OK, can you tell I am doing some Dragon planning today? Lol. Looking at the guide I noticed the section on the waterfalls. On page 14 there is a really cool photo of a MINI behind the Bridal Veil Falls. I would love to get a photo of Smurfette like that. The description says "...at one time routed traffic under the falls...". My question to you all is, is it possible to get a photo like that still or can you not drive "behind" the falls anymore? Part 2 of that question is, where does the non driver stand to take such a photo? Is it obvious once you are there?

Any other great photo op suggestions would be appreciated too!

 

I want a photo there too!!!

 

It looks like the road behind the falls closes during the winter due to ice and snow. Also due to the ice one year, the road was damaged and closed for a while during the repair. According to the site below, it is open for business.

http://www.alleneasler.com/bridal.html

 

Looks like it was open at least as recently as Nov. 2009. I think one of the monthly photo winners here on NAM had a pic there recently.

Here is a pic I got during a drive we did back in 2008:

 

I LOVE THAT WATERFALL!!!
the rib run usually runs under the falls every year on the way back to fontana, but there doesnt seem to be one this year!! as far as i know its still open and drivable/stop and take pictures (we did last year anyways). If anyone does decide to make a trip out there let me know cause its a great photo op and the roads around it are a BLAST!!

heres a pic from 2 years ago!!

 

Thanks for the help everyone! Does anyone know if the Rib Shack in Highlands, NC is still open? If so, it looks like we might be doing a run there sometime Thursday (back before Bingo). The run would include a stop and photo at the bridal Veil Falls. I would have to coordinate the plans with a couple of people but we would welcome others to join us. I would welcome any feedback or pointers from someone who has done this drive in past years.

 

I believe mielniki from pittstop mini was in charge of this run in the past, he had some really great routes picked out and the bbq place was always helpful in accommodating all of us ( closed off half their parking lot) unfortunately I wouldn't be able to make it Thursday since my drive is that day too, and i kinda have to go to that! Lol

 

UPDATE: Rib Shack is closed for good. I am guessing we will still try to do a run to the falls sometime Thursday late morning/ early afternoon. If anyone would like to join us, let me know here prior to Saturday, April 23rd and I will see if I can formalize the run. Also if anyone has any other food suggestions, please let me know.

 

I was wanting to Hit the falls as well and I think it would be awesome to be able to do it with some other MINI people =D

 

In 2008, I lead a group on a 'Highlands Run'... 20-30 cars that we all crammed in the spaces together. Highlands is a beautiful little town that has kept a German mountain village look to the downtown area. There are lots of little shops, restaurants and antique stores to visit. There is also a very cool drive-thru waterfall (Bridal Veil Falls) a few miles north of town.
If you are going to make a Bridal Veil Falls run, I've got a full instruction pack for you! It heads out over the Hellbender and comes back via Wayah road, a road with twisties that almost rival the Dragon but doesn't have the traffic. The return trip comes through Robbinsville for food / gas.
http://www.focusoa.com/HighlandsDrive2008-Part1of2.pdf
http://www.focusoa.com/HighlandsDrive2008-Part2of2.pdf
PS: If you make it down to Highlands, be sure to find Horse Cove Road. If you take Main street into downtown highlands and continue straight, it becomes Horse Cove Rd on the east side of town. Continue on for 2-3 minutes and it becomes a very tight 2 lane road, but drops 1000 feet of elevation in 3000 feet of road (a 30% grade on average!!!). It is a HILARIOUS DRIVE! Some of the hairpins are so tight that I swear I saw my own rear bumper on some of the turns.

 

Thanks for the very detailed instructions. I am trying to figure out if it will be feasible for this year. If not, we are definitely doing it in 2012!

 

We are arriving Thursday around 1100 am. It sounds like a great drive and photo opp and we are open to suggestions for meeiting up. Our hotel is in Robbinsville so i would hope to be able to unload at 11 before heading out on the twisties.

Its our first Dragon so im all ears when it comes to letting others suggest whats fun!

Larry

 

I was wondering through my MOTD files and came across this rather ugly scan of an old pamphlet from the city of Highlands, near Bridal Veil falls. It gives some info and hiking directions to several falls in the area:

http://www.focusoa.com/MOTD/Waterfal...nHighlands.pdf

Hope it helps!

Note: I first received this document 2 or 3 years ago... the info on it may be older than that, so please take any directions with a grain of salt and validate before you go trapsing off across the woods! :D