Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt? The thrill of possibly finding some buried treasure or hidden gold draws young and old to set out on quests for finding treasure. Hickory Nut Gorge has its own tales of lost treasure waiting to be found, and the well-worn trail paths meandering through the gorge might lead a new treasure hunter to find it. Nestled somewhere among the rocky cliffs and steep mountainous terrain, legend has it that there is a long-forgotten treasure of gold that has been lying in a hidden cave somewhere in the gorge. With the gorge spreading across 20,000 acres covered in still untouched forests and uncharted trails, the hidden treasure can still be found by someone.
The history surrounding Hickory Nut Gorge and the diverse ecosystem of the region are two focuses for high school students attending Lake Lure Classical Academy. As students, understanding the importance of our natural environment and the history of Western North Carolina cements the fact that we live and learn in a unique area of North Carolina. Not all public schools across the state can boast that their campus has access to nature trails and outdoor learning classrooms.
Students attending Lake Lure Classical Academy this year, might just be one of the lucky ones to find hidden treasures nestled in depths of the gorge. As part of our outdoor education program middle school and high school students will experience firsthand the beauty of Hickory Nut Gorge while camping, hiking, rowing, and zip lining all of which are offered to students to expand their educational experience. Elementary students also take advantage of Hickory Nut Gorge’s natural resources through their hiking club, geology lessons, and flora and fauna lessons.
Though legend has it that there is only one buried treasure tucked away in some long-forgotten cave where the entrance has been shrouded by the forest, Hickory Nut Gorge abounds with natural treasures. Lake Lure Classical Academy challenges locals and visitors alike to take advantage of the natural beauty of the gorge, and walk through the undistributed forests, climb the rocky granite cliffs, or sit and enjoy the beauty of a waterfall. As Lake Lure Classical Academy students continue to learn about Hickory Nut Gorge and the lost treasure, they will not give up any clues in the hunt for the treasure, so treasure hunters beware. Our students are gaining valuable knowledge and learning lessons that go deeper than Google and one of us might just be the person to find the gold treasure of Hickory Nut Gorge.
Lake Lure Classical Academy is a K-12 public charter school located at 1058 Island Creek Road, Lake Lure. School tours are offered to residents of North Carolina, and to visitors wanting to learn more about the school. If you are interested, and want to learn more, call the school at (8280 625-9292.
