There are numerous supernatural legends originating in the Great Smoky Mountains. Beautiful collection of photos with an overview of wildlife, wildflowers, old-growth forests, mountain streams, walking trails, geology, and history. The northern hardwood understory is home to diverse species such as coneflower, skunk goldenrod, Rugels ragwort, bloodroot, hydrangea, and several species of grasses and ferns. Watch. According to legend, Jackson and his party set up their tents outside of the Bell home. Strangely, there were no thunderstorms in Cades Cove that night, just the stray bolt of lightning that took Basil Esteps life. [81], While selective logging occurred in the Great Smoky Mountains throughout the 19th century, the general inaccessibility of the range's forests prevented major logging operations, and lumber firms relied on the lowland forests in the northeastern United States and the Mississippi Delta in the southeast. The northwestern half of the range gives way to a series of elongate ridges known as the "Foothills," the outermost of which include Chilhowee Mountain and English Mountain. 8. [4] The Great Smokies are also home to the densest black bear population in the Eastern United States and the most diverse salamander population outside of the tropics.[5]. [45], Timber rattlesnakesone of two venomous snake species in the Smokiesare found at all elevations in the range. The Smokies are famous for their supernatural tall tales! [74] The Cataloochee area was first settled by the Caldwell family, who migrated to the valley in 1834.[75]. [28] About 28,600 acres (116km2) of the northern hardwood forest are old-growth. Shes known for standing on her hind legs and using her supernatural powers to drive her victims to insanity. [54], The lightning-bug firefly Photinus carolinus, whose synchronized flashing light displays occur in mid-June, is native to the Smoky Mountains with a population epicenter near Elkmont, Tennessee. When they arrived at the site of the lights crash, they saw a pulsing red light and a 10-foot-tall creature with twisted hands and a glowing green face that seemed to levitate off the ground. Read our Privacy Policy. Here are the top leaf-peeping spots in the US for 2022. Sep 3, 2020 - The Smokies are famous for their supernatural tall tales! Many claim that the lights seen today are the spirits of the Catawba women, still searching for their loved ones. Here are the top things to do in South Carolina. According to author Julia Montgomery Street, whose tale of this mysterious race is displayed in the Cherokee County Historical Museum, the men possessed all the land from the Little Tennessee River to Kentucky, with a line of fortification from one end of their domain to the other. The men, who lived in rounded log cabins, had large blue eyes and fair white skin and were sun-blind during the day, emerging from their homes only at night to hunt, fish, wage war and build their fortifications. Christian Protestantismespecially Primitive Baptists, Missionary Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians; dominated the religious culture of the region. Caves, a hidden lodge and panoramic fog-filled vistas await along the best hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you prefer not to sleep in a tent, the only option inside park boundaries is the LeConte Lodge, a delightfully old-fashioned collection of wooden cottages near the top of Mount LeConte (elevation 6594ft). Or held your breath when youre passing a cemetery? That means that, aside from car rental, expenses are minimal. Another epic trek in the park is the Mountains to the Sea Trail, which runs from its western terminus at Clingmans Dome all the way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Many believe it is a depiction of the Moon-Eyed People. During the Ordovician period, the North American and African plates collided, destroying the ancient ocean and initiating the Alleghenian orogenythe mountain-building epoch that created the Appalachian range. [60] Fortified Mississippian-period villages have been excavated at the McMahan Indian Mounds in Sevierville and more recently in Townsend. artifacts have been found within the national park's boundaries, including projectile points uncovered along likely animal migration paths. She talked Betsy into breaking off the engagement with Joshua. A short time later, the poltergeist said she was going to leave but promised to return in seven years. Over 19,000 species have been documented in the park, including more than 100 species of native trees, over 1,500 flowering plant species, more than 200 species of birds, and over 9,000 different species of insects. The Overhill town of Chilhowee was situated at the confluence of Abrams Creek and the Little Tennessee, and the Overhill town of Tallassee was located just a few miles upstream near modern Calderwood (both village sites are now under Chilhowee Lake). [39] The National Park Service has successfully reintroduced river otters and elk into the Great Smokies. Smoky Mountain River Rat Tubing and Whitewater Rafting will guide you down the Little River, where you'll feel the cool splash of the water and immerse yourself in mountain views. Residents of predominantly Union Cades Cove and predominantly Confederate Hazel Creek routinely crossed the mountains to steal one another's livestock. What was the source of Perrys wealth? The average farm consisted of roughly 50 acres (0.20km2), part of which was cultivated and part of which was woodland. Michael Rivers, lead investigator of the Smoky Mountain Ghost Trackers and an author who has written extensively about Appalachian folklore, says that the Appalachian Mountains are ripe with paranormal activity. He always took different routes when visiting the mine, and he never even told his wife the details of his operation. The parks hiking opportunities include a 71 mile portion of the Appalachian Trail, which runs right through the center of the park between Fontana Dam and Davenport Gap. The name was also used for a mythical creature in J.K. Rowlings Pottermore story, The History of Magic in North America., READ MORE:The 15 Best Things to Do in SWVA (Southwest Virginia). If a black cat crosses your path, turn and go a different way. [36], European boar, introduced as game animals in the early 20th century, thrive in Southern Appalachia but are considered a nuisance due to their tendency to root up and destroy plants. Lonely Planets Great Smoky Mountains National Park is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. [82][83][84], Innovations in logging railroads and band saw technology in the late 19th century made large-scale logging possible in the mountainous areas of Southern Appalachia. The tundra vegetation disappeared, and the spruce-fir forests retreated to the highest elevations. [15], The climate of Clingmans Dome is hemiboreal (Kppen Dfb, Trewartha Dcb[16]). Species more typical of cooler climates, such as the raven, winter wren, black-capped chickadee, yellow-bellied sapsucker, dark-eyed junco, and Blackburnian, chestnut-sided, and Canada warblers, are found in the range's spruce-fir and northern hardwood zones. They consist primarily of metamorphic gneiss, granite, and schist. Visitor centersSugarlands and Oconalufteemirror each other across the state line separated by many miles of deciduous forest. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie. When the smoke cleared, she found Basil lying on the floor, charred to a crisp, where the metal bed had once stood. Dont walk under a ladder. He said, something is following me. The poltergeist received the name Kate after it claimed to be the witch of a local lady named Kate Batts. Everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Otter. [89] In the early 1920s, several Appalachian Club members, among them Knoxville businessman Colonel David Chapman, began seriously considering a movement to establish a national park in the Great Smokies. Cherokee Death Cat) is a large cat similar to a mountain lion or cougar, with tan-yellow fur, six legs, and large yellow eyes. Hiking trails are well-marked in the national park, though its wise to pick up a good map (available in the visitors centers) before setting out. If youre flying in, the closest airport to the park is Knoxvilles McGhee Tyson Airport (about a 70-minute drive to the one of the parks main gateways near Gatlinburg). But the harassment wouldnt stop, and John Bell finally confided to one of his neighbors about the strange incidents in his home. Hike Mt LeConte, explore Cataloochee, and raft on Pigeon river; all with your trusted travel companion. The allure of the Great Smoky Mountains is certainly no secret, and the park gets quite crowded during the busy summer months (JunAug) and in the autumn when the leaves change color (SepOct). Hang a mirror by the door to protect against evil. For more information call the park's Oconaluftee Visitor Center at (828) 497-1904.) Speaking of bears, theyre generally quite shy and avoid human contact, though if you do come across one, keep your distance and dont disturb the bear. They saw an odd-shaped thing that appeared to be glowing red with smoke and steam coming off of it, says Andrew Smith, Executive Director of the Braxton County CVB and curator of the Flatwoods Monster Museum. Jerry Crew, a logging company employee, discovered a set of extra-large footprints in Six Rivers National Forest. 6 Mythical Beasts and the National Parks They Call Home Along with convincing logging firms to sell lucrative lumber rights, the Park Commission had to negotiate the purchase of thousands of small farms and remove entire communities. There is also exceptional wildlife watching year round in the Smokies. The sources of several rivers are located in the Smokies, including the Little Pigeon River, the Oconaluftee River, and Little River. Trailheads for some of the most popular hikes and some of the park's key historic sights are found along this two-lane road. The story of the Bell Witch is one of the most popular examples of Appalachian Mountain folklore, and it began in Robertson County, Tennessee. Today. The understories of the cove hardwood forest contain dozens of species of shrubs and vines. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. To many eyewitnesses, the lights appear as glowing orbs that hover in the sky above the mountain before suddenly disappearing or soundlessly exploding. [49], Two other speciesthe southern gray-cheeked salamander and the Southern Appalachian salamanderoccur only in the general region. Local livestock were being killed by an unseen force, and the townspeople decided that a booger must be responsible. Over time, the noises became more intense and more frequent. The Smoky Mountains' urban legendsor rather rural mythsare a sure-fire way to strike up conversation. The Great Smoky Mountains stretch from the Pigeon River in the northeast to the Little Tennessee River in the southeast. Smoky Mountain Ghost Stories. 2023 Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide |, 30 Fascinating Blue Ridge Mountains Facts, The 7 Best Caves & Caverns in North Carolina, Visiting Expedition Bigfoot Museum (AKA Sasquatch Museum) in Cherry Log, GA, The 10 Best Haunted Houses inNorth Carolina, The 15 Best Things to Do in SWVA (Southwest Virginia), The Best Restaurants in Burnsville NC For Foodies, The 20 Best Things to Do in Dahlonega GA & Lumpkin County, Strawberry Picking in GA: The 10 Best Strawberry Farms to Visit, Visiting Deerwoode Reserve Cabin Rentals in Brevard NC, The 10 Best Historic & Covered Bridges in Virginia, The 15 Best Hotels in Asheville NC to Visit. The other venomous snake, the copperhead, is typically found at lower elevations. The answer lies in the meaning of the word booger. Backcountry camping is free, although you do need a reservation and a permit. On December 15, 1967, the Mothman was credited for the collapse of Silver Bridge, which killed 46 people. Here are three of our favorite tall tales from the Smokies: In their book The Granny Curse and Other Ghosts and Legends from East Tennessee, authors Randy Russell and Janet Barnett share the story of a marital spat with supernatural consequences. [50] Other species include the shovelnose salamander, blackbelly salamander, eastern red-spotted newt, and spotted dusky salamander. - 1000 A.D.) sites found within the park contained 2000+-year-old ceramics and evidence of primitive agriculture. In the Smokies, the average annual rainfall varies from approximately 55 inches in the valleys to over 85 inches on some peaks. Its not surprising that a 480-million-year-old mountain range would inspire legends of unexplained animals darting through the darkened forest or strange and ghostly apparitions appearing in the night sky. If you drop a knife, a man is coming to visit. The festival features guest speakers, live bands, vendors, cosplay, and even a 5K run. In terms of weather, the park's abundant rainfall and high summertime humidity provide excellent growing conditions. Some stories claim that she promised to return to haunt John Bells direct descendants in 1935, but there were no reports by Nashville physician Dr. Charles Bailey Bell. READ MORE: Visiting Expedition Bigfoot Museum (AKA Sasquatch Museum) in Cherry Log, GA. Found in the Blue Ridge Mountains ofNorth Carolina, the Brown Mountain Lights are a true Appalachian mountain mystery. After Johnston experienced the spirit first-hand, word quickly began to spread. Read more. [43] Peregrine falcon sightings are also not uncommon, and a peregrine falcon eyrie is known to have existed near Alum Cave Bluffs throughout the 1930s. She spent her weekends in high school swimming at the Sinks or camping at Cades Cove. As early as the end of the 19th century, concerned residents of the area advocated for preservation of the land. They were so spooked by their experience that they went directly to the police. [8], The Smokies rise prominently above the surrounding low terrain. The event made local and national news, and even prompted an official U.S. Air Force inquiry! TN Sporadic or seasonal settlements were located in Cades Cove and the Hazel Creek valley. For backcountry sites that are accessible only via hiking trail, you can make reservations through the parks backcountry permit office either in person or online. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major North American refuge of temperate zone flora and fauna that survived the Pleistocene glaciations. Visibility now is dramatically reduced by smog from both the Southeastern United States and the Midwest, and smog forecasts are prepared daily by the Environmental Protection Agency for both nearby Knoxville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina. The culture of the area is that of Southern Appalachia, and previously the Cherokee people. Smoky Sunset Fog lingers among the forested hills of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which spans the southern Appalachians along the border between Tennessee and North Carolina. [7] It has the range's highest topographical prominence at 4,503 feet (1,373m). As he rode past the grapevines, he heard something moving through the brush behind him. According to Cherokee legend, long ago, before the Cherokee moved into the Smokies, there was a race of small, bearded white men who lived in the mountains. Enjoy wildlife viewing, historic homes and churches, and beautiful mountain scenery while biking or walking the 11-mile loop. The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for their ghost stories! Pinterest. As with much of the southern Blue Ridge, the area qualifies as part of the Appalachian Rainforest. In the late days of summer, 1952, two brothers named Edward and Fred May of Flatwoods, West Virginia, rushed home to tell their mother, Cathleen May, that theyd seen something unexplainable. According to another version of the story, mentioned in Smoky Mountain Living Magazine, there really was some sort of monster haunting the area. Locals and tourists alike have reported glowing, orb-like lights in blue, white, orange, and red, hovering approximately 15 feet off the ground in the Brown Mountain area near Morganton NC. The Bell Witch (who is thought to be a woman named Kate Batts) was supposedly cheated in a land purchase by John Bell, the patriarch of the Bell family. When federal agents caught wind of Shultss scheme, Perry allegedly tossed the treasury plates into the Pigeon River and stopped his illicit activities. [51] The legendary hellbender inhabits the range's swifter streams. In the Late Precambrian period, this ocean expanded, and the more recent Ocoee Supergroup rocks formed from accumulations of the eroding land mass onto the ocean's continental shelf. The Flatwoods incident was only the second or third of its kindand probably the first with so many witnesses. Tennessee Historical Commission Marker IC-69, "The McMahan Indian Mound," in Sevierville, Tennessee. When I asked my Tennessee-based family about the most common Appalachian superstitions, I was shocked by how many we still practice today. Jane Goodall has even weighed in on Bigfoots existence, telling reporters that she wants to believe that Bigfoot is real. Why such a wondrous diversity? Great Smoky Mountains - Wikipedia Made famous by a 1997 episode ofThe X-Files and the 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies, the Mothman is a fearsome creature with broad wings and red eyes who originated in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Environmental threats are the concern of many non-profit environmental stewardship groups, especially The Friends of the Smokies. While reported sightings of the colorful lights are known for their inconsistency, the lights are typically seen at night, especially after a rainfall. [42] Bald eagles and golden eagles have been spotted at all elevations in the park. Appalachian Legends | Mothman, Bell Witch, Brown Mountain Lights Their children and grandchildren spread out southward into the Sugarlands and Roaring Fork areas. While both Tennessee and North Carolina joined the Confederacy at the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Union sentiment in the Great Smoky Mountains was much stronger relative to other regions in these two states. About | Privacy Policies | Business Resources | Sitemap | Made with by IMEG. Appalachian Folklore, Monsters and Superstitions - Blue Ridge Mountains The 1540 expedition of Hernando de Soto and the 1567 expedition of Juan Pardo passed through the French Broad River valley north of the Smokies, both spending a considerable amount of time at Chiaha. Dive deeper at your own risk. Things to Do in Gatlinburg TN - Choice Hotels John Bell grew so concerned by these violent escalations that he shared his story with a family friend, James Johnston. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Everyone has their own opinion, about the statue, says Stalcup. While most men in the area had no money, Shults always had plenty of coins to spend. 5.0 out of 5 stars . To throw potential robbers off his trail, Perry played his cards close to the vest. In July 2016 the Charlotte Observer reported that Forest Service officers had reported close-up encounters on the mountain with beach ball sized orbs that floated by and then vanished. Great Smoky Mountains National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Centre People have written down and passed through the generations accounts of what this thing allegedly said, says Fitzhugh. Smith of Gate City, Virginia, is co-founder of the Blue Ridge Monsters and Legends Facebook Group where members come to share their stories of unexplained encounters with the hairy bi-pedal. This video describes the the diversity of life in the Smokies and introduces viewers to the applications the park has created with the University of Tennessee. Early settlers lived in 16 feet (4.9m) x 20 feet (6.1m) log cabins, although these were replaced by more elaborate log houses and eventually, as lumber became available, by modern frame houses. In one of the Cherokee legends from the Great Smoky Mountains, the Great Rabbit commits a scheme to steal the best coat in all of the animal kingdom. These ancient mountains are full of history, diverse flora and fauna, and breathtaking views. [71], In 1802, Edgefield, South Carolina resident William Ogle (17511803) arrived in White Oak Flats where he cut and prepared logs for cabin construction. Ultimately, it wasnt a thunderstorm that took Maviss life but an illness. The commission also had to deal with the Tennessee and North Carolina legislatures, which at times were opposed to spending taxpayer money on park efforts. Substantial Mississippian-period villages were uncovered at Citico and Toqua (named after the Cherokee villages that later thrived at these sites) along the Little Tennessee River in the 1960s. Camp under the stars. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. All rights reserved. Never feed animals by hand, dispose of trash properly in approved receptacles, and use bear canisters or bear lockers to keep your snacks from attracting critters to your campsite. Stroll down the Townsend Riverwalk Trail, which is a paved route with five miles of walking and biking trails on each side of Highway 321. With such biodiversity, how can park visitors and researchers learn where to find plants, animals and other organisms in the park? In the years following the Civil War, the richest man in Greenbrier Cove was local blacksmith Perry Shults. Most farms included at least one barn, a springhouse (used for refrigeration), a smokehouse (used for curing meat), a chicken coop (protected chickens from predators), and a corn crib (kept corn dry and protected it from rodents). 107 Park Headquarters Road It is possible those that have vanished in the Smokies were the victims of bears or wild hogs. Less than a year after Mavis died, Basil married Trulie Jane Lawson, a young woman who also lived in Cades Cove. It covers a section of Tennessee and North Carolina in the Southern USA that was once home to the Cherokee, and later by Scotch-Irish settlers. Intrigued, May, her sons, and some other local boys, headed out to the farm. There are numerous supernatural - The Great Smokies.net - Facebook Wild Bear Falls Water Park - Gatlinburg. Canoe and fish the park's waterways. The temperatures continued warming until around 6,000 years ago, when they began to gradually grow cooler. There are meals available at LeConte when you arrive the supplies for which are brought up by llamas, which you might see along the way if you take the Trillium Gap Trail. [13] Strong winds created by mountain waves were a contributing factor with the devastating Gatlinburg fire on November 28, 2016 during the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires. These wolves were removed from the park and relocated to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. Spread across 500,000 acres in the Southern Appalachian range, the park is a four-season wonderland, famous for both its colorful spring wildflowers and the fiery blazes of autumn. If you do see a black bear on vacation, consider yourself lucky because it happened by chance! Today, exhibits on the Moon-Eyed People can be found at the Cherokee County Historical Museum in Murphy. Ancient physicians erroneously thought the tooth-like projections on the white rhizome of the Toothwort meant that it could cure a toothache. Smoky Mountain Ghost Stories - HeySmoki Read on to find three of our favorite Smoky Mountain ghost stories. Whether a small, blue-eyed race of sun-blind white men once inhabited the Blue Ridge long before the Europeans are known to have discovered America remains unknown, but the legend continues to live on. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Have you ever stopped yourself before walking under a ladder? Be sure to let a non-hiking partner know where youre going and when you plan to be back. These tours are not a haunted house style attraction with actors dressed as ghosts, but a fun history lesson where you learn about the settlers, pioneers and others who came to the Smokies to find heartbreak, misery or even death! 17-year-old Eugene Lemon, a National Guardsman whod also tagged along on the adventure, said he saw a pulsing light and pointed his flashlight toward it, revealing a pair of bright eyes in a tree and a 10-foot monster with a blood-red face and a green body that seemed to glow. The monster then hissed and floated towards the group, causing Lemon to scream and drop his flashlight. [27], The mean annual temperatures in the higher elevations in the Smokies are cool enough to support forest types more commonly found in the northern United States. Stretching from Alabama andNorth Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian mountain range was formed millions of years ago before being settled by Native Americans and, later, Scots-Irish, English, German, and Polish immigrants.

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