Download or read book River of Cliffs: A Linville Gorge History written by Christopher Blake and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2017 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Linville Gorge is one of the few examples of old-growth forest in the Blue Ridge Mountains and draws thousands of visitors every year. The Gorge was approved by Congress in 1964. "The Grand Canyon of the East" was named for William Linville, a member of a party of long hunters in 1766 who fell victim to a Shawnee attack. The difficult terrain made early settlements nearly impossible and logging unprofitable. Unique rock formations, from Table Rock to the Chimneys, and miles of trails attract thousands of climbers, hikers and adventure seekers each year. In this revised edition, author Christopher Blake draws on American colonial reports, travel writings, diaries, fiction and numerous archival records to weave a narrative fabric of an American treasure.