Pathways to Tomorrow
The face of the Swannanoa Valley is rapidly changing, just as it did with the coming of the railroad and paved roads.
Newcomers arrive by car today for the same reasons they came a century ago—to enjoy the mild climate, beautiful scenery, and natural attractions of the mountains of Western North Carolina.
There is much concern among conservationists, land use planners and tourism professionals that the region’s natural assets be preserved and protected. Tourism is one of the region’s strongest economic drivers, and yet, some fear that overdevelopment and overuse of natural resources might destroy what tourists come to enjoy.
