Blue Ridge Mountains

Great Smokey Mts Mix

2024-05-272024-05-13Sherry Felix11 Comments

“The 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, also known as the Gatlinburg wildfires, were a complex of wildfires which began in late November 2016. Some of the towns most impacted were Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, both near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fires claimed at least 14 lives, injured 190,and is one of the largest natural disasters in the history of Tennessee.

By December 12, the fires had burned more than 10,000 acres (15 square miles) inside the national park, and 6,000 acres in other parts of the area. At least 14,000 area residents and tourists were forced to evacuate, while over 2,000 buildings were damaged and/or destroyed.

One of the largest wildfires was the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres, and closed the Chimney Tops Trail.

The Great Smoky Mountains wildfires were the deadliest wildfires in Tennessee, as well as the deadliest wildfires in the eastern U.S. since the Great Fires of 1947, which killed 16 people in Maine. In addition, the fires were also the most deadly and destructive of the 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires.

American country singer and notable local resident Dolly Parton was among many notable figures to pitch in to assist victims.” Source: 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires – Wikipedia

Chimeny Tops Overlook, Great Someky Mts TN 4/22/2024

Cades Cove Cabins 2 of 2

2024-05-262024-05-13Sherry Felix8 Comments

Built in 1866, the Elijah Oliver Place is one of the oldest surviving structures in Cades Cove. After the original farm was destroyed during the U.S. Civil War, Elijah Oliver rebuilt and created this historic farmhouse. Today, visitors can tour the house, gaining insights into the past while appreciating its significance as a National Register of Historic Places site.

The little room on the side was built for guests.

Elijah Oliver Place, Cades Cove, Great Smokey Mts 4/21/2024

Cades Cove Cabins 1 of 2

2024-05-252024-05-13Sherry Felix6 Comments

We stopped and explored many of the old cabins on our drive around Cades Cove in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Here is a bit of the History of Cades Cove – Great Smoky Mountains National Park (nps.gov). And here is a page with information about 12 Historical Structures in Cades Cove.

Cades Cove Wildlife

2024-05-222024-05-12Sherry Felix9 Comments

White-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, turkeys, and other wildlife are frequently spotted in the open valley of Cades Cove. There are 3 bears in the last photograph. That sighting caused a bear jam (cars stopping to view the bears).

Cades Cove Scenes

2024-05-212024-05-21Sherry Felix6 Comments

An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the Cades Cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Allow at least two to four hours to tour Cades Cove, longer if you walk some of the area’s trails. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. We joined driving in the caravan of cars. See Cades Cove – Wikipedia and Cades Cove – www.nps.gov

The Sinks

2024-05-202024-05-20Sherry Felix8 Comments

The Sinks: Just East of the Townsend GSM Entrance on Little River Rd. (pigeonforge.com) A lovely waterfall.

The Sinks is an unnatural waterfall on the Little River. It’s situated along Little River Road, which is a scenic drive in the park. The waterfall plunges into a deep gorge and then suddenly slows, forming large pools.

The Sinks was created when the Little River was used for logging access. At one point, logs jammed the river, leading to a dilemma for the loggers. Their solution? Dynamite! They blasted the bend, creating a new route of access and forming The Sinks.

Crystal-clear water, natural pools, and a waterfall make this spot picturesque. Visitors can see Mother Nature at her finest here. However, swimming and jumping are strongly discouraged due to the dangerous undertow and currents. At least 60 deaths have occurred here since the 1930s.