Road to Nowhere
08-27-2013, 06:03 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Road to Nowhere
I saw this in Darcy's write up and never knew about it before. I don't think it warrants its own seperate drive, but can we tack this on to one of the other drives of the event?
It was to be a highway on the northern side of Fontana, but after building the first tunnel funding dried up and that's all the farther it went. I don't think we can drive through the tunnel, but it looks like a good drive back to it, and a good photo op.
It is 41 miles / 1 hr 15min from Fontana according to the Google machine. The last 6 miles of that are all secluded dead end mountain road (though I have no idea of the condition of it)
info: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/6268
map: http://goo.gl/maps/VKkzr
It was to be a highway on the northern side of Fontana, but after building the first tunnel funding dried up and that's all the farther it went. I don't think we can drive through the tunnel, but it looks like a good drive back to it, and a good photo op.
It is 41 miles / 1 hr 15min from Fontana according to the Google machine. The last 6 miles of that are all secluded dead end mountain road (though I have no idea of the condition of it)
info: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/6268
map: http://goo.gl/maps/VKkzr
08-27-2013, 06:11 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Maybe a second Franklin drive, without the shopping for those of us that have more rubber to burn?
08-28-2013, 05:15 AM
#7
Registered User
Just drove to the "Road to Nowhere" on the way back from Gettysburg trip. It's been on my list! Bryson City is an interesting little town (very touristy with a lot of folks walking about). The road is very good. You cannot drive through the tunnel. There are steel posts imbedded in the road with locks. My guess enterprisig folks tried to pull them out. Parking lot is about an 1/8 mile from tunnel. You can walk through the tunnel another 1/8 mile (bring a flashlight). The road ends at a trailhead about 100 yard beyond the tunnel.
I would suggest tacking on this event to Highlands drive. Hwy 441 out of Franklin and merge with Hwy 74 to Bryson City.
I would suggest tacking on this event to Highlands drive. Hwy 441 out of Franklin and merge with Hwy 74 to Bryson City.
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08-28-2013, 05:38 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Just drove to the "Road to Nowhere" on the way back from Gettysburg trip. It's been on my list! Bryson City is an interesting little town (very touristy with a lot of folks walking about). The road is very good. You cannot drive through the tunnel. There are steel posts imbedded in the road with locks. My guess enterprisig folks tried to pull them out. Parking lot is about an 1/8 mile from tunnel. You can walk through the tunnel another 1/8 mile (bring a flashlight). The road ends at a trailhead about 100 yard beyond the tunnel.
I would suggest tacking on this event to Highlands drive. Hwy 441 out of Franklin and merge with Hwy 74 to Bryson City.
I would suggest tacking on this event to Highlands drive. Hwy 441 out of Franklin and merge with Hwy 74 to Bryson City.
Thanks for the info! What condition is the road in that leads up to the tunnel?
Everyone mind the man, and bring a flashlight. I'm walking through it
08-28-2013, 06:05 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Here's what I'm thinking. On Friday, after the Newbie drive, there isn't much on the itinerary unless you want to go shopping with all the 
folk. We can't do that when there's so much driving to be done. Also, it would be sacrelidge to miss out on a meal at Caff'e Rel, which is the best restaurant of the entire weekend, bar none. So...
How about a brisk drive to the Road to Nowhere, and then off to Caff'e Rel in Franklin for a late lunch (hopefully avoid the rush, and that OTHER group drive
), then possibly Bridal Veil falls depending on mood & weather, then take Wayah Rd on the way home. The total route is 177 miles, but we can cut 20 miles off of that if we bypass Bridal Veil.
hopefully this map works for you all, I wrestled with Google for a while and I still don't think it's quite right. I swear this used to be easier to do...
http://goo.gl/maps/RgocI
folk. We can't do that when there's so much driving to be done. Also, it would be sacrelidge to miss out on a meal at Caff'e Rel, which is the best restaurant of the entire weekend, bar none. So...How about a brisk drive to the Road to Nowhere, and then off to Caff'e Rel in Franklin for a late lunch (hopefully avoid the rush, and that OTHER group drive
), then possibly Bridal Veil falls depending on mood & weather, then take Wayah Rd on the way home. The total route is 177 miles, but we can cut 20 miles off of that if we bypass Bridal Veil.hopefully this map works for you all, I wrestled with Google for a while and I still don't think it's quite right. I swear this used to be easier to do...
http://goo.gl/maps/RgocI
08-28-2013, 06:19 AM
#10
Registered User
"Thanks for the info! What condition is the road in that leads up to the tunnel?"
quote
The road from Bryson City to tunnel is very good and is about 9 miles.
quote
The road from Bryson City to tunnel is very good and is about 9 miles.