PDA

View Full Version : Catawba Falls - not to far from the A.T.:



hillsidedigger
07-25-2007, 22:13
Catawba Falls - A Small Victory:
“Hikers wanting a peek at Catawba Falls will soon be met by an open trail instead of a “No trespassing” sign.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina recently purchased 23 acres that will provide access to the falls, which are part of the Pisgah National Forest. The conservancy , a nonprofit organization, is now in the process of raising the public and private money necessary for the U.S. Forest Service to purchase the property, according to a press release."

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352123977&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099 (http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArti cle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352123977&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099)

Hillsidedigger note: A picture of Catawba Falls was included in the Report of the Secretary of Agriculture in 1902 to President Theodore Roosevelt proposing the establishment of a forest reserve system in the Eastern U.S., the falls was acquired about 20 years ago and now 105 years later, access is acquired (there was another way, parking behind the guardrail of I-40 and walking around the the mountain).

sherrill
07-26-2007, 08:46
We used to hike to Catawba Falls from Camp Ridgecrest. In the 70's there was a major highway that was cut through there but never finished and eventually grew over. I haven't been back that way in 20 years but I'm sure it's changed considerably.

hillsidedigger
07-27-2007, 08:27
Its curious you should mention that major highway in the 70's there, Sherrill.

I do not know if you are referring to the logging road constructed by the USFS or the road started by a developer there.

The developer, about 1974, tried to buy the Adams family property, about 4,000 acres to develop with 2 golf courses and everything. The Adams owner financed the developer, he ran out of money and the Adams family got the property back.

Funny thing is, his price to purchase 4,000 acres in 1974 was very little more than the 22 acres cost now.

Of the 4,000 acres, the USFS bought 1,100 about 1988. About 1,800 was acquired by the Conservancies a few years ago but digustingly about 900 acres ended up in the hands of a ridgetop scalper, ironically called "Catawba Falls Preserve - A Community of Luxury Homesites".