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The Blue Ridge Parkway remains the most intact example of pre- and post-World War II automotive rural parkway design. <em>Photo from NPS Archives</em>

The Blue Ridge Parkway remains the most intact example of pre- and post-World War II automotive rural parkway design. Photo from NPS Archives

Haywood County, NC

Pisgah Region • Milepost 443

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Lake Junaluska offers visitors breathtaking scenery and a relaxing atmosphere.

Lake Junaluska offers visitors breathtaking scenery and a relaxing atmosphere.

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Haywood County TDA
Haywood County, North Carolina
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http://www.smokeymountains.net
Near milepost 443

Haywood County – home to Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Canton, Clyde, and Lake Junaluska – is 554 scenic square miles of spectacular country, with beautiful mountains and valleys dotting the landscape. Thirteen of its mountain peaks soar to elevations of at least 6,000 feet (more than any east of the Mississippi River), and the County is one of the highest east of the Rockies, with a mean elevation of 3,600 feet. Notable mountain peaks include Cold Mountain – the basis for the award-winning, best-selling novel by Charles Frazier and the ensuing 2003 major motion picture – at 6,030 feet, Mt. Sterling at 5,836 feet, and Richland Balsam at 6,410 feet. First established in 1808, Haywood County sits at the western edge of the state, with the Blue Ridge Parkway running along its southwestern border. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Pisgah National Forest are located in the northern section of the County.

With 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, 20 overlooks, and four entrance/exit points in Haywood County, the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA) maintains a long-standing working relationship with the parkway, recognizing it as a main attraction that draws visitors to the area. From promoting the Blue Ridge Parkway on its Web site and in its public relations material to donating $15,000 for clearing overgrowth at overlooks, the HCTDA values the presence of the parkway and looks for ways to work in concert to benefit both the parkway and the County.

How We're Doing Our Part

Along with contributing $15,000 to the Blue Ridge Parkway for overlook clearing and cleanup, the HCTDA informed other communities and counties that benefit from the parkway’s presence of its initiative, encouraging them to follow suit. The TDA also sent letters to state and federal legislators to urge them to fully fund the Parlway in order for it to maintain the road and overlooks, ensuring the drive is a fulfilling and enjoyable trip for motorists and visitors. In terms of the 75th Anniversary, the HCTDA will employ a host of its resouces – public and media relations efforts, Web site, social media, and on-line video – to promote the importance of the parkway.