Bryson City Island Park facts for kids
Bryson City Island Park is a cool little island located right in Bryson City, North Carolina. It sits in the Tuckasegee River, where a historic stream called Deep Creek flows in from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a popular spot for both locals and visitors to relax and have fun outdoors.
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Where is Bryson City Island Park?
Bryson City Island Park is found in the Tuckasegee River, right in the heart of Bryson City. This town is the main city in Swain County. You can find the island where Bryson City and Ramseur streets meet. The island's edge is about 0.43 miles (690 meters) long. 35°25′54.54″N 83°26′31.51″W / 35.4318167°N 83.4420861°W
History of the Island Park
The Island Park was given a fresh new look in the 1980s. Since then, it has been a great place for people to enjoy. The walking paths on the island were created by a local person named R.T. (Buddy) Abbott. The park is dedicated to him.
For a long time, you could reach the island by a swinging wooden bridge over the Tuckasegee River. This bridge was right in the middle of Bryson City's main area. But in 2005, the island was badly hit by strong winds and floods from Hurricane Katrina. Because of the damage, the park had to be closed for several years.
In 2008, a strong, new concrete bridge was built to replace the old swinging one. Also, a special course for kayaking was made on the island. This course uses the fast-moving water, especially a famous spot called "Devil's Dip." For a while, the island was also used by the Bryson City Fire Department for their yearly "Haunted Halloween island" event, which was a popular way to raise money.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Bryson City Island Park is a fantastic place for many activities. People come here to fish, have picnics, kayak, hike, watch birds, and enjoy nature.
Fishing at the Island Park
Many people love to fish in the waters around the island park. You can find a wide variety of fish here! Some of the fish include Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Carp, and different types of Bass. There are also Catfish, Walleye, and Rock Bass. Some companies even offer special fishing trips on the river. You can use both natural and artificial lures when fishing. There are no limits on how many fish you can catch, except for trout, where you can keep up to seven.
Enjoying Nature and Recreation
The park is a quiet and natural place, which makes it perfect for picnics, hiking, and spotting wildlife. The Cardinal, which is the official bird of North Carolina, builds its nests on the island during certain times of the year. The park has about ten picnic tables, along with trash cans and recycling bins. There are also about a mile of dirt trails that go around the island and through its middle. Historic Deep Creek, which flows from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, meets the Tuckasegee River right across from Island Park.
Keeping the Park Beautiful
In 2005, Bryson City received two grants, each for $50,000. These funds were planned to bring some local animals and plants to the island park. The town also wants to make the walking paths and gardens even better. There are even plans to build an outdoor theater on the island. This would make the park an even more "beautiful, natural focal point in the heart of Bryson City."
