Why We Love It
Photo Gallery
Big Boo-seum Bash
Local museums opened late to host trick-or-treaters. The annual event was a success with great weather. At the Heifer Village visitors could decorate pumpkins and at the Clinton Center the staff dressed as storybook characters while passing out candy to trick-or-treaters of all ages.
A neighbor of the Nantahala Gorge, Falling Waters Adventure Resort offers an abundance of outdoor activi-ties for avid bikers and hikers, as well a haven for those who love the sunshine, but may not enjoy the dirt. This unusual accommodation, The Yurt Village, gives the not-so-outdoorsy individual the comfort of coming back from a long day out-side to a clean, climate-controlled room with a cozy bed. The yurts are designed according to the tradi-tional Mongol likeness, but offer space heaters and insulation for added warmth, as well as a skylight and large windows to bring on the views without bringing in the bugs.
Acomodations
The Yurt Village was one of two North Carolina places on the 2009 National Geographic Travelers Stay List. The yurts are designed with weatherproof fabric wrapped around a circular wall made of Douglas fir, French doors and ceiling fans. Each yurt is able to sleep two people in a queen size bed, but futons are available for any additional guests. The Group Barn is fashioned to replicate an early Appalachian barn and can house 44 people in eight rooms. It allows for group gatherings with a recreations hall, dining area and meeting room.
Nearby Adventuring
Appalachian TrailAccessed in the Nantahala River GorgeGreat Smoky Mountains National ParkMore than 850 miles of hiking trailsBartram TrailThis Nantahala Mountains trail Leads to the Wayah Bald observation tower
Rates and Reservations
The yurts are $84 per room while the Group Barn ranges from $54 to $69 depending on the day of the week. All have an extra 10.75 percent lodging tax aside from the main price.
Road to Nowhere
In the 1930s and 40s, Swain County gave most of its land to the federal government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. People left their homes, and the old roads to those communities were slated to be replaced. The construction was never completed and a tunnel now stretches and ends six miles into the park. Visitors can walk down what is known as “The Road to Nowhere,” eventually winding up in the middle of the park.