Chimney Rock’s amazing elevator needs a fix

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Chimney Rock Park needs an elevator fix. Sealed bid proposals will be opened on Jan. 15 for work dubbed referred to as “bracket repairs.” I don’t know how extensive that work might be, or how much it might cost, but it sounds significant. After all, the park elevator is quite a little wonder. For the time of construction, it certainly is a wonder, elevator construction has come a long way since, Modular Elevator Manufacturing produces free standing elevators that can be used for interior or exterior applications that would certainly dazzle the likes of the 1949 population.

The elevator was opened to the public in 1949 and rises 26 stories, or 258 feet, in 30 seconds. Here’s a little history from the park’s Web site:

As time passed, visitors did not relish walking the 470 steps on the trail from the parking area to the summit of the Chimney. In 1946, plans were drawn for an elevator to transport people to the top. Blasted out of the solid granite cliff, a 198-foot tunnel led into the mountain to the 258-foot elevator shaft. A massive piece of construction, it took eight tons of dynamite and 18 months to complete. The elevator was opened to the public in 1949, the same year the entrance parking lot, three-mile drive and upper parking lot were paved. Next, the Sky Lounge, a gift shop and snack bar, was built on top of the elevator.

The photo displayed here is from Chimney Rock Park’s flickr page.