RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. – One of North Carolina’s most picturesque spots is closed.

Monday’s storm caused a 25-foot retaining wall at Chimney Rock State Park to collapse more than 1,000 feet, pulling parts of a parking lot down with it.

Park officials say they only had one hour to get people out of the park before it all happened. Days later, pieces of the parking lot are still falling, and it could quite some time to stabilize the area.

The park superintendent says with the leaves changing, this is the worst time for this to happen, and winter weather could make the process a lot slower.

The Department of Transportation is working with the park to get it open as quickly as possible.