North Carolina Highway 694
Encyclopedia
North Carolina Highway 694 is a primary state highway
in the state
of North Carolina
. This scenic highway serves as connector between Asheville
and the Blue Ridge Parkway
.
. Going northeast, it passes over I-240
as it quickly ascends up Beaucatcher Mountain, eventually to the ridge line. From there it curves along the east-side of Sunset Mountain and Patton Mountain, then on the south-side of Rich Knob and Meadows Mountain, before going around the southeast side of Peach Knob. It meets-up with the Blue Ridge Parkway
at Craven Gap, where it ends. The overall road is curvy, but manageable after the initial climb. There are no signage at the intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway
that indicates it as NC 694; visitors along the BRP will need to look for it at Craven Gap, near milepost 377.
For visitors that want to stay in the area, go north on the BRP to Bull Gap and take left onto Elk Mountain Scenic Highway (signage points to Vance Birthplace and Weaverville). From here, visitors can travel back to Asheville
along the scenic route or take a right onto Ox Creek Road for a curvy four miles, then right onto Reems Creek Road to Vance Birthplace State Historic Site
.
), going north on Oak Street then east on Woodfin Street, then north on Charlotte Street to Edwin Place, then northwest to Kimberly Avenue, continuing north. It then used Grifting Boulevard east to Patton Mountain Road, where it stayed till it reached Town Mountain Road. Continuing northeast, Town Mountain Road continues on what will later become part of the Blue Ridge Parkway
. It then turns west onto Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, following all the way back to Beaverdam Road, where it ends on Merrimon Avenue (US 19
/US 23
/US 25
/US 70/NC 20). By the early 1940s, NC 694 was rerouted to go from Woodfin Street onto Town Mountain Road.
Around 1954, NC 694 was truncated to Woodfin Street, thanks to a realigned US 70. In 1961, it went back on Woodfin Street, to end at Market Street (US 19 Bus/US 23 Bus), thanks to another realignment of US 70 going onto the new expressway. By around 1980, NC 694 was truncated east at the Blue Ridge Parkway
, dropping the Elk Mountain Scenic Highway into obscurity. Between 1981-1982, NC 694 was truncated west to its current location of Town Mountain Road at College Street; thanks again to another realignment of US 70 along Charlotte Street to College Street.
Originally, NC 694 was established in 1922, connecting Cranberry
to Elk Park
and then into Tennessee
. This route was later replaced by NC 194
and US 19
in the mid-1920s.
.
{| class="wikitable"
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Asheville
|0
|
|NC 694 begins
|-
|
|6.3
|Blue Ridge Parkway
|NC 694 ends
|-
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. This scenic highway serves as connector between Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
.
Route description
NC 694 is a 6.3 miles (10.1 km) two-lane scenic highway begins in downtown AshevilleAsheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. Going northeast, it passes over I-240
Interstate 240 (North Carolina)
Interstate 240 is a long Interstate Highway loop in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It serves as an urban connector for Asheville and runs in a half-circle around the north of the city's downtown district between exits 53B and 46B of Interstate 40...
as it quickly ascends up Beaucatcher Mountain, eventually to the ridge line. From there it curves along the east-side of Sunset Mountain and Patton Mountain, then on the south-side of Rich Knob and Meadows Mountain, before going around the southeast side of Peach Knob. It meets-up with the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
at Craven Gap, where it ends. The overall road is curvy, but manageable after the initial climb. There are no signage at the intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
that indicates it as NC 694; visitors along the BRP will need to look for it at Craven Gap, near milepost 377.
For visitors that want to stay in the area, go north on the BRP to Bull Gap and take left onto Elk Mountain Scenic Highway (signage points to Vance Birthplace and Weaverville). From here, visitors can travel back to Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
along the scenic route or take a right onto Ox Creek Road for a curvy four miles, then right onto Reems Creek Road to Vance Birthplace State Historic Site
Zebulon Baird Vance
Zebulon Baird Vance was a Confederate military officer in the American Civil War, the 37th and 43rd Governor of North Carolina, and U.S. Senator...
.
History
Established in 1932 as a new primary scenic route, NC 694 started at Poplar Street (US 70/US 74U.S. Route 74
U.S. Route 74 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Cleveland, Tennessee to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.-Tennessee:Established in 1987, US-74 western terminus is exit 20 on I-75 in Cleveland...
), going north on Oak Street then east on Woodfin Street, then north on Charlotte Street to Edwin Place, then northwest to Kimberly Avenue, continuing north. It then used Grifting Boulevard east to Patton Mountain Road, where it stayed till it reached Town Mountain Road. Continuing northeast, Town Mountain Road continues on what will later become part of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
. It then turns west onto Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, following all the way back to Beaverdam Road, where it ends on Merrimon Avenue (US 19
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina traverses approximately across Western North Carolina; from the Georgia state line, at the community of Bellview, to the Tennessee state line, at the town of Elk Park. The designation from US 19 to U.S. Route 19E happens in Cane River, where US 19W splits from the...
/US 23
U.S. Route 23 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 23 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the Georgia state line, near Dillard, to the Tennessee state line, near Flag Pond.-Route description:...
/US 25
U.S. Route 25 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 25 is an north–south United States highway that runs for from the South Carolina state line, near Tuxedo, to the Tennessee state line, near Hot Springs.-Route description:...
/US 70/NC 20). By the early 1940s, NC 694 was rerouted to go from Woodfin Street onto Town Mountain Road.
Around 1954, NC 694 was truncated to Woodfin Street, thanks to a realigned US 70. In 1961, it went back on Woodfin Street, to end at Market Street (US 19 Bus/US 23 Bus), thanks to another realignment of US 70 going onto the new expressway. By around 1980, NC 694 was truncated east at the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
, dropping the Elk Mountain Scenic Highway into obscurity. Between 1981-1982, NC 694 was truncated west to its current location of Town Mountain Road at College Street; thanks again to another realignment of US 70 along Charlotte Street to College Street.
Originally, NC 694 was established in 1922, connecting Cranberry
Cranberry, North Carolina
Cranberry is an unincorporated community in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The community was founded in 1850 and was named after Cranberry Creek, which flows in the area...
to Elk Park
Elk Park, North Carolina
Elk Park is a town in Avery County, North Carolina, United States. The town was so named because of the number of Elk killed there. The population was 459 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Elk Park is located at ....
and then into Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. This route was later replaced by NC 194
North Carolina Highway 194
North Carolina Highway 194 is a primary state highway in the state of North Carolina. Primarily in the High Country, it runs from US 19E, in Ingalls, to the Virginia state line, near Helton.-Route description:...
and US 19
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina
U.S. Route 19 in North Carolina traverses approximately across Western North Carolina; from the Georgia state line, at the community of Bellview, to the Tennessee state line, at the town of Elk Park. The designation from US 19 to U.S. Route 19E happens in Cane River, where US 19W splits from the...
in the mid-1920s.
Junction list
The entire route is in Buncombe CountyBuncombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 206,330 people, 85,776 households, and 55,668 families residing in the county. The population density was 314 people per square mile . There were 93,973 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile...
.
{| class="wikitable"
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Asheville
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
|0
|
|NC 694 begins
|-
|
|6.3
|Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...
|NC 694 ends
|-