Chimney Rock is nestled within the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, 40 minutes to the south east of Asheville, NC. Tourists began visiting the rock and gorge in 1885. From 1916 through the early 1920's, the road, parking lot, bridges, and paths were built for easier access. In 1949, the elevator to the summit was built by blasting a 198 foot tunnel and 258 foot shaft into the mountain, saving tourists 400 extra steps to climb.
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The adjacent photograph was taken from the summit of Chimney Rock, looking to the west. Round Mountain lies to the right, across the Hickory Nut Gorge and valley below, with Bald Mountain peaking through the clouds in the far distance. Other photos from the park are within the "Waterfalls & Streams" and "Rock Formations" galleries, including photographs of Hickory Nut Falls, the Lake Lure valley, and Chimney Rock itself.
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