Chimney Rock State Park in western North Carolina spans 8,014 acres around Hickory Nut Gorge and is anchored by Chimney Rock, a 315-foot gneiss monolith with broad views. The landscape combines dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, trails, and rare habitats shaped by ancient metamorphic rock, especially the Henderson Gneiss. Its history joins private stewardship and public conservation: Dr. Lucius B. Morse bought the original tract in 1902, and his family operated it as a private attraction until the state acquired it in 2007, after the creation and expansion of the new park beginning in 2005. In 2024, Hurricane Helene caused major damage, and the park reopened on June 27, 2025.