Prior to 1961, the road that connected Little Switzerland was authorized in 1913 to be a toll road, operated and maintained by the Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio Railroad. Called Etchoe (pronounced Et-cho) Pass Road, it went from Gillespie Gap to Little Switzerland along the ridge line; toll booths were constructed at Lynn Gap. In 1921, NC 19 was established along Etchoe Pass Road, which by that time was toll-free and continued to Woodlawn. However, it was not without controversy because the nearby Cox Creek route was identified to be shorter, though steeper. The longer route won out, though partly because several state law makers had vested interest in the area, and the Cox Creek route was temporarily abandoned. In 1934, NC 19 was replaced by NC 26 in the area; justification was to avoid confusion with US 19. By the early 1940s, the Cox Creek route had reemerged as a new paved road, known locally as "the shortcut." By 1947, NC 26 was rerouted along Cox Creek route and the Etchoe Pass Road became NC 26A.