Chimney Rock

Old Rock Diner and The Patio at Old Rock Diner are THE place to go for breakfast and lunch while visiting Chimney Rock State Park or THE place for dinner and drinks after your visit. Old Rock Diner is newly reimagined and updated but you’ll be awash in nostalgia as you slip back to a simpler time in this new ’50s diner motif and sit atop a stool at the U-shaped counter or slide into a cozy booth.

Welcome to the Skyline Café and Top of the Rock Candy Shop where you can admire the magnificent view overlooking Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. Settle in for a sit-down lunch or dinner inside and outside on the deck. If you’re returning to the Rock at Chimney Rock State Park, or a first-time visitor, there’s a whole new experience when you walk out that elevator door or climb those 500 steps!

Visitors will find a new look and feel at Cliff Dwellers Gift Shop. We’ve curated new merchandise and items from local and regional vendors, designed a new layout, added better fixtures, and displays and improved lighting for greater visual appeal and easier access and flow through the store to ensure better visitors’ experiences.

And now, we’re offering more affordable choices in water bottles and we encourage all visitors to refill those water bottles and stay hydrated while hiking throughout the Park.

With hundreds of thousands of people visiting the Park each year, designated parking spots within the Park can fill up quickly. We provide parking services to control the flow of traffic through the premises to better serve visitors and to promote safety.

Due to sharp curves, motorcoaches cannot maneuver the road beyond the Meadows. During heavy attendance times and for large groups we provide a free shuttle service from our designated shuttle stop in this lower parking lot near the Animal Discovery Den. Riders will have a short twisty trip up the rest of the mountain to just below Chimney Rock and access to Cliff Dwellers Gift Shop. To guarantee a ride on the shuttle service, a reservation is required.