Chimney Rock State Park to reopen June 27

ASHEVILLE - Chimney Rock State Park and its namesake attraction, a 315-foot freestanding rock spire, will reopen June 27, exactly nine months after Tropical Storm Helene devastated the surrounding communities.
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and N.C. State Parks announced the reopening date in a June 6 news release.
'Chimney Rock is a western North Carolina jewel,' said Governor Josh Stein in the release. 'Reopening the state park will draw tourists back to this area. I am pleased that (the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources), (N.C. Department of Transportation), and local leaders in Chimney Rock were able to get this park open for people to enjoy and so local businesses can thrive.'
Much of the park has been closed since after the storm when essentially all of the village's bridges were washed out, including the main public access to the popular Chimney Rock attraction at the park, which drew upwards of 300,000 visitors in 2021.
NCDOT recently completed work on a temporary bridge and repairs to the park's roads.
Only the park's Rumbling Bald access is open now on the north side of the river, an area popular with rock climbers, featuring about 1.5 miles of hiking trails.
Park hours and additional details will be announced soon, the release said. Advance reservations will be required to access the Chimney Rock attraction. The ticketing reservation system at chimneyrockpark.com will go live approximately one week prior to the reopening. Capacity will be limited due to ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in the area.
More: Free things to do around Asheville this summer: Get outside, stay indoors or catch a show
More: What's new with Asheville's proposed 1.3-mile greenway extension in the RAD?
Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Chimney Rock State Park to reopen June 27

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