A new interpretive wayside sign greets visitors at Pearson’s Falls and is one of 69 such signs being installed on the new Blue Ridge Heritage Trail. The trail is a collection of special places throughout the North Carolina mountains and foothills that embody the remarkable history and culture of the region, and is an initiative of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership (BRNHA).

 

At each location, the sign tells the stories of the people and places that have shaped the distinctive heritage of the 25 westernmost counties in North Carolina. The Pearson’s Falls sign describes the glen and falls as being in a unique thermal belt that provides a long freeze-free growing season. Over 200 species of native deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, flowering plants, wildflowers, algae, mosses, ferns, and fungi thrive here. The Pearson Family Trail to the 90-foot waterfall is a ¼ mile hike along Colt Creek.

 

In addition to the signs, the trail will be enhanced with the installation of interactive kiosks in five NC Welcome Centers that greet visitors to the region, plus a map brochure and website to help them get around the region and learn more about each site.

 

This initiative is designed to attract and inform visitors, students, and residents alike about the many natural and cultural heritage attractions in the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. The goal is to encourage people to discover places they may not know about. It is not a “Point A to Point B” trail, but rather many stops throughout the region. People can enjoy a single stop or piece together several sites by theme, town, region or activity to create their own personalized “trail.” QR codes on each sign will enable people with smart phones to locate other nearby sites.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Trail is a project of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership and was supported by Federal Highway Transportation Enhancement funding administered through the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Haywood County, N.C.

–       Submitted by Lucy Brannon