History

When the Western North Carolina Associated Communities (WNCAC) selected its first slate of officers in 1946, it also appointed a Projects Committee to study and present a list of proposals for increasing tourism in the region. The idea of an outdoor drama about the history of the Cherokee Indian, in Cherokee, NC, was an appealing one, and almost immediately, the Projects Committee began exploring where the theatre would make its home.

By the end of 1947, the committee had narrowed its list to three locations: the old Indian Ball Ground; a ravine above the Fairground; and the site of an old nursery on the mountainside. Hoping to avoid the traffic noise at the first two sites, the committee finally chose the quiet mountainside. The terrain provided a natural bowl with excellent acoustics; it was protected from the wind; and the surrounding vegetation was lush. The site orientation was such that the sun would set behind the audience, and the rising moon would provide a backdrop for the dramatic action. There was also ample space for the 2,800 seats necessary, and a primitive road already climbed the mountainside. Considering the size of the project, a minimum of earthmoving would be necessary.

The creator of the Manteo Waterside Theatre, home of “The Lost Colony,” was asked to be the architect, and work began in 1948. From the outset, the emphasis was on achieving harmony between the story and its setting. To help reach this goal, natural, local building materials were used to blend with the surrounding forest. Now, the Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee is home to "Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama", the second- longest-running outdoor drama in the United States.