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Faces of Pilot Mountain |
About This Book
A place filled with sky knowledge and earth wisdom that forms a cosmic summit we call Pilot Mountain in modern times!
There is so much more to Pilot Mountain State Park than meets the eye. This 1.6-billion-year-old Registered Natural Landmark has been called a natural curiosity for centuries. In 1823, a University of North Carolina professor visited and described the mountain as looking like a “magnificent temple” in the form of a triangle. In 1944, after two years of botanical research on the mountain, a Duke University professor commented in a journal article on the “almost perfect pyramid” aspect of Pilot Mountain. To this very day geologists are puzzled by Pilot Mountain’s unique rock structure.
Do you see the similarity between the Easter Island Moai statues and the Pilot Mountain stone face? Is that just a coincidence, or maybe your mind is making order out of chaos? This book captures the history, myths, legends, and lore surrounding Pilot Mountain. Learn about amazing features not shared with the public. Become an expert guide on this unique landscape as you travel your intriguing journey into its deep mysteries!
Faces of Pilot Mountain was selected on February 6, 2025 by a committee to be included and cataloged to become part of the history of the State of North Carolina in the Government & Heritage Library in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Faces of Pilot Mountain was selected on May 13, 2025 to be in the Library of Congress collection in Washington, D.C.
Reviews
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I have a bit of a bone to pick with your book.
*Lessons of Pilot Mountain* had me expecting a straightforward historical fiction novel, something centered on a specific place and period in history, but it quickly proved to be much more layered than that. The deeper I went, the more irritated I became… because I was not supposed to find myself so absorbed by the blend of history, spirituality, and personal discovery.
What stood out most was how respectfully you weave together historical events with Native American oral traditions. This is not just a story about the past, it feels like an invitation to reflect on memory, identity, and the wisdom carried through generations despite incredible hardship. The connection between the landscape of Pilot Mountain and the stories surrounding it gives the narrative a sense of depth that lingers well beyond the final page.
Instead of simply following the historical timeline, I found myself thinking about the emotional weight of preserving voices that were nearly lost and how place itself can become part of a story. That combination of history and human connection made the book feel both meaningful and memorable.
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McKelvey's recent book, "Faces of Pilot Mountain: Intriguing Journey into the Deep Mysteries" focuses on images visible in the quartzite that he believes is rock art. If you have read his book, you might never be able to unsee the faces on the cliffs looking toward the foothills in all directions from Pilot Knob.
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I've visited Pilot Mountain State Park several times over the last 10 years. The mountain is a striking geological feature, both from a distance and when close-up on trails, which I greatly enjoyed but I didn't didn't know much about the history of the mountain or the area. McKelvey's book is a highly recommended read to fill in the gap, covering topics like local geology/geography, Native American stories, development of the surrounding area by homesteading settlers, history of private ownership of the mountain before it became a state park, and how the mountain has served as a beacon and guidepost for travelers for thousands of years. Clearly the author did a lot of painstaking research and spent a lot of time at the Park, and his personal stories from the families of previous private owners are fascinating. The kindle version I purchased has lots of interesting images and the author hints of forthcoming volumes that delve more deeply in the mysteries of the mountain and it's potential uses in pre-history times.
After [I] read the book, I went camping at Pilot Mountain State Park with a new-found appreciation for the history of the area, the park, and unique features of the area. It was fun to share stories from the book with my wife and college age son (camping with me) as we explored the along the trails, found some of unusual rock features (e.g. stone heads) described in the book, compared photos, and made our own stories.
Thumbs up, McKelvey!
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Excellent research makes for a thoroughly informative and entertaining book. Although I live only a few miles away from the mountain, Mr. McKelvey shares information I’d never heard. Wonderful read!!
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