Thursday, October 22, 2020
On Thursday morning, we drove on to Hickory, North Carolina. It’s a “big city” these days, sporting a population of more than 40,000 people. But it began as a tavern beneath a huge hickory tree back in the 1850s, and was finally established as a town in 1870. The town has a much-storied past, including one of the worst outbreaks of polio ever and some very bizarre murder investigations. But the most recent claim to fame in this town is that the area known as Henry River Mill Village – abandoned since the 1970s – was used for the filming of a major movie (The Hunger Games) in 2011, with the old abandoned buildings there used to depict “District 12.” Personally, I’ve never seen any of the Hunger Games movies – (a movie where the plot involves children killing each other has never appealed to me) – but I can certainly see why this area would provide cinematic authenticity and “grit.” It is quite evocative in a haunted house way.
After leaving Hickory, we drove on through Morganton and on to Newland, North Carolina where we came across a particularly attractive community called Linville Land Harbor, which is situated around a gorgeous 46-acre lake. Beyond Land Harbor Lake, a number of scenic features in the area are especially attractive, including Grandfather Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain is among the tallest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, at 5,946 feet in elevation. There is a tremendous view from it’s summit, and the great news is that one can drive nearly to the peak. At the peak, you’ll find a “swinging bridge,” which – these days – is comprised of aluminum and is very stable. There’s not a lot of “swing” left in it! Also, the swinging bridge is really only about 85 feet above the ground below it. Nonetheless, the scenic view is truly breathtaking, and in fall color, it is incredibly beautiful. My advice about this place is to be prepared for temperatures that can be 20 degrees cooler than Asheville, with stiff winds. The drive ascending and returning from Grandfather Mountain is a solid half-day event, and this ended our official travel day.
