Chimney Rock
Introduction
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Images
Chimney Rock is a beautiful park with many trials, such as the popular Hickory Nuts Falls Trail leading to a 400-foot waterfall--the second largest of its kind in the US. Chimney Rock State Park also offers rock climbing.
Backstory and Context
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Dr. Lucius Morse was a physician who was diagnosed with tuberculosis, and because of his condition, moved to the warmer climate of North Carolina. After seeing Chimney Rock, he purchased 64 acres of the mountain including the rock itself and land around it. After many years of small purchases, Morse had bought more than 1000 acres of land. Tourists would arrive on horseback and by carriage to visit the rocky site. The Morse family made the area a great tourist attraction, creating nice trails for tourists to walk on and even an elevator to ride to the top of Chimney Rock. In 2006, the Morse family made the decision to put Chimney Rock Park for up for sale. In 2007, the state of North Carolina bought the land for 24 million dollars and it became a new and young state park in the U.S.
The videos below provide an insightful view of Chimney Rock, and also provide more information about the history of the land and the park.