Lore

(photo of an abandoned Chimney at Elkmont by James Overholt/TheSmokies.com)

3 Strange Smoky Mountain Tales You Probably Heard From Your Grandparents

Regardless of whether or not these tales are to be believed, they continue to be passed down from one generation to the next As someone who grew up slightly obsessed with ghostly phenomena, I spent much of my youth chasing ghost stories in the mountains. From the supposedly dark rituals at God’s Pocket in Blount County to the rumors of

the john oliver cabin next to an underground city in turkey

Is There an Underground City that Lies Beneath Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains?

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

the biltmore estate and cornelia vanderbilt on her wedding day

Biltmore’s Dark History: Odd Happenings at the Asheville Landmark

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

a pinkish purple lake

The Legend Of Atagahi – A Hidden Lake In The Smoky Mountains

According to Cherokee legend, the enchanted lake only reveals itself to those who are pure of heart The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is dotted with well-preserved conclaves of cabins and barns. And the occasional mill or silo. Places like Cades Cove or Greenbrier or Roaring Fork serve as reminders of life in the mountains in the decades leading up