Smoky Mountain - Day 4

Don't even remember my head hitting the pillow last night......but I'm up now and ready for the day.  We are ready to check out but getting in another hike before we head home.  Nancy, Bill, Kathy and I are headed to "The Road to Nowhere".  There are several trails in this area and we entended on doing a 2 mile hike but of course, we ended up doing a moderate 4 mile hike on part of the Lakeshore Trail and Forney Creek Trail which we started out on the Goldmine Loop Trail.  I'm still confused.

The story of "The Road to Nowhere" is back in the 30's - 40's Swain County gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mtn. National Park.  Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small communities.  With the creation of the park, their homes were gone and so was the road to those communities.  The old Hwy. 288 was buried beneath the lake.

The government promised to replace the hwy. with a new road.  Lakeview Dr. was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana, 30 miles.  It was also to have provided access to the old family cemeteries.

Lakeview fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending at a tunnel about six miles into the park.  Swain citizen's gave the unfinished Lakeview Dr. its name, The Road to Nowhere.

In 2010, Swain County accepted a cash settlement from the government in lieu of completing the road.

Looking for away around the mud hole.....Mandy would have jumped through it and probably in it!

Nancy resting before the climb back out!

One of the many tributaries of Fontana Lake

Almost out!

After a stop at the local "Farmers Market in Bryson City, Nancy and I were on our way back to Salem.  There is just so many trails in the Smoky Mountains, I know I will never be able to hike them all....but I'll try!