Two nonprofit rock-climbing groups, Carolina Climbers Coalition and Access Fund, have joined together to purchase 17 acres in Lower Ghost Town, an area in Chimney Rock described as “one of North Carolina’s most iconic climbing areas.”
The area is located across from Chimney Rock State Park, and first started attracting climbers in the 1970s when the site was the home to Silver City, a western-themed amusement park. Access to the climbing area ceased in the 2000s when developers acquired the area.
The purchase marks the culmination of a 25-year campaign to secure public access to the area with more than 50 established routes. The purchase was made possible from an Access Fund Climbing Conservation loan and funding from the Great Trails state grant program. Financial details were not immediately available. Carolina Climbers Coalition is based in Asheville and has 1,050 members. Access Fund is based in Boulder, Colorado, and is a national advocacy organization. It has more than 10,000 members and an annual budget of about $3.5 million.
The acquisition opens up climbing to one of the highest quality crags in North Carolina — including three of the state’s hardest climbs…