Several new projects along the Tuckasegee River in Bryson City could help the town establish itself as the Moab of the southern mountains.

The goal of these projects is to improve public access along a five-mile stretch of river, but they have a broader theme — highlighting the wide, gentle Tuckasegee River that slices through the middle of downtown.

“There’s so few towns in the state where a river comes right through downtown. We’re really fortunate,” said Jack Becknell, a landscape architect from Swain County.

Bryson City has been a magnet for outdoor lovers of all kinds — hikers passing through on backcountry excursions, families camping and tubing at Deep Creek, anglers making their way to secluded creeks, kayakers paddling in close proximity to beer and pizza, sightseers seeking mountain views from the platform of a train, and boaters heading out on the lake for the day.

With its popularity rising, Bryson City advocates want to bring all of the town’s assets together into a cohesive package that revolves largely around the river.

“The river is the biggest asset this town has,” agreed Mayor Bruce Medford. “The long-term plan is to try to highlight the river in any way we can.”

To do that, several projects have already been completed, some are just starting, and some are still long-range dreams some members of the community want to see.

Welcome station

The area 2 miles upstream from Bryson City known as Governor’s Island (where U.S.19 crosses the Tuckasegee near Darnell Farms) is currently being renovated with a paved parking area, improved river access for boaters, a gazebo and a welcome kiosk. The area will serve as an “orientation station” for visitors approaching Bryson City on U.S. 19 from the Cherokee direction, which is the route used by travelers coming over the mountain from Gatlinburg and the Smokies.

“That’ll be their first decision point. The welcome center will give them a highlight of what there is to do in Swain County,” said Bill Shutters, director of the Partnership for the Future of Swain County. In the future, the Swain County Chamber of Commerce would like to develop an interactive, vandalism-proof video monitor playing recorded clips of things to do and allow visitors to push buttons to hear more about certain attractions. Funding came from a grant from the U.S. Forest Service.

Island Park

Bryson City’s Island Park — a large wooded island in the middle of the Tuckasegee and accessible only by a swinging bridge — is adjacent to the downtown business district. It will soon have public restrooms, a picnic pavilion, lighting and improved river access for kayakers and boaters to get in and out of the river. A $107,000 grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation department and the national recreation program is paying for the work.

A long-term plan for Island Park is to create a second footbridge where Deep Creek flows into the Tuckasegee. With a second bridge, the island would provide a missing link for pedestrians and bikers traveling from downtown to Deep Creek Road. People could use the link to bike to Deep Creek, the popular tubing and recreation area in the Smokies just outside of town. The island would also link the proposed community-built playground with downtown. The playground, slated for construction this September, will be at the recreation park on Deep Creek Road. Families could use the path across Island Park to scoot from the playground over to Everett Street for an ice cream.

288 park

The “Old 288 park” is the common name for the public recreation area three miles downriver of Bryson City where the Tuckasegee widens and slows as it flows into Fontana Lake. The past few years have seen the development of a boat ramp, picnic pavilion, fishing platforms and river-viewing pull-offs. Work is underway now to double the size of the overcrowded parking lot for a total of 50 spaces to accommodate vehicles with boat trailers. Bathrooms will also be installed this year. A $100,000 grant secured by Rep. Charles Taylor funded the work.

“It used to be nothing but a hangout for drunks and potheads. Now it is a family-oriented recreation area for people to fish and picnic and put their boats in the lake,” said David Monteith, a leader with the Fontana Lake Users Association and a Swain County commissioner. “It provides recreation access within five minutes of town that five years ago didn’t exist.”

The area is home to youth fishing contests, church group outings, is wheel-chair accessible, and draws numerous boaters with its quick lake access.

“That means money to Swain County when boaters come in — they buy groceries, gas, go to restaurants,” Monteith said.

Another project now in the works is a 1.5-mile trail leading from the recreation area. A short, quarter-mile trail will follow an old road grade along the edge of the lake to a small waterfall and creek at the Smokies park boundary. A second trail will be a 1.3-mile loop. Volunteers from the Fontana Lake Users Association will construct the trails, along with inmate labor and supervision from retired park rangers.

River walk

A long-range dream of some community members is to develop a river walk through downtown that weaves in and out along the riverbank.

“We’ve been kicking this around forever,” said Jack Becknell of plans to create a river walk. “Now we’re getting really serious about it. The intent was to utilize these gorgeous rivers for walking, biking, picnicking. Let’s make use of this gorgeous thoroughfare.”

The term “river walk” is used loosely. Jeremy Crandall, owner of Rock-n-River, likes to think of it as a downtown stroll with “river views” along most of the way.

Part of the plan — such as a greenway for the entire five miles from Governor’s Island to Old 288 park — could take a decade or more to formulate. But the concept of a river ramble through downtown is just around the corner, Shutters said.

“I think our key is utilizing what we have,” Crandall said. “We could make a greenway right now with just simple signage.”

Currently, there is not a single sign directing people to river viewing or access areas, such as Island Park. Making the river more accessible — with put-ins for kayakers and benches and picnic tables for land-lubbers — won’t work unless people are directed to it, Shutters said.

Shutters hopes to coordinate signage for a river walk with two other projects happening now. One is the town’s streetscape initiative for Everett Street that will implement street trees, lampposts and new sidewalks. The other is the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s plan for a promenade spanning four blocks along the railroad tracks.

Also in the works: the county is awaiting word on a $40,000 grant application from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation to plant native plants along the river. The project would include signs describing the plant and its traditional uses. Others still would like to see an art walk with sculptures and murals, similar to Asheville’s Urban Trail.

Shutters wants to develop a uniform theme for signs that would tie all these “walks” together.

“We want there to be a consistency, and we’re achieving it through collaboration,” Shutters said. “What’s so exciting is how all the projects are connected and everybody is talking about all of it instead of just their little piece.”

Business owners are showing interest in the river revitalization. Pat Monteith, owner of the Bar-b-que Wagon, is planning a river access area behind her restaurant. A steep walkway would lead down the bank to a small beach area.

“The kayakers already use it,” Monteith said. Fisherman also try to access it. She said it would be a nice benefit for her diners who might want to take their food down to the river bank, but would also benefit the public — as long as they don’t leave their trash around, she said. Monteith said she wants to help improve river access but also wonder whether the walkway will add to her liability insurance rates.