The Media Room May 09, 2008

By the Numbers

  • The Park’s 404-foot Hickory Nut Falls kisses your face with a gentle mist as Falls Creek tumbles over the high cliffs. Think our Falls look familiar? They were showcased in the 1992 remake of the epic film The Last of the Mohicans.
  • The waterfall is the stunning reward at the end of a not-too-strenuous .75 mile hike on the Hickory Nut Falls trail. Recommended for the casual hiker and families with children, this trail’s got plenty of shade with just a few moderate inclines.
  • With the 185 stair steps that take you through the Needle’s Eye, it’s more than the views that will take your breath away.
  • The Park has been in the same family for 104 years.
  • Within our 1,000-acre paradise, there are more than 3 miles of nature trails.
  • You can take a 258-foot elevator ride inside the mountain in about 30 seconds to the Chimney level.
  • There are 44 steps from the boardwalk near the Sky Lounge to the top of Chimney Rock.
  • This 535-million-year-old monolith whereby the Village of Chimney Rock gets its name can be seen from the charming streetscape down below.
  • The Rock itself is 315 feet in height.
  • On a clear day you can see Kings Mountain, more than 75 miles to the east.
  • The rare Peregrine falcon can travel in excess of 200 miles an hour. A pair have made their home on our cliffs since the mid-1990s, and they are followed closely by the NC Wildlife Commission and bird enthusiasts. Best viewing times are early in the morning from the Outcroppings trail in the Park.
  • If you hike to the top of the Chimney from the parking lot, you’ll have climbed 400 stairs along the trail.
  • Hickory Nut Gorge is 14 miles long and is comprised of the villages of Gerton, Bat Cave and Chimney Rock and the town of Lake Lure.
  • The Gorge supports at least 14 natural community types, 6 of which are considered rare.
  • In 1996, there were 37 rare plant species and 14 rare animal species known from the Gorge.

 

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