Dr. Lucius B. Morse first rode through Hickory Nut Gorge in 1900, was captivated by its rugged beauty and towering Chimney Rock, and believed the area could be developed to preserve its natural beauty while making it accessible. In 1902, he and his brothers Hiram and Asahel bought a 64-acre tract including Chimney Rock, Hickory Nut Falls, and the surrounding cliffs for $5000. Their effort to open the site to visitors led to construction of a bridge over the Rocky Broad River, but the first bridge, dedicated on July 4, 1916, was swept away 12 days later by flooding after Hurricane Hilda; a second bridge replaced it and remained in use until 1984, when an improved concrete and steel structure took its place. The brothers added features such as lodging, restaurants, the original Cliff Dwellers Inn, and an elevator inside the mountain, dedicated in 1949 as the fulfillment of Hiram's long-held dream to let everyone reach the top regardless of physical ability. They also improved primitive trails to the summit and Hickory Nut Falls by building stairs, better paths, and vantage points with local contractor Guilford Nanney. In the 1970s, Hiram's grandson Lucius "Lu" B. Morse III joined the park's overall operation, and in 1986 Hiram's great-grandson Todd B. Morse became president and general manager, the first Morse descendant since Dr. Lucius to be active in day-to-day management. Under Todd's leadership, facilities were upgraded, new trails and nature centers were added, botanists and naturalists were hired, and botanical surveys identified multiple species of rare and endangered plants. In 2002, the park marked 100 years of the Morse family vision to acquire, protect, and share the natural wonder, and on May 21, 2007, Todd and Lu sold it to the state of North Carolina for $24 million to preserve that legacy for future generations.