How places like Devils Tater Patch, Stinking Creek or Mollie’s Butt were named A few years ago, I interviewed Rex Caughron. He was one of the last generations to be raised in Cades Cove and the son of Kermit Caughron, the last resident of the Cove. One of the things I asked about his favorite and or least favorite parts
Series and shows that you didn’t know were filmed around the Smoky Mountains It’s certainly a big deal when Hollywood comes to the Smoky Mountains. Over the decades, several big-name stars filmed movies on location in the mountains. But with current economic incentives, it doesn’t happen much anymore. Stars like Harrison Ford, Paul Newman, Ingrid Bergman, Bradley Cooper and many
Witchy superstitions and stories are practically tradition in the South. Here are a few of the most famous witches and tall tales. I grew up at my grandmother’s knee hearing stories about witches and goblins from her Depression-era childhood. With this in mind, I try to come to the topic of the supernatural in the mountains with something of an
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
Yes, the New York Times did print a story about a Wildman in Tennessee. But that’s where the truth begins and ends. I’ve spent a good part of my life in and around the mountains. I grew up on the edge of the Smokies. Although I was aware that various cultures had stories about Wildmen, I was an adult before
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
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
The Cherokee Legend of Spearfinger: What Did She Look Like? The Great Smoky Mountains are full of wonder and also full of folklore and legends. And if you’re looking for a great story to tell by the campfire, there’s probably none more infamous than the Cherokee legend of Spearfinger. A legend being made famous once again thanks to Mountain Monsters
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
A Smoky Mountain man addresses alleged skinwalker sightings, currently trending on social media As someone who has lived in and around the Appalachian Mountains for most of the last 35 years, I have had the opportunity to fly over the mountains on several occasions, usually on a commercial flight but sometimes on a smaller private plane. The bird’s eye view