In the Great Smoky Mountains, the Road to Nowhere once went somewhere

NPR | By Charlie Shelton-Ormond

Published October 4, 2026 at 8:06 AM EDT

It wasn't intended to be a "Road to Nowhere:" We hear the story behind a 1940's dam project in the North Carolina mountains and a tunnel that was left behind.

Charlie Shelton-Ormond

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

Sunday Puzzle: 'In' at the Finish

Will Shortz

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WVIA listener Mary Ann Paulukonis of Pittston, Pennsylvania.
At this rave, the crowd is under 5 and home by 8 p.m.

Eleana Tworek

Australian DJ Lenny Pearce is selling out venues across North America with his toddler raves: techno dance party fun for the whole family.
G7 countries reluctantly agree to tap their fuel reserves to help the U.S.

Teri Schultz

G7 nations plan to release large amounts of diesel fuel soon, but European countries were not entirely happy about the agreement.
What's behind the rise of South Asian hate online?

Ayesha Rascoe

Recently, there's been a rise in online hate against people of South Asian descent. NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to Raqib Naik, executive director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate.
The Supreme Court's new term will start with a major case on climate change

Carrie Johnson, Ayesha Rascoe

The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term October 5th, with cases involving climate change, guns, and religious rights.