Lakeview Drive, "The Road To Nowhere," as most local residents call it, is a 6-mile scenic drive into the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where it dead-ends. It provides spectacular views of Fontana Lake and the Appalachian Mountains and was originally named "Lakeview Drive;" however, since the road was never completed (as the government promised) residents who were forced to leave their homes in order for Fontana Dam to be built gave it the name of "The Road To Nowhere." This road was originally to be built to provide the many residents who gave up their land for the Fontana Dam project access to their ancestral gravesites.
Directions: Take the Bryson City Exit 67 off US 74, come down the hill, at the first red light make a right, at the second red light make a left, go straight through the third red light, over the railroad tracks and straight up the hill to the Swain County High School (high school will be 1-2 miles on your left from the red light). About 1-2 miles past Swain County High School you will see the sign on the left side on a bank that says this is the Road to Nowhere. Immediately after you will enter Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Photo courtesy of Richard Weisser
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