection director. “We are very grateful for these landowners’ careful stewardship of the land over many years and their wishes to achieve conservation with these sales.”

The federally endangered White irisette plant and a number of other rare plants and animals find shelter on Cane Creek Mountain, part of a nationally significant natural area. The acquisition also protects a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Action Plan priority habitat – forested rock outcrop complex.

Foothills Conservancy has worked closely in western Rutherford County with the state parks system and other conservation partners since 2004 to secure support for and create a new state park in the Hickory Nut Gorge by acquiring priority tracts, including Chimney Rock Park and Cane Creek Mountain.

“Our longstanding partnership with Foothills Conservancy has yielded many benefits both in the Hickory Nut Gorge and elsewhere in western North Carolina,” said Lewis Ledford, state parks director. “Targeted, high quality land acquisitions such as these result in very effective conservation as well as the creation of a world-class state park.”

To date, 4,320 acres have been set aside for the park, with acquisitions supported by the three state conservation trust funds, the N.C. General Assembly and private donors. Foothills Conservancy continues to work with the owners of other tracts that are strategic to this new park.

The only current public access is at Chimney Rock, the former 1,000-acre tourist destination. The state parks system is developing a master plan to guide long-term conservation efforts and development of facilities and access throughout the state park, and public input will be a part of that process.

Foothills Conservancy is a non-profit regional land trust working to protect significant natural areas and open spaces, including watersheds, farms and forests, along the Blue Ridge Escarpment and the Foothills in Rutherford, McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Alexander, Catawba, Lincoln and Cleveland counties. Find more information about Foothills Conservancy on the web at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930. Foothills Conservancy is also a participant in “Blue Ridge Forever,” a campaign to protect 50,000 acres in the Southern Blue Ridge by 2010.

In a recent survey of Southern Living Magazine readers from Delaware to Texas, Chimney Rock was named number three for best scenic views.

Click here to view other winners. Thanks Southern Living readers!

We're excited to be on this very exclusive top ten list from USA Today! Check out the complete article here.

Chimney Rock was recently featured on the Our State program on UNC- TV. To view the segment, click here.

If you enter Chimney Rock after 4pm, your ticket is good for the next day too! Just hold on to your ticket reciept and present it at the Ticket Plaza.