Wilson Creek has a full and vibrant history. The area was once used as summer hunting grounds for the Cherokee Indians.  Shortly after 1750, pioneers settled here and began logging the dense forests. Mortimer, the largest community, was the site of the Ritter Lumber Company sawmill and a small textile mill, which provided jobs for the community’s 800 residents.  Substantial logging took place between Wilson and Steel Creeks, and the trees were hauled to the mill via narrow-gauge railroad.  In 1916, a fire burned from Grandfather Mountain to Wilson Creek, and was immediately followed by a flood, which destroyed the logging railroad. In 1925, a second fire swept through, this time from Upper Creek to the south. The railroad, which had been rebuilt, was lost again. When a second flood hit the area in 1940, it washed away both the saw mill and the textile mill. The foundation of the textile mill can still be seen from the road.   BMBR served as a community entertainment area where dances for the ladies were held and speakeasies for the gentlemen.  BMBR also held the generator (which is still standing) which gave all residents power from the dam (still standing) to the generator back up to the town.

The Wilson Creek area is very lush in history.  This is but a small summary.  If you would like to read more about this area, you can find different books written by Matthew Bumgarner or please visit the Wilson Creek Visitors Center, located just four miles north of the resort.

History Of Wilson Creek