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guests walking around john oliver place in cades cove

The Fight for Cades Cove and the People Who Refused to Leave

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.

a sign that reads "no honking in tunnel" next to the spur tunnel

Long-standing Tunnel Honking Tradition in the Smokies Banned by the Park

The ‘no honking’ signs went up last year, is the change permanent? I’m comfortable when on the Gatlinburg Spur. After all, I’ve been driving between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for more than 30 years now. And so, as I focus quite literally on the road, I might not notice changes going on the periphery. Growing developments certainly seem to be

a red wolf in a forest

Be on Alert, Red Wolves Are Returning to the Smoky Mountains

Efforts are being made to reintroduce the endangered population to North Carolina Of the countless amazing experiences visitors can find in the Smokies, perhaps one of the most unique and memorable are animal sightings and encounters. Watching a mama bear cross the road with her twin cubs was certainly one of the highlights of our recent trip to the Smokies.

the 200 year old top heavy barn in cades cove

This 200-Year-Old Barn in Tennessee May Just Be a Middle Finger to the State

Tennesseeans have a long history of outrunning the tax man. And this barn may have been designed to do just that. As someone who grew up visiting Cades Cove, I took for granted one of the Cove’s real treasures. I thought the funny barn on Tipton Place was something you’d surely see on farms around the country. First of all,

rich mountain road in the smoky mountains next to a map

There’s a Curious 200-Year-Old Road Hidden in the Smoky Mountains

Rich Mountain Road is a 200-year-old road hidden in the Smoky Mountains and it’s not for the faint of heart I learned to drive on the mountain roads of East Tennessee. I’ve rarely encountered a road that gave me much concern. That said, a couple of times, I’ve been caught underprepared. Maybe I didn’t pay close enough attention to the

the entrance sign to the great smoky mountains national park

These Are the 3 Busiest Months in the Smoky Mountains According to NPS

These were the busiest months and most visited locations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2023 according to the National Park Service When is the best time to go to the Smokies? It depends on what you’re after. Do you want the peak colors of fall? The lush greens and warm weather of summer or the fresh renewal

an eastern spotted skunk does a handstand

These 11 Animals Have Gone Missing From the Smoky Mountains

Get a good look – these animals will likely never be seen again in the mountains of East Tennessee As someone who has lived in the Smoky Mountains for nearly 35 years, I often think about the mountains’ history. What was it like when red wolves roamed the hills? Or what would it have been like to see a flock

the walker sister place and the sisters

The Sisters Who Lived Inside the Smoky Mountains Park for 20 Years

The Walker Sisters Place and the women who lived within, surviving off of the land, selling trinkets to tourists In the Great Smoky Mountains, history is often found in the hollers, in the lingering crannies found in the shadow of giant mountain ridges. It’s in these historic places that the great passage of time, which in our everyday lives is

clingmans dome and the secret tunnel

There’s a Secret Tunnel in the Smoky Mountains That Leads to Nowhere

The hidden tunnel at Kuwohi is becoming a tourist attraction in its own right Nearly everyone who has visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is familiar with Kuwohi, formerly Clingmans Dome, and its famous observation tower, located along the state line of Tennessee and North Carolina. Completed in 1959, the tower is the highest point in the Smoky Mountains.