State Acquires Chimney Rock

Landmark added to state park at Hickory Nut Gorge

The state will purchase Chimney Rock Park, a popular attraction in Rutherford County, to become the centerpiece of a new state park now under development at Hickory Nut Gorge, Governor Mike Easley announced Jan. 29.

The $24 million acquisition is expected to be completed in May and will add the 996-acre property to another 2,264 acres already acquired for the new state park that was authorized by the General Assembly in 2005.

“The acquisition of Chimney Rock adds one of the most visible images of our North Carolina landscape to our state parks system, alongside Mount Mitchell, Jockey’s Ridge, Pilot Mountain and our other crown jewels,” Easley said during a news conference at the park.

“It will be the centerpiece of what is certain to become a world class state park at Hickory Nut Gorge. The Morse family has maintained careful stewardship of this land for more than 100 years, and we intend to continue that stewardship.”

Also attending the news conference were representatives of several land conservancies involved in the development of the state park as well as local governments that offered strong support for the acquisition.

The park is 25 miles southeast of Asheville and features a signature 315-foot-tall spire that offers 75-mile views of the gorge and Lake Lure. Visitors reach this point through a 198-foot tunnel carved into the mountain’s rock face and an elevator that climbs 26 stories.

There is a network of hiking trails leading to unique geologic features and the 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls and a nature center. It has been a popular tourist attraction since a crude stairway was built to the rock’s summit in 1885.

The park and Chimney Rock Co. are owned by the descendents of Lucius Morse, who bought the property and began to develop the park in 1902. Todd Morse is the president and general manager.

Funding for the acquisition is through a $15 million appropriation of the General Assembly, grants from the state’s Parks and Recreation, Natural Heritage and Clean Water Management trust funds and a $2.35 million contribution from an anonymous private donor.

The potential sale was first discussed more than two years ago when Lucius “Lu” Morse, Todd’s father and grand-nephew of the park’s founder, met Lewis Ledford, director of the state parks system at a national parks conference in St. Louis.

Morse congratulated Ledford on establishment of the new state park in Hickory Nut Gorge, although he wanted it known that the Morse family was involved in estate planning, and that Chimney Rock could potentially be under different ownership or management. Ledford reminded him that the state’s citizens had always looked to conserve its special places and that state parks and the State Property Office would be open to further discussion.

Following multiple meetings between Ledford, the Morse family and the State Property Office and after appraisals, the state first offered $20 million.

In mid-2006, the family listed the property internationally for $55 million.

Late in 2006, Dick Ludington and Mike Leonard, representing The Conservation Fund, became directly involved in the negotiations and acted as intermediaries with the anonymous donor.

“Meaningful conservation is always the result of meaningful partnerships and this is a great example,” Ledford said. “This agreement would not have happened without the help of land conservancies, the essentially unanimous support of the local community and the confidence of the General Assembly.

“And, we owe special thanks to Sen. Walter Dalton and all of the local legislative delegation for unwavering support.”

Dalton led the effort for the $15 million legislative appropriation. A group of local citizens formed an ad hoc organization to build support for the acquisition. That included a strong letter-writing campaign to the governor’s office and the parks system.

The Morse family and Chimney Rock Co. will continue to operate the park at least through the end of the 2007 season, and by mutual consent could operate it another two years. The company has the option of temporarily closing it during a short transition period in November.

Todd Morse said that the decision to sell was a wrenching one because of the family’s attachment to Chimney Rock. But, he added, “As stewards of this special property for over 100 years, our goal was to achieve an outcome that was the best result for the land, the community, our associates and our family.”

Under the agreement, the state parks system will continue to operate Chimney Rock Park in a similar manner until the park is fully integrated into the state parks system.

The park’s annual visitation averages about 250,000 and it has 28 fulltime employees.

During 2007, the parks system will develop an operations plan for the park. It is expected to ask the General Assembly for some permanent staffing in the 2007-09 biennium budget.

The Morse family’s legacy of stewardship at Chimney Rock will be perpetuated in future exhibits of the state park. And, a plaque honoring that stewardship near the park’s summit will remain in place.

The acquisition will add an incredible scenic element and ready-made visitor facilities to a developing state park that has premier natural resource value. The gorge offers 36 rare plant species, 14 rare animal species and an array of rare habitats in a region of spectacular cliffs, fissure caves and unusually rich soils.

The Nature Conservancy has been aggressive in land conservation in the gorge for years and has been a principal partner in developing the state park.

In 2005, the sensitive World’s Edge property of 1,568 acres just southwest of Chimney Rock was acquired by The Nature Conservancy and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and transferred to the state.

In addition, more than 400 acres on the north side of the gorge on Rumbling Bald Mountain have been added to the park. The Nature Conservancy owns about 850 acres on the mountain and other tracts, including those in the Bat Cave area, which it intends to donate for the park.

The Chimney Rock acquisition gives the state and the conservancies a C-shaped arc of protected properties that offers potential for a critical wildlife/species corridor.

At some point in the near future, a master plan for the state park will be created, a process that allows for public comment and addresses options for further development and resource protection.

Partners in the Acquisition of Chimney Rock Park:

The Conservation Fund
The Nature Conservancy
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
Foothills Conservancy of N.C.
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
Natural Heritage Trust Fund
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
N.C. General Assembly
Sen. Walter Dalton
Rep. Bob England
Town of Lake Lure
Chimney Rock Village
Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge
Rutherford Outdoor Coalition
Carolina Climbers Coalition
The Access Fund
Upper Broad River Protection Program