The Civil War divided many residents of Cades Cove. It also cost the Gregory family their patriarch. When you grow up around Cades Cove, you learn the names almost by accident. You hear about places like Gregory’s Bald and Gregory’s Cave before you learn the history of the people who lived there. But then as you visit the Cove and
In the 1930s, official plans were drawn up to turn the Cove into a reservoir Driving along the edges of East Tennessee’s lakes, there are signs that things are not always as they have been. Decaying grain silos rise inexplicably from the water and ancient roads and trails lead down to lakebeds without turning. In the days before the Tennessee Valley Authority,
It turns out, not everyone was thrilled when the land became government property When touring Cades Cove today, we see one of nature’s true holy places. The verdant valley with its fields and streams, is surrounded by the high mountains. It’s a place of wonder and we rejoice that our forebearers nearly 100 years ago sought to preserve for us.
An area Smoky Mountain resident asks visitors to use common sense Cades Cove is the crown jewel of the Smokies. It is a confluence point of natural beauty, mountain history and conservation. However, there are many days I’d rather go to the dentist than risk a trip around the Cove. It’s not the Cove itself mind you. I consider it a sacred, almost
A local’s guide to the Best Drives in the Smoky Mountains One of the great things about the Smoky Mountains is that just about any drive you take can be a scenic drive. For instance, there are spots on I-40 as you climb up into the higher elevations where the river cuts a path down through the truly breathtaking valleys, especially
What You Need to Know about the Horses when visiting Cades Cove It looked like something out of a movie. Moving through an early morning mist, with the deep green of the mountains in the background, a herd of horses ran through a valley in Cades Cove. I’ve been going to the Cove for 30 years now. I’ve seen all
Here’s how to enjoy Cades Cove sans the annoying crowds, according to a local Cades Cove is among the most popular tourist spots in the country, if not the world. With its wide sweeping vistas of the mountains across the valley, wildlife viewing, historic settlements and trails, the Cove offers all that is great about the mountains in one, condensed
The Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove is now over 200 years old, here are a few of the hidden gems that lie within Growing up a short drive from Cades Cove, I went to school with the descendants of both the early settlers and the last remaining residents of the Cove. And like others, I drive the Cove looking
While there are plenty of hidden caves and caverns in the Smoky Mountains, none have thus far produced an underground city As someone who has lived on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I’ve heard a lot of whoppers. They range from extinct animals living in the park to feral people to Bigfeet. And while I’m loathe
It is believed that Cades Cove is named after a real-life historical figure I can remember taking an elementary school field trip to Cades Cove back in the late 1900s. I can’t say for sure that it was my first visit because my grandparents frequently took us on weekend getaways to the Smokies, and we spent a lot of time