The Gorges Historical Timeline Back
1902
The development of Lake Toxaway began by E.H. Jennings, an entrepreneur who also established the Toxaway Inn, a popular resort for the rich and famous.
1908
One of Dr. Bill’s and Rhoda’s sons, Ralph, became an attorney and later, a N.C. state senator and still another, Jack became chief of detectives of Gadsden, Alabama.
1914
Still another son was John Thomas Fisher, Anthony Fisher’s grandfather who, after serving his country in WW1 became an attorney and later, a judge. Both Judge Fisher and Senator Fisher were avid collectors and embodied the Fisher Family traditions of service and preservation of the history and the land.
1916
The Lake Toxaway dam broke, emptying Lake Toxaway.
1948
The movie “Tap Roots” starring Susan Haywood and Boris Karloff was partially filmed on this property.
1958
A portion of the classic movie, “Thunder Road”, starring Robert Mitchum, was filmed in this area.
1950’s
A group of businessmen purchased the land containing the lake site, re-built the dam, filled in the lake and created Lake Toxaway Estates, a world renown, premier resort area.
1980’s
The Greystone Inn, an AAA, 4 Diamond resort was established in the former Motz Mansion.
1988
Jim Bob Tinsley, Gene Autry’s back-up singer, writes about the property in his book: “Land of the Waterfalls.”
1774
Judge Henderson of the Transylvania Land Company, arranged the “Treaty of Sycamore Shoals”, known as the “Transylvania Purchase.”
1775
Daniel Boone hires members of the James Fisher family as protection and hunters for the Cumberland Gap expeditions.
1776
Patriarch, James Washington Fisher, Sr. is awarded property in western NC for serving our country in the Revolutionary War. He is buried in the Fisher Cemetery.1812
James Washington Fisher, Jr. serves in War of 1812 and is a “Long Hunter”. He is buried in the Fisher Cemetery.
1847
Prominent historian and novelist W. Gilmore Simms wrote; “The Cub Of The Panther ‘A Hunter Legend of Transylvania County, writing about, among others, the famed hunter and pioneer James Washington (Jim) Fisher, Jr.
1860
A grist mill known as Patterson’s Mill is located along Bearwallow on what was then the major thoroughfare through these mountains known as “the Turnpike,” one of only a few roads that ran from Asheville to Atlanta (it was the interstate of its day).
1864
One of James Jr.’s sons, John Fisher, served with the 57th regiment in the Civil War. He is buried in the Fisher Cemetery.
1865
John Fisher’s sons were sent to college by Aunt Polly.
1870’s
Dr. William Fisher (Dr. Bill) serves the Lake Toxaway area as a medical doctor, on horseback.
1900
Dr. Bill passed away, leaving his widow and 5 children. With the proceeds from Dr. Bill’s life insurance policy, his wife, Rhoda built an inn on the property with which to generate income for her family. “The Rhododendron Inn” was known throughout western N.C., especially due to Rhoda’s fantastic cooking.