Built by Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) during the Great Depression, Fairy Stone State Park is a restful destination for bikers, hikers, campers, fishermen, horseback riders, water sport fans, and ‘just passing through’ tourist like us. A rather unique spot on the North American continent, Fairy Stone park is also the place where the so-called “Fairy Stones” are found, which is reason enough to visit.

One Legend-The Cherokee Indian Tribe version-tells us that one day long ago, the ‘Little People’ (Fairy People) appeared to the Wise Men of the tribe and told them of the torture and death of The Messenger of Peace (Jesus). The Cherokee people were so upset by this story that they all sank to their knees and started crying. Their tears hardened as they fell and became stones.

Another Legend from the white peoples of the region is very similar but tells of a time long ago when large groups of fairies roamed freely in this area. When elfin messengers from far away came to them and told of the death of Christ, the fairies all began crying and their tears became the Fairy Stones found in the park today.

A bit of factual information is that these ‘stones’ are actually crystals formed of staurolite, which is composed of iron, aluminum, and silicate. Theses crystals are hexagonal, and singles often intersect at forty-five-degree angles to form Roman, Maltese, or St. Andrews shapes. The crystals were formed from pressure and heat during the time when the Appalachian Mountains were being pushed up from the earth’s crust (some say about 400 million years ago). There is one small area just outside the gates but still owned by the park where you can go and perhaps find a few Fairy Stones for yourself.