The rumble of V-twins through the narrow Hickory Nut Gorge becomes louder as traffic enters the tiny village of Chimney Rock. Here, just a few doors down from the namesake state park, bikes line the front of Chimney Rock Brewing Co.
Rick Spruill, along with his brother Scott, acquired the former Hickory Nut Brewing last year and upgraded one of the main street’s original buildings into a relaxing roadside stop where riders can take in lunch or dinner by the soothing, tumbling waters of the Rocky Broad River.
An expansive, multi-level deck allows customers direct access the stream, perfect during the summer months for escaping the heat. More open-air tables allow visitors to sit and watch the parade of bikes and cars cruising along U.S. 74A through the gorge.
“Most people don’t realize what’s back here. It’s very casual,” he said. “You can sit on a rock, take off your boots and put your feet in the water. You can swim if you want with a beer in your hand. It’s a very unique place.”
As the sun hides behind the famous granite monolith and towering cliffs above, patrons enjoy cold beer and sometimes live music from the umbrella tables lining the backside of the restaurant and tap room. The patrons include a mix of both locals and tourists.
“A great place to come for lunch. It’s a great place just to come look at the scenery. Great customer service,” said Steve Ford, finance director for the town of Lake Lure as he grabbed a to-go order.
The restaurant features wings, Philly cheese steak, pulled pork and other sandwiches. The selection of craft beer includes their own varieties of ales and IPAs along with other regional offerings. With limited space at Chimney Rock Brewing, their beers are produced at the sister establishment, Mars Theatre Brewing in Mars Hill, North Carolina.
“The food is great. We changed it up. People say the pulled pork is better than the smokehouse across the street. People rave about our wings,” Rick said.
Both the Spruill brothers are avid motorcyclists. Rick, who says he’s never been without a motorcycle since he was 9 years old, rides the black 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Glide that can often be found parked out front.
“It’s a standard. I don’t want anything fancy, I just like to ride. My brother has a (BMW) GSA 1250,” Rick said. “People ask: When do you put your bike up? I don’t.”
One of his early trips down to this region from New Jersey occurred on a day most Americans can recall exactly where they were.
“Six of us got together and we rode down, and we woke up in Asheville on Tuesday morning to come to Chimney Rock. That Tuesday morning happened to be 9/11/2001,” he said. “Everybody has their story of where they were. We all called home. We all lived about 80 miles from the World Trade Center. Everybody was fine.”
The 9/11 tragedy darkened their vacation, but it served as a bonding experience. After spending the day glued to the television, the group cut short the trip amid the national tragedy.
“We were all home by Wednesday, but we vowed to go back and do it in 2002 to make up for it. We’ve been doing it for 23 years now. Always around Sept. 11,” he said.
Each fall, Rick and his riding buddies gather for a road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, rememberimg the somber day so long ago and cherishing the company of their motorcycling family.
The charm of the Southern Appalachian Mountains prompted the Spruills to relocate to the region and set up a family business, attracted as riders to the great roads and mild climate.
“We’d always thought about something like this, and then we had a couple of major changes in our lives. My brother had a tragedy hit his life. He lost a son. I was retiring. We have a sister who invested in it, too,” Spruill said. “I needed something to do when I retired. My brother needed something to do to distract him from losing his 20-year-old son.”
The brewery and eatery are open year-round, weather permitting. They host live music most Fridays and Sundays.
“We’re just trying to spread the word more with motorcyclists. They’re easy to park. Parking is a problem here. If I know you’re coming, call and let me know. I’ll come and set places up and you can park right in front,” he said. “Because we’re motorcycle enthusiasts, we like them,” Rick said.
— Michael E. Gouge
