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All the United States North Carolina Robbinsville Cheoah Dam

Cheoah Dam

A historic dam made famous for its turbines and feature in a Hollywood classic.

Robbinsville, North Carolina

Added By
Ken J
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Dam and power house.   Dantripphoto
  donnamgard / Atlas Obscura User
Dam from the floating dock   mackenzieprice13 / Atlas Obscura User
Normal water releasing.   Tellyvt
Dam from the small parking area up top   mackenzieprice13 / Atlas Obscura User
Dam from below on the road   mackenzieprice13 / Atlas Obscura User
  donnamgard / Atlas Obscura User
  donnamgard / Atlas Obscura User
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About

At one end of the Tail of the Dragon, Highway 129 crosses an imposing 225-foot dam, wedged into a narrow gorge of the Little Tennessee River. In the 1993 film, The Fugitive, Harrison Ford's character makes a heart-stopping leap from the top of the dam to elude capture. Ford actually did stand on this precipice, although it was a temporary tunnel built for the film overlooking the drop. The scene involved six dummies valued at well over $40,000. 

The Cheoah Dam at the time of its construction was the tallest overflow dam in the world with the world's largest turbines. Behind the dam is a scenic mountain lake. Also, not far from the Cheoah, are the remnants of the train wreck scene also featured in the film. 

There is a nice little floating dock that you can head down to to the left of the dam when on the north side. You can walk out and see the dam from "behind" and dip your feet in the water.

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Dams

Know Before You Go

There are pullouts on the north side of the gorge, but they are not very large and can be full, especially on weekends. Beware, the tight turns in and out of the valley make for very limited visibility and slowing down to look is dangerous.

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Added By

KenJ

Edited By

mackenzieprice13, donnamgard

  • mackenzieprice13
  • donnamgard

Published

September 4, 2019

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fugitive_(1993_film)#Filming
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheoah_Dam
  • http://mentalfloss.com/article/87339/13-running-facts-about-fugitive
Cheoah Dam
US-129
Robbinsville, North Carolina, 28771
United States
35.448141, -83.936292
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Nearby Places

Tail of the Dragon

Forneys Creek, North Carolina

miles away

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Robbinsville, North Carolina

miles away

Abrams Creek Underwater Bridge

Tallassee, Tennessee

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Carolina

North Carolina

United States

Places 199
Stories 34

Nearby Places

Tail of the Dragon

Forneys Creek, North Carolina

miles away

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Robbinsville, North Carolina

miles away

Abrams Creek Underwater Bridge

Tallassee, Tennessee

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of North Carolina

North Carolina

United States

Places 199
Stories 34

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