For over 400 years Chimney Rock has stood for a symbol of progress and navigation, until recently, and even though it is gone many generations of families are thankful for its creation. But how did the town/park get created, and who visited the park?

The story of Chimney Rock cannot be told without recounting the life of one man—Dr. Lucius B. Morse—who demonstrated what uncompromising vision and foresight can accomplish. The rugged beauty of Chimney Rock and the surrounding area so captivated him that it shaped the rest of his life and those of his older twin brothers, Hiram and Asahel. The land that comprises the Park and the dreams of the Morse family are still entwined today, more than 100 years after Lucius B. Morse first glimpsed the magnificent Rock. Born in 1871 in Missouri, Dr. Morse was a practicing physician when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Advised to seek a more healthful climate, he made his way to the thermal belt of Western North Carolina. He loved to wander the area, often riding horseback down to Chimney Rock to view the giant monolith towering over the ten-mile gorge. It so intrigued him that he paid a man 25 cents to take him by donkey to the top. Surrounded by panoramic vistas, he conceived his dream there, not only of the Park but of the development of Lake Lure and the town of the same name. At the time, Jerome B. “Rome” Freeman owned Chimney Rock, having purchased it and the surrounding 400 acres from a speculation company for $25.00 around 1890. It was Freeman who first thought of making a trail to the base and creating a stairway to the top of the Rock and opening it to the public. In 1902, with the financial backing of his brothers, Morse paid Freeman $5,000 for 64 acres of Chimney Rock Mountain, including the Chimney and cliffs. Many small tracts purchased over the years expanded the Park to nearly 1000 acres. As time passed, visitors did not relish walking the hundreds of stairs on the trail from the parking area to the summit of the Chimney.

In 1946, plans were drawn for an elevator to transport people to the top. Blasted out of the solid granite cliff, a 198-foot tunnel led into the mountain to the 258-foot elevator shaft. A massive piece of construction, it took eight tons of dynamite and 18 months to complete. The elevator was opened to the public in 1949, the same year the entrance parking lot, three-mile drive and upper parking lot were paved. Next, the Sky Lounge, a gift shop and snack bar, was built on top of the elevator. During the 1970s and 80s, Lucius B. Morse III and Todd B. Morse (Hiram Morse’s grandson and great-grandson) became actively involved as the directors of the Park. They focused on improvements to make the grounds and trails safer and more convenient. They replaced bridges and stairs, improved trails, added scenic viewpoints and refurbished the buildings and elevator. “Filmmakers— like travelers and vacationers —have discovered the unmatched geographic diversity and climate that had made North Carolina the No. 3 film-making state in the country.” – NC Division of Sports, Film and Tourism Development The rugged beauty of Chimney Rock has long attracted celebrities and dignitaries, writers and photographers from near and far. The Park’s spectacular scenery caught Hollywood’s eye, too. Scenes from a number of movies have been filmed in the Park, including The Last of the Mohicans, Firestarter and A Breed Apart.

Thanks to Hurricane Helene, the entire town has been flattened. Search and rescue workers were fanning through Chimney Rock, looking for anyone who would have survived. Residents in the neighboring resort town of Lake Lure said Chimney Rock was largely flattened. “Everything along the river is gone,” said Tracey Stevens, who worked at the Chimney Rock brewery, which is now gone. “What was once a town is now a river. It’s beyond anything I can imagine.” All entry routes into the town were blocked as workers cleared debris from former homes and businesses. Officials did not yet have information on possible fatalities, but some residents in Lake Lure said they were still waiting to hear from some friends in the town. “We’re waiting and hoping,” resident Cait Wright said. Drone footage showed the historic mountain town largely devastated with flooding, with buildings washed away.

You can help the town of Chimney Rock by donating to helenehelp.org to help their community and the others around it, or you can go to Chimney Rock yourself! The folks there set up a donation table last Monday. The people say that they mostly need non-perishables, so if you have time, a car, and some food you don’t need, please go and help the people in need.