The Mystery of George Masa details the life of Masaharu Iizuka, (AKA George Masa) a Japanese immigrant who came to the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina in 1915, where he focused his camera and his passions on preserving the beauty of the wilderness he discovered. Eighteen years after his arrival, his death left behind thousands of photographs and an impressive legacy that included a role in the founding of two great national treasures, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail. However, throughout his life in America he was secretive about his past, with no one knowing the details of his life experience and his inner passions.

When millionaire George Vanderbilt decided to build his dream house in Asheville, he hired landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to design the grounds and gardens of the sprawling estate. German forester Carl Schenck was hired to manage the forest and demonstrate sustainability. Explore the story of Schenck’s work at the Biltmore Estate and its impact on the American conservation movement.