Hickory Nut Gorge (Chimney Rock & Lake Lure)

Hickory Nut, North Carolina

One of the greatest natural canyons in the US, the Hickory Nut Gorge is located southeast of Asheville, along NC-74 in Rutherford County North  Carolina, which has a total population of 63,415 people.  Chimney Rock and Lake Lure are the two small towns of note in this region.

Chimney Rock North Carolina has a population of 170 and shares its name with a rock formation at nearby Chimney Rock Park, which provides breathtaking scenery of over 75 miles of surrounding land.

Lake Lure North Carolina has a population of 998 people and shares its name with the landscape as well. Lake Lure was named one of the most beautiful man-made lakes by National Geographic.

A testament to the beautiful scenery of this area is the attention it has received from Hollywood. The last fifteen minutes of the movie, The Last of the Mohicans, was shot in the area and gives a great idea of the vistas surrounding these two small towns.

National recognition of the beauty in the area came from the honor of HGTV making Lake Lure the site of its 2006 Dream Home, which was won by a viewer through a national drawing.

The hospitable climate of Hickory Nut Gorge NC is attributed to its location in the thermal belt, which keeps temperatures moderate.

The Hickory Nut Gorge is only forty minutes from Asheville NC and two hours from Charlotte NC. The towns of Rutherfordton, Forest City NC, and Hendersonville NC are only a half an hour down the road and have plenty of options for shopping and entertainment.

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About Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga

Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations. Bob researches the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable.

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