Jackson County
Jackson County, west of the Blue Ridge Parkway, is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Jackson County is also known for its spectacular waterfalls. The Tuckaseegee River runs through the county and provides opportunities for rafting and kayaking and is known as North Carolina’s best stream for trout fishing.
Jackson County features some of the best views in the Southeast with elevations from 2,000 to 6,000 feet. Thousands of tourists are drawn to this area each year with many choosing to stay.
The Great Smoky Mountain Expressway, a four-lane divided highway that follows US 74, passes through Jackson County. Beginning in Dillsboro, the 53 mile trek includes 25 bridges and two tunnels and was the film site of the famous train scene from Harrison Ford’s “The Fugitive.” Other films shot in the county include “Deliverance” and “My Fellow Americans.”
Jackson County is the site of the Green Energy Park, which converts methane from landfills into fuel. The project has been hailed by the Environmental Protection Agency as the Landfill Program Project of the Year.