This Land, Your Land

The U.S. Forest Service has banned alcohol at 11 Nantahala National Forest day use areas in the Tusquitee, Cheoah and Nantahala ranger districts. The Forest Service said the decision was in response to recent vandalism rangers think was perpetrated by intoxicated forest visitors, the Asheville Citizen Times reported this week.

The prohibition includes Cheoah Point, the only free public swimming area on Lake Santeetlah, which attracts large numbers of summer visitors.

Other sites are: Balsam Lake Recreation Area, Big Choga Dispersed Camping Sites, Bristol Fields Campground, Dry Falls Recreational Area, Fire's Creek Hunter's Camp, Fire's Creek Picnic Area, Jackrabbit Recreation Area, Pine Ridge Dispersed Camping Sites, Wayah Bald Tower and Picnic Area and Whiteside Mountain Recreation Area.