It is such a strange sight to be driving the road, US 19, along the Tuckasegee River coming into Bryson City and catch a glimpse of sunlight reflecting off the chrome embedded in the river bank. Wait a minute, chrome in the river bank? Well, it is true. We noticed it during our first summer visit to the area, but with the growth of kudzu and bushes, it was hard to determine the cause of these reflections. I spoke to some people in the area about it and they said, “Oh yeah! That’s the junk cars that were placed there to shore up the river bank.” This I founded to be odd as I have never seen this done anywhere in my travels. So, I started trying to get a better look at them each time I passed one of the “flashy” areas, but it was hard. Plus, it seemed impossible to find a place to park that would allow me to get a good view, and the places that were close enough to park in did not provide the view I wanted. Even parking and walking along the river bank seemed impossible as it was quite rugged and overgrown.

I spoke with people who informed me that back in the 60’s, crushed cars were put in place along the bank to reduce the damage of flooding and erosion.  In reading online it seems that the practice has occurred in other places as well. From what I have read, some people were not to fond of the idea in the beginning but it seems to have been accepted over time. I think there was talk at one point of cleaning it up but there was never any followup.

I can only imagine how it looked when the cars were first placed there, a graveyard for dead vehicles. They are mostly covered over at this point with only portions showing in the winter and just gleaming flashes in the summer. By waiting until winter when the kudzu and other vegetation have died I have been able to take some photos as they are more visible now.

 

 

What comes from the earth,
will return home in the end,
the cycles of life.