Linville Gorge is one of the few examples of old-growth forest in the
Blue Ridge Mountains and draws thousands of visitors every year.
The Gorge was approved by Congress in 1964. The Grand Canyon of the East
was named for William Linville, a member of a party of long hunters in
1766 who fell victim to a Shawnee attack. The difficult terrain made
early settlements nearly impossible and logging unprofitable. Unique
rock formations, from Table Rock to the Chimneys, and miles of trails
attract thousands of climbers, hikers and adventure seekers each year.
In this revised edition, author Christopher Blake draws on American
colonial reports, travel writings, diaries, fiction and numerous
archival records to weave a narrative fabric of an American treasure.