It makes perfect sense really. A young Cherokee brave falls in love with a young Chickasaw woman, and then he is torn between duty and love–return to his tribe or stay with the girl. Instead of either, though, he leapt from a The Blowing Rock into the valley.
I probably need to add here that what triggered his great leap was, according to legend, the omen of a red sky one evening that signaled to him trouble for his people.
He felt he needed to return to help them in whatever predicament that red sky was signalling.
As he was explaining the situation to the woman he loved, she couldn’t believe he would allow himself to be ripped from her side. She begged him not to leave.
Instead of weighing certain other options that we might consider in our present day (such as taking the girl with us to meet our family or telling the girl we’d be back or chastising the girl for encouraging us to forsake our duties), he leapt from The Blowing Rock into what’s now called the Johns River Gorge.
But the story doesn’t end there. As with any great story, there’s resurrection in the end–like to the lark at break of day, the phoenix, etc.
The grief-stricken young lady fervently prays to the Great Spirit for the return of her Cherokee lover, and, I’m a little disappointed to say, the maiden’s prayers were answered.
The wind brought the Cherokee back.
Why You Should Go To The Blowing Rock
It’s beautiful! This is one of the oldest tourist attractions in western North Carolina, and it really is worth the visit on a clear day.
- Historic Building
- Cool Gift Shop
- Spectacular Views
- Walking Trails
- Viewing Platform
- Snow Falling Upside Down
- The Beautiful Johns River Gorge