The Leech Place
Sep 10, 2023, 10:31 PM
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Stop for a moment here at this overlook above the Valley River and learn about the old Cherokee legend of the Great Leech.
When the water level is low, you can easily see a ledge of rock running across the stream just below this overlook. Just beneath this ledge lies a deep hole in the riverbed.
The Cherokee people would often use this rock ledge as a natural bridge to cross the river. From where you are standing now, they could look down on the ledge and the water below.
One day, some men walking along the trail saw a large red object—about the size of a house—lying on the rock ledge in the middle of the stream below. As they stood, wondering what it could be, the object began to unroll and stretch itself out along the rock until it looked like a massive leech with red and white stripes along its body. It rolled into a ball, then stretched out again to its full length before crawling down the rock and disappearing into the deep hole.
Suddenly, the water began to boil and foam, and a great column of white spray shot high into the air like a water spout. The spray crashed down on the very spot where the men had been standing. Fortunately, they saw it just in time and ran to safety.
These men survived, but others who came along the trail were not so lucky. More than one person was swept into the deep water and later found on the riverbank with their ears and noses eaten off. Eventually, people became afraid to cross the river using the rock ledge and even avoided the trail that ran along this part of the river.
But then came a young man who was not afraid. He laughed at the stories and said, “I am not afraid of anything in the river, and I will show you.” One day, he painted his face, put on his finest buckskin, and headed toward the river. The people followed at a distance to see what would happen.
He walked down the trail and onto the rock ledge, singing in high spirits. But before he even made it halfway across the river, the water began to boil and foam. A great wave rose up and swept him into the deep hole—never to be seen again.
So, watch carefully as you look over the river below. Some still say the Great Leech lurks in the waters beneath your feet!
When the water level is low, you can easily see a ledge of rock running across the stream just below this overlook. Just beneath this ledge lies a deep hole in the riverbed.
The Cherokee people would often use this rock ledge as a natural bridge to cross the river. From where you are standing now, they could look down on the ledge and the water below.
One day, some men walking along the trail saw a large red object—about the size of a house—lying on the rock ledge in the middle of the stream below. As they stood, wondering what it could be, the object began to unroll and stretch itself out along the rock until it looked like a massive leech with red and white stripes along its body. It rolled into a ball, then stretched out again to its full length before crawling down the rock and disappearing into the deep hole.
Suddenly, the water began to boil and foam, and a great column of white spray shot high into the air like a water spout. The spray crashed down on the very spot where the men had been standing. Fortunately, they saw it just in time and ran to safety.
These men survived, but others who came along the trail were not so lucky. More than one person was swept into the deep water and later found on the riverbank with their ears and noses eaten off. Eventually, people became afraid to cross the river using the rock ledge and even avoided the trail that ran along this part of the river.
But then came a young man who was not afraid. He laughed at the stories and said, “I am not afraid of anything in the river, and I will show you.” One day, he painted his face, put on his finest buckskin, and headed toward the river. The people followed at a distance to see what would happen.
He walked down the trail and onto the rock ledge, singing in high spirits. But before he even made it halfway across the river, the water began to boil and foam. A great wave rose up and swept him into the deep hole—never to be seen again.
So, watch carefully as you look over the river below. Some still say the Great Leech lurks in the waters beneath your feet!