Round Top Mountain Gold — Chimney Rock

Sun shading (lidar)

Adjust simulated sun direction on the lidar hillshade. Azimuth = compass bearing of the light (0° north, 90° east). Altitude = height above the horizon (low = long shadows).

Historical map overlays

USGS scanned historical topographic maps. Enable an overlay and adjust its opacity. Works in 2D and 3D.

Sun azimuth: 315°   Sun altitude: 45°   Z factor: 1   Lidar opacity: 1
center: —   mouse: —   zoom: —

Round Top Mountain Gold — Chimney Rock

Lost Treasure NC • Rutherford / Buncombe County County
Description
Hickory Nut Gorge legend of six Englishmen's wagon gold hidden in a Round Top Mountain cave after a Cherokee attack — map copies allegedly in the Library of Congress.
Historical Notes
Piedmont Trails and Hickory Nut Gorge hiking lore describe English prospectors killed near Round Top Mountain opposite Chimney Rock. Survivors walled gold inside a cave before dying or fleeing to England blinded. Confederate General Leventhorpe reportedly searched two months. A 1938 Forest City Courier article documented another expedition. No verified recovery keeps the legend active. Chimney Rock State Park visitors still hunt caves along Hickory Nut Gap for the Cinderella fortune.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

Take Add Data / Take Notes

Log in or create an account to save private field notes for this location. Your notes are only visible to you.

Forgot password?
or

Enter your email and we'll send you a link to reset your password.

Back to log in
or