Some of the best legends in East Tennessee have been passed down for generations, usually just by word of mouth. Nevertheless, the soldiers sighting of a booger gave the town its memorable name. According to newspaper reports, several of the party fainted and vomited for several hours after returning to town. Later, Mrs. May was quoted as saying that the monster looked worse than Frankenstein., The group turned and ran down the hill, immediately reporting what they saw to the local sheriff. Bluegrass songs claim that the lights are the ghost of a slave searching for his lost master. Subscribe to Lonely Planet newsletters and promotions. 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! It stated its purpose was to kill John Bell.. Trailheads for some of the most popular hikes and some of the park's key historic sights are found along this two-lane road. Want to know where to go to see fall in all its finery? Over 1,500 additional flowering plant species have been identified in the park. [52] Other amphibians include the American toad and the American bullfrog, wood frog, upland chorus frog, northern green frog, and spring peeper. The range has the densest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. When her health declined, Mavis made Basil promise her two things. [1], The Great Smokies are part of an International Biosphere Reserve. While most men in the area had no money, Shults always had plenty of coins to spend. [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. When the smoke cleared, she found Basil lying on the floor, charred to a crisp, where the metal bed had once stood. It was nearing dusk when they saw an unidentified object in the woods. Trek the Great Smoky Mountains Gatlinburg locals refer to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as "800 miles of perfect." They might just be rightexperiencing the Smoky Mountains' mist while surrounded by the vast, inspiring landscape is idyllic, to say the least. [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 legend holds that a Cherokeefemale was cursed by tribal elders for witnessing a sacred pre-hunt ceremony. The event made local and national news, and even prompted an official U.S. Air Force inquiry! Don't miss the opportunity to check out this mountain-themed, world-class family indoor/outdoor water park, which is ideally located at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park in Gatlinburg. [14] Damaging winds can also be generated by strong thunderstorms, with tornadoes and strong thunderstorm complexes (also known as mesoscale convective systems) occasionally affecting the Smoky Mountains. Its important to be mindful in order to protect wildlife from becoming dependent on humans for food or getting close to humans in ways that endanger both you and the animals who call the park home. Local livestock were being killed by an unseen force, and the townspeople decided that a booger must be responsible. [77] In the North Carolina SmokiesCherokee, Haywood, Jackson, and Macon countiesabout 46% of the population favored secession. The Dyrt campers recommend Gee Creek campground, a primitive campground located on the Hiwassee and Ocoee Rivers. Hardwood trees moved into the region from the coastal plains, replacing the spruce-fir forests in the lower elevations. [64] Another tells of a captured Shawnee medicine man named Aganunitsi who, in exchange for his freedom, travels to the remote sections of the range in search of the Uktena. 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. Add to that the many free ranger-led programs run by the park night hikes, storytelling by the campfire, morning porch talks (free coffee provided), Appalachian culture fairs and you have the makings of one of Americas most remarkable budget-friendly getaways. Carvings on Judaculla Rock in Jackson County, N.C., may never be fully explained. The north-south orientation of the Appalachian chain allowed the Smokies to become a refuge for many species of plants and animals that were displaced from their northern homes by glaciers in the last ice age around 10,000 years ago. [30], The spruce-fir forestalso called the "boreal" or "Canadian" forestis a relict of the ice ages, when mean annual temperatures in the Smokies were too cold to support a hardwood forest. The land for Great Smoky Mountains National Park was acquired in large part through small-scale grassroots fundraising rather than donations from wealthy stakeholders, despite much of the area already being broken up into small family farms and parcels earmarked by loggers. Extensive work and research is being done to preserve the biodiversity of the Smokies. READ MORE: The 10 Best Haunted Houses inNorth Carolina. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie. The brook trout is the only trout species native to the range, although northwestern rainbow trout and European brown trout were introduced in the first half of the 20th century. Early Precambrian rocks, which include the oldest rocks in the Smokies, comprise the dominant rock type in the Raven Fork Valley (in the Oconaluftee valley) and lower Tuckasegee River between Cherokee and Bryson City. the park offers myriad opportunities for exploring and discovering both the natural and cultural history of these ancient mountains. Thus, red spruce is now the dominant species in the range's spruce-fir forest. The park's abundant rainfall and high summertime humidity provide excellent growing conditions. Watch out for slippery rocks, and dont swim or wade in park waters (falls and drowning are among the leading causes of injury). The park was established in 1934, and, with over 11 million visits per year, it is the most visited national park in the United States. [93], The Tennessee Smokies baseball team plays in Sevierville, Tennessee and is named for the mountain range. Protected in the park are some 65 species of mammals, over 200 varieties of birds, 67 native . RSS. They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and form part of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province. Since settling in the mountains in the 18th and 19th centuries, Appalachian people have developed a unique blend of cultures that has its own way of thinking. [59], The increasing reliance upon agriculture during the Mississippian period (c.9001600 A.D.) lured Native Americans away from the game-rich forests of the Smokies and into the fertile river valleys on the outer fringe of the range. There are two native species of rhododendron in the area. Due to the popularity of LeContes hospitality, however, youll need to make reservations months or even a year in advance. Some scholars believe that the danger and isolation of early mountain life gave birth to many of the legends that still exist today, banging around in our brains and compelling us to take an extra look over our shoulder should we find ourselves alone in a dusky forest or a creaky old cabin. The Asian Jumping Worm is a non-native species, great for fish bait, but destructive to habits and food sources for species in the Smokies. 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. [24], Cove hardwood forests, which are native to Southern Appalachia, are among the most diverse forest types in North America. From Cherokee legends to tall tales from Cades Cove, the Smokies are brimming with supernatural yarns that have been passed down for generations. And while the areas bears and fireflies get most of the publicity, the Cataloochee Valley is a prime spot to see elk, reintroduced to the Smokies back in 2001. The Wild Man can be found in literature as early as the second century BC. Here are three of our favorite tall tales from the Smokies: Supernatural Revenge in Cades Cove 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. Mason County Sheriff George Johnson believed it to be a large bird, because the stories fit the description of a Sandhill Crane, which has a red forehead and wingspans recorded up to 7 feet, 7 inches. [The statue depicts] twins, but theyre short like the Moon-Eyed People with little round flat faces. Some believe that the statue represents the two rivers and others believe it is a man and a woman. 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. The orange- to sometimes red-flowered and deciduous flame azalea closely follows along with the Catawbas. [70], In the 1780s, several frontier outposts had been established along the outskirts of the Smokies, namely Whitson's Fort in what is now Cosby and Wear's Fort in what is now Pigeon Forge. The lights can be observed on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Brown Mountain Light Overlook located at milepost 310 or the Green Mountain Overlook at milepost 301. The key to Shultss counterfeiting project was stolen gold coin reproduction plates that were given to Perry by a friend who used to work for the U.S. mint. [63], By the time the first English explorers arrived in Southern Appalachia in the late 17th century, the Cherokee controlled much of the region, and the Great Smoky Mountains lay at the center of their territory. 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). These wolves were removed from the park and relocated to the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The Great Smokies are best known as the home of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which protects most of the range. 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. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a major North American refuge of temperate zone flora and fauna that survived the Pleistocene glaciations. Its a fascinating turn of events for a small town like Point Pleasant., For his part, Wamsley does believe that the people of Point Pleasant encountered something out of the ordinary. THE SCARIEST TRAIL IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS . Jagged mountain peaks, verdant forests and cascading waterfalls set the stage for big adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains, one of Americas best-loved national parks. It makes it more than just your standard folktale.. The highest point in the Smokies is Clingmans Dome, the tallest mountain in Tennessee, which rises to an elevation of 6,643 feet (2,025m). The national press picked up the story, and Mothman became a sensation. Wolf packs do not roam this region due to extirpation. In fact, the Smokies are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world! That means that, aside from car rental, expenses are minimal. Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to fly fishing, the Appalachian Trail, biking, travel, and more in the Blue Ridge and beyond. Annual precipitation amounts range from 50 to 80in (1,300 to 2,000mm),[9] and snowfall in the winter can be heavy, especially on the higher slopes. Strangeways Brewing, which has locations in Richmond and Fredericksburg, Virginia brews a beer named after the Wampus Cat, the Wampus Cat Triple IPA. more information on current conditions Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: The Range of Life. Streams in the Smokies are part of the Tennessee River watershed and are thus entirely west of the Eastern Continental Divide. We may never discover the truth behind Boogertowns backstory, but listening to all of the theories and tall tales sure is a lot of fun! Dont walk under a ladder. First, she made him swear that he would never sell her quilts, which she lovingly sewed for the family. Skeptics accused the Bell family of doing it by knowing how to act and using ventriloquism. Gatlinburg, Trout in the Smokies are generally smaller than other members of their species in different locales. Or held your breath when youre passing a cemetery? 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. Seven years later Kate did return, visiting John Bell Jr. who was not living at the Bell farm at the time. That would have been in 1935. If you find yourself under one, dont turn around back up. The first logging operations in the Smokies, which began in the 1880s, used splash dams or booms to float logs down rivers to lumber mills in nearby cities. 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. When you're exploring the wilderness, it's better to be safe than to be a statistic! [28] About 28,600 acres (116km2) of the northern hardwood forest are old-growth. Born and raised in town, Wamsley was only five years old when the Mothman showed up and began terrorizing his neighbors. Though scientists have not been able to determine what causes the lights, ball lightning and naturally occurring mountain gases are two widely accepted theories. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Photo by Caitlin Riddell/The Points Guy) Hiking. [8], The Smokies rise prominently above the surrounding low terrain. Kate re-avowed her scorn and disapproval about Betsy Bells upcoming marriage, says Fitzhugh. Dont let a pregnant woman see a dead person or the baby will have a birth mark. The Great Smoky Mountains stretch from the Pigeon River in the northeast to the Little Tennessee River in the southeast. Numerous Archaic period (c.80001000 B.C.) [2][3] The cove hardwood forests in the range's lower elevations are among the most diverse ecosystems in North America, and the Southern Appalachian spruce-fir forest that coats the range's upper elevations is the largest of its kind. 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. In one tale, a Civil War soldier was riding through the area when he saw a pair of mysterious eyes peering at him through the bushes. In the unlikely event the bear approaches you, stand your ground, make yourself tall and make a lot of noise which usually deters the bear. 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. The Wampus Cat (a.k.a. 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). For over a year, the Bells remained silent about the strange events taking place in their home, worried about what the members of their church might think. Other major streams include Hazel Creek and Eagle Creek in the southwest, Raven Fork near Oconaluftee, Cosby Creek near Cosby, and Roaring Fork near Gatlinburg. Never leave a rocking chair rocking, or you will invite spirits. But it was rocked by an unidentifiable visitor on November 12, 1966, when gravediggers at a cemetery in Clendenin, West Virginia, about 80 miles from Point Pleasant, claimed to see a man with wings lift off from a tree and fly over their heads. All are located off NC-105 S or NC-181 near Asheville and Boone, and offer great scenic vistas at any time of day. Smoky Mountain Ghost Stories. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Between the two is the scenic Newfound Gap Road, which winds for 29 miles, neatly bisecting the park on the only pavement traversing the Smokies. Hang a horseshoe upside down to keep good luck from running out. If you're looking for a good fright, check out three of our favorite Smoky Mountain ghost stories. But the harassment wouldnt stop, and John Bell finally confided to one of his neighbors about the strange incidents in his home. The Sasquatch was a hairy creature, known for bellowing, stealing livestock, and shaking trees. 2023 Visit My Smokies, The ONLY site you need to plan your Smoky Mountain vacation, is a website owned and operated by Sevier County, Tennessee. The Ocoee Supergroup consists primarily of slightly metamorphosed sandstones, phyllites, schists, and slate. Within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are two options: camping or hiking up to LeConte Lodge. Appalachian culture is known for superstitions and legends like these. One could be walking into a hornet's nest, or opening a can of worms, or even, as some say around here . There are waterfalls throughout the park, with larger falls like Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow . The Smoky Mountains' urban legendsor rather rural mythsare a sure-fire way to strike up conversation. Dying giants - Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)", "Why 'Knoxville' will be part of the team name when Smokies baseball moves downtown", "Best Smoky Mountain Views and Lift Ride", National Weather Service Southern Appalachian Precipitation study, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Cornell University study on invasive balsam woolly adelgid control, Geologic Map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Region, Tennessee and North Carolina, The Great Smoky Mountains Regional Project, Southern Appalachian English: Transcripts, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Great_Smoky_Mountains&oldid=1150997748, Intersection of Balsam crest and Great Smokies crest, Jesse Siler, who used the mountain for grazing, The cove hardwood forests in the stream valleys, coves, and lower mountain slopes, The northern hardwood forests on the higher mountain slopes, The spruce-fir or boreal forest at the very highest elevations, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 08:24. Some people say that Shults fled from the Smoky Mountains and left a treasure trove of gold coins buried somewhere in the Greenbrier area. On September 12, 1952, Edward May, Freddie May, Neil Nunley, and Tommy Hyer were playing at Flatwoods Elementary when they spotted a light shooting across the sky. Caves, a hidden lodge and panoramic fog-filled vistas await along the best hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Over time it seems this thing, whatever it was, fed off of attention and peoples fears, says Fitzhugh. Plan your visit today! To experience these Appalachian legends for yourself, visit the Historic Bell Witch Cave, which located in Adams TN. Cherokee Death Cat) is a large cat similar to a mountain lion or cougar, with tan-yellow fur, six legs, and large yellow eyes. [3], In the Smokies, the northern hardwood canopies are dominated by yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia). If you see a white horse, youll have good luck. p. sutton. Cambrian sedimentary rocks are found among the outer reaches of the Foothills to the northwest and in limestone coves such as Cades Cove. [citation needed] According to the National Park Service, 80% of the Smokies was clear cut in the 1900's. 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. Be sure to let a non-hiking partner know where youre going and when you plan to be back. Pseudoscymnus tsugae, a type of beetle in the ladybug family, Coccinellidae, has been introduced in an attempt to control the pests.[56]. They began hearing noises such as scratching, knocks on the walls, and chains being dragged across the floor, says Pat Fitzhugh, an author and historian who has written two books about the events that occurred on the Bell farm. Other popular access points are the Cataloochee Valley on the east side of the park, and Cades Cove in the west. After John Bells death, things began to return to normal on the Bell farm until Betsy Bell, the Bells youngest daughter, became engaged to a local man named Joshua Gardner. Back in the pioneer days, Cades Cove was home to Basil and Mavis Estep, a married couple who lived in a two room cabin on Whistling Branch. If you give them to newlyweds, it will cut their love! The Smokies, along with the Unicois, provided the main bulwark dividing the Overhill Cherokee villages in modern Tennessee from the Cherokee Middle towns in modern North Carolina. 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. In the middle of the night, a brilliant flash of light burst into the cabin and knocked Trulie Jane right out of bed. [58] Woodland period (c.1000 B.C. Much of the work was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps throughout the Great Depression, and the national park was officially dedicated in 1940. Some 100 species of native trees find homes in the Smokies, more than in any other North American national park. Mount Le Conte is the tallest (i.e., from immediate base to summit) mountain in the range, rising 5,301 feet (1,616m) from its base in Gatlinburg to its 6,593-foot (2,010m) summit. 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. Many believe it is a depiction of the Moon-Eyed People. The Great Smokies comprise parts of Blount County, Sevier County, and Cocke County in Tennessee and Swain County and Haywood County in North Carolina. The story of the Bell Witch is one of the most popular examples of Appalachian Mountain folklore, and it began in Robertson County, Tennessee. Salamanders hear through their feet! Like most of Southern Appalachia, the early 19th-century economy of the Smokies relied on subsistence agriculture. [35] Two species of fox (red fox and the gray fox) are found within the Smokies, with red foxes being documented at all elevations. Smith says that one cold November night he was riding his bike home after dark when he heard a friend run up behind him. Most of the range's adult eastern black bears weigh between 100 pounds (45kg) and 300 pounds (140kg), although some grow to more than 500 pounds (230kg). Cades Cove and Smokemont campgrounds are open year-round, and the rest are open seasonally. 1. As with much of the southern Blue Ridge, the area qualifies as part of the Appalachian Rainforest. Needless to say, I made a hasty departure home.. TN While much of the red spruce stands in the Smokies were logged during World War I, the tree is still common throughout the range above 5,500 feet (1,700m). 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. [47] A type of Jordan's salamander known as the redcheeked salamander is found only in the Smokies. 12:00 AM. While they may not be as widely practiced today, these myths and mountain folklore were passed down by countless generations. Many lives were lost. They modernly reside in Alaska, portions of the Great Lakes region, all northwestern American states and Canada. Why other tree types such as the red spruce fail to encroach into the beech gaps is unknown. There is no train service to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It didnt make a sound. [87] By the time all operations ceased in the 1930s, logging firms had removed two-thirds of the virgin forests of the Smokies. Read on to find three of our favorite Smoky Mountain ghost stories. An hour later, several men armed with shotguns returned to the scene with Lemon. The festival features guest speakers, live bands, vendors, cosplay, and even a 5K run. [79] Residents of Cosby and Cataloochee did likewise. The bobcat is the range's only remaining wild cat species, although sightings of cougars, which once thrived in the area, are still occasionally reported. [85], The second-largest operation was the Ritter Lumber Company, which logged the Hazel Creek watershed between 1907 and 1928. Three days later, two young couples were driving together near an abandoned World War II TNT plant about five miles north of Point Pleasant when they saw a large flying man with 10-foot wings, and eyes that glowed red. They tried to flee the unidentified animal, speeding down the road at a reported 100 miles per hour, but the creature followed them back to Point Pleasant city limits. The Great Smoky Mountains are home to 66 species of mammals, over 240 species of birds, 43 species of amphibians, 60 species of fish, and 40 species of reptiles. If you drop a knife, a man is coming to visit. Your psyche has a tendency to get away from you, says Rivers. The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for their ghost stories! Reportedly, some claimed to have seen the Mothman at the bridge shortly before its collapse and believed its presence was a harbinger of doom. The first of these settlers, John and Lucretia Oliver, arrived in 1818. There is no fee to enter the park, but camping is . Having to decide whether its real or fake takes all the fun out of it.. Can't wait to read more! Mavis was born during a thunderstorm, and due to a local superstition, she believed that she was destined to be struck by lightning. After Johnston experienced the spirit first-hand, word quickly began to spread. Never give someone a set of knives as a gift. While reported sightings of the colorful lights are known for their inconsistency, the lights are typically seen at night, especially after a rainfall. Instead, all but one of the parks nine frontcountry campgrounds can be reserved online. 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. The culture of the area is that of Southern Appalachia, and previously the Cherokee people. There are 2,900 miles of streams in the Smokies but only about 800 miles contain fish. Today you can celebrate this mythical Appalachian monster at the Bigfoot Festival in Marion NC.

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