Chimney Rock State Park

It offers hiking trails for all skill levels, spectacular views, and a waterfall, Hickory Nut Falls. Its most notable feature is a granite monolith, Chimney Rock, accessible by elevator and providing views of the park and surrounding countryside. Areas within the park as well as surrounding the park were featured prominently in the 1984 film A Breed Apart and most of the final scenes of the 1992 adaptation of The Last of the Mohicans, including the Huron negotiation, the chase along the cliff, the fight between Uncas and Magua, Alice's decision, and the climactic fight between Magua and Chingachgook.

The park was owned and operated by the Morse family from 1902 to 2007; in 2006 the land was put up for sale. Many feared the park might fall into the hands of private developers, but in early 2007 the State and the Morse family reached an agreement, and on May 21, 2007, Governor Mike Easley announced that the park is now fully owned by the state of North Carolina. The park will continue to be managed Chimney Rock Management LLC company through at least 2009. The state will begin receiving licensing fees based on a percentage of gross revenues. During this time, the state will continue its efforts to acquire land and develop a master plan for the new park, which is now .

As of June 26, 2007, the name of the new park is "Hickory Nut Gorge State Park", however, there is a bill before the North Carolina Legislature that would name the still-to-be-developed state park "Chimney Rock State Park". This measure was passed by the legislature. Chimney Rock Park, the 996 acres acquired by the state, will become the centerpiece of the larger Chimney Rock State Park.

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