Old NC288

As a continuation of a previous post showcasing the Road and Tunnel to Nowhere, I now show you the western end of the Road to Nowhere.

When Fontana Dam was constructed, NC288 was submerged as the reservoir filled. Much of the old road ran alongside the small river that Fontana Dam brought under control. But some of the road was on higher ground.  A plan to replace the road fell through, and only short parts of the replacement road were built, hence the "Road to Nowhere" and "Tunnel to Nowhere".

Most of NC288 was a rugged single lane dirt road, winding around the mountains with no guardrails. If oncoming traffic came from the other way, one may have to reverse for a mile or more until the road widened enough to allow the two cars to pass each other. There were many foolish attempts at passing on the one lane sections, resulting in a high number of crashes. Hike several miles along this rugged trail into the mountains to discover what remains from over 60 years ago.



This vehicle rolled off the edge, coming to rest sideways against a tree. Intentional, or accidental?









A very large tree now grows through what was once the engine of this vehicle.









The hike begins at Fontana Dam. The view from atop the dam.



If you look up, you may spot a glider.



Another interesting tidbit from the trip... Another dam downstream from Fontana is undergoing repairs for a leak. To do this, the lake had to be drained. What was revealed when the lake was pulled down is quite a sight. The old road that was flooded by the lake after the dam was built is still visible and intact. The hundred year old bridge looks like it would still support traffic! The remains of an old railroad bridge can be seen as well, from the days when trains were needed to ferry supplies for dam construction.

The Tunnel to Nowhere

After the TVA built a large dam downstream, one of the main roads that connected a remote town to the rest of the world was submerged. Four other villages were submerged as the reservoir formed, and the road that was used to access many remote cemeteries was flooded. A replacement road was under construction, but after many delays and years of debate, the plan was abandoned in 1971 after construction workers unearthed a type of rock that releases sulfuric acid when exposed to the atmosphere.

As of 2010, all hope of completing the road was lost when the Department of the Interior granted a cash lump sum to the county as a settlement to the debate that has raged since 1943. Today, the tunnel and the road leading to it remain, waiting patiently for the promise of completion and relevancy.

Empire Building

The Empire Building features a terra-cotta fascade, and was erected in 1909. After the completion of the building, the corner it stands on became known as the "Heaviest corner on Earth", due to the corner featuring the four tallest buildings in the South, at the time. In 1964, City National Bank purchased the building, and it was used as a bank building until 2009, when Colonial Bank closed. The building is currently being stripped for renovations into a 117 room luxury hotel. As a result, every floor features a stripped, empty room.