2013 Map of Sams Gap

About this map

English and Faust sit within the mountain-and-creek landscape of the Tennessee and North Carolina border, where the interstate corridor now carves through Sams Gap. This high-altitude terrain is defined by a complex network of ridges and knobs, such as Big Knob and Peter Cove Mountain, which separate the various forks of Big Laurel Cr and Higgins Cr. The map captures a mix of traditional rural architecture and modern utility, from the sanctuary at Ebb Chapel to the Wolf Ridge Airport and the lookout station atop Big Knob Lookout. The winding roads, including Flag Pond Rd and Beauty Spot Cove Rd, follow the natural drainage patterns of Puncheon Fork and Little Creek, reflecting how topographic constraints have long dictated the movement and settlement patterns of this section of the Blue Ridge.