McGalliard Falls
Encyclopedia
McGalliard Falls is a waterfall in Burke County
Burke County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 89,148 people, 34,528 households, and 24,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile . There were 37,427 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...

, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

.

Geology

The waterfall is located on McGalliard Creek, where it flows over a large bedrock to a lower plunge pool.

Natural history

The falls is owned by the city of Valdese, North Carolina
Valdese, North Carolina
Valdese is a town in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,485 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Valdese is located at ....

, which has built a city park around the falls. The falls was the home to a mill called Meytre Grist Mill, which was built in 1906 by Fred Meytre. The mill remained in operation until 1941, when Mr. Meytre became too old to operate the mill without younger men, who were being called to serve during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. The mill was rebuilt in 1982 for the park.

Visiting the falls

The falls is located at McGalliard Falls Park in Valdese, North Carolina. The park may be found by taking exit 112 off of Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...

and going north to Main Street in Valdese. Head west on Main Street for .8 miles and turn right onto Church St. Go north 1.5 miles to the turn-in for the park on the right. There is a short path to the falls.

Visitors should obey all rules at the park concerning the falls, and should not swim near or above the falls.
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