The damage to the retaining wall made by the heavy rains from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ray to the roads in Chimney Rock State Park entrance road have been repaired so the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation reopened the purl state park.
Besides the damage to the raining walls, there was a small mudslide triggered by the 11 inches of rain that fell within 48 hours that severed a sewer line in the Chimney Rock State Park that is now repaired.
Thanks to the NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund, the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation will be able to acquire another 212 acres of land to add to the Chimney Rock State Park.
Chimney Rock state park which is still in development was authorized for creation in 2005 and started with almost 1,000 acres of what was previously a private park purchased by the state of North Carolina for approximately $24 million.
This new land to be added to the park is now privately owned and will include Bottomless Pools near Lake Lure.
Public access to the Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina will now be easier thanks to a 1.3 million purchase of 46 acres of land by the Nature Conservancy conservation group whose goal is to sell it the state of North Carolina so it may be added to the new Chimney Rock State Park.
Currently Chimney Rock State Park is comprised of almost 1,000 acres located in Rutherford County which was purchased for $24 million. North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation spokesman Charles Peek is working with conservation groups in the area in order to purchase as much as 1,500 more acres to what was formerly known as Hickory Nut Gorge State Park.
Currently some areas of the park such as the popular section of the mountain called Cereal Wall which may draw as many as 100 climbers and outdoor enthusiasts on peak weekends is only assessable through private land.
