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
Take a look at this little-known hidden cave located in the Cades Cove area of the Smoky Mountains As someone who grew up in the region, I’ve been in caves that cut under the mountains on several occasions. Places like the Forbidden or Tuckaleechee caverns offer a safe place for visitors to see the wonders of the Smokies’ cave system.
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
Brick chimneys and sawmill-hewn logs were not common in the late 1800s – so why does this cabin have them? Like many stories of life in the mountains, the story behind the Henry Whitehead House is imbued with hardship. As someone who grew up not far away, I’ve been soaking in the beauty of Cades Cove for nearly four decades.
Just as there are Titaniacs in the world, attracted to the intersection of wealth and tragedy, so are there Biltmoriacs As someone who has written extensively about the Biltmore Estate, I find the darker parts of its history appealing. The trappings of power and extreme wealth and decadence are seemingly attractive to those of us whose nature leans a little
Many outlets, including our own, reported Popcorn Sutton had been diagnosed with cancer in his later years, this is the real story As someone whose newspaper covered the final trial of “Popcorn” Sutton, I don’t need Google to remember the milestones of the moonshiner’s final days. Today, we’re going to talk about a myth that’s grown up in the years
Tennessee native talks little-known facts about the moonshine legend Almost everyone who grew up in and around Cocke County, Tennessee is familiar with the legend of Popcorn Sutton. Some view him as a folk hero, and others view him as a criminal. Still, his name is synonymous with one of the county’s greatest claims to fame: Real mountain moonshine. Born
A look at Dolly Parton’s childhood and Tennessee Mountain Home Dolly Parton was born into a world on the cusp of seismic change. She was the fourth of Avie Lee and Robert Parton’s 12 children. And she came into the world in a manner familiar to many East Tennesseans of her generation. She has traveled from crushing poverty to a
A Smoky Mountain local talks about his favorite hidden gems in the most popular section of the national park – Cades Cove Cades Cove is one of the true wonders of the Smoky Mountains. Known for sweeping views, wildlife watching and connection to pre-national park history, the Cove is the single most popular destination for Great Smoky Mountains National Park visitors.
Meet the attraction that pre-dates the park itself, The Dollywood Express, the oldest ride at Dollywood Before there was a Dollywood or a Silver Dollar City, there was a railroad track and a dream. In 1961, a pair of brothers from North Carolina desired to recreate the success of Tweetsie Railroad, a popular theme park between Blowing Rock and Boone, North