With over 150 known cemeteries dotting the misty ridge lines, the Smokies are a regular backdrop to spooky tales. So, why would anyone choose a name with booger in it? It made national headlines, says Smith. He was out of breath and anxious, remembers Smith. They are one of 146 native land snail species in the park. You can also celebrate the Appalachian myth at the annualMothman Festival, which typically happens on the third weekend in September. The influx of settlers at the end of the French and Indian War brought conflict with the Cherokee, who still held legal title to much of the land. The U.S. National Park Service preserves and maintains 78 structures within the national park that were once part of the numerous small Appalachian communities scattered throughout the range's river valleys and coves. 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 There are waterfalls throughout the park, with larger falls like Grotto, Laurel, Abrams, Rainbow . There are numerous supernatural - The Great Smokies.net - Facebook Over the following week, there were at least 8 more reported sightings in and around Point Pleasant of a man-like bird with large wings. [17], Most of the rocks in the Great Smoky Mountains consist of Late Precambrian rocks that are part of a formation known as the Ocoee Supergroup. What Ghostly Encounters Might You Have in Harpers Ferry or Great Smoky (The Mountain Farm Museum is located on U.S. Highway 441 adjacent to the national park's Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina. The name likely derives from the word catawampus, a mountain folklore saying that describes a boogeyman, or something that has gone badly. Iva Butler, "Archaeologists Pack Up Townsend Dig." The Great Smoky Mountains are famous for their ghost stories! The Great Smoky Mountains National Park region is divided down its length by the Tennessee - North Carolina border. artifacts have been found within the national park's boundaries, including projectile points uncovered along likely animal migration paths. The relative humidity in the park during the growing season is about twice that of the Rocky Mountain region. If youre new to camping or spending time outdoors, read up on Leave No Trace principles before you head out, or check out these guidelines on how to RV or vancamp responsibly. The state boundary line bisects the park, which is one of the largest in the eastern United States. Nevertheless, the soldiers sighting of a booger gave the town its memorable name. The poltergeist received the name Kate after it claimed to be the witch of a local lady named Kate Batts. Smoky Mountain Legends passed down for Generations - Piddlin.com On one frigid evening, Basil and Trulie decided to use one of Maviss quilts to keep warm. 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. It doesn't take long to see why Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the United States. Over the following year, the oddities continued. 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. The moonlight was shining through its hair. [70], The Middle towns, including Kittuwa, were burned by General Griffith Rutherford, and several of the Overhill towns were burned by John Sevier. 1. Explore the supernatural side of the Smoky Mountains while enjoying a walk with the Ghost & Haunt Tours of Gatlinburg! 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. The lights, claim the legend, are the ghosts of grieving women still searching the mountainside for the bodies of fallen warriors. The Smokies are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, formed perhaps 200-300 million years ago. It was nearing dusk when they saw an unidentified object in the woods. Last but not least, the Blue Ridge Parkways southern terminus links the Smokies to Shenandoah, in case you want to get the most out of your national parks pass. If you see a white horse, youll have good luck. Lucy of Roaring Fork Everything you need to know to plan a trip to Great Smoky Mountains Run a chicken over your baby to keep if from getting chicken pox. Over 130 species of trees are found among the canopies of the cove hardwood forests in the Smokies. Many claim that the lights seen today are the spirits of the Catawba women, still searching for their loved ones. The persistent freezing and thawing during this period created the large blockfields that are often found at the base of large mountain slopes. 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. Then, ten days before Christmas in 1967, tragedy struck. 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! Expand. Here are the best places to climb. 6 Mythical Beasts and the National Parks They Call Home Although Ogle died shortly after returning to Edgefield, his wife, Martha Jane Huskey, eventually returned with her family and several other families to White Oak Flats, becoming the first permanent settlers in what would eventually become Gatlinburg. White basswood (Tilia heterophylla), mountain maple (Acer spicatum) and striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), and yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava) are also present. If you want to find out for yourself, the best time to see the Brown Mountain Lights is September through early November. Tennessee Historical Commission Marker IC-69, "The McMahan Indian Mound," in Sevierville, Tennessee. There are no motels or rental cabins within the park. According to another version of the story, mentioned in Smoky Mountain Living Magazine, there really was some sort of monster haunting the area. Bluegrass songs claim that the lights are the ghost of a slave searching for his lost master. The tale of Bigfoot has been traced back to the European Wild Man, a mythical figure that had hair all over his body and lived like a beast. 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. Environmental factors such as air quality,water quality, and non-native species are monitored and fires are used as a tool to maintain healthy ecosystems. When the smoke cleared, she found Basil lying on the floor, charred to a crisp, where the metal bed had once stood. [76] Religion was a central theme in the lives of the early residents of the Smokies, and community life was typically centered on churches. [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. Protected fish species in the range include the smoky and yellowfin madtom, the spotfin chub, and the duskytail darter. 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). He turned to look. If you're looking for a good fright, check out three of our favorite Smoky Mountain ghost stories. We took a look at six of the most popular legends in our region. Jerry Crew, a logging company employee, discovered a set of extra-large footprints in Six Rivers National Forest. 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. [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]. Located in Sevier County, this area is officially known as Oldham, but it is far more famous for its unusual nickname. Here are the top things to do in South Carolina. Rumor had it that Perry Shults had discovered gold in the Smoky Mountains! Within a few years, the Wonderland Hotel and the Appalachian Club had been established to cater to elite Knoxvillians seeking summer mountain getaways. We encourage anyone who loves the Blue Ridge region to learn about theLeave No Traceprinciples ofresponsible environmental stewardship. A string of Overhill villages, including Chota and Tanasi, dotted the Little Tennessee valley north of Chilhowee. Today you can celebrate this mythical Appalachian monster at the Bigfoot Festival in Marion NC. The story of the Bell Witch is one of the most popular examples of Appalachian Mountain folklore, and it began in Robertson County, Tennessee. 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. 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. Many of these mountain folklore sayings were passed down by my great-grandparents, but still live on a century later. After uncovering a shallow streak of gold with his pick and shovel, Shults chartered a mine in search of a great fortune. To throw potential robbers off his trail, Perry played his cards close to the vest. READ MORE: The 10 Most Haunted Places in Georgia to Visit. 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. First-timer's guide to Great Smoky Mountains National Park 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. Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the largest tracts of wilderness in the East and is a critical sanctuary for a wide variety of animals. The Fraser Firs, which are native to Southern Appalachia, once dominated elevations above 6,200 feet (1,900m) in the Great Smokies. Wear a buckeye in your bra to ward off rheumatism. Maybe youve even sped up on a mountain road at night, thinking you see glowing red eyes in the woods? And the Mothman sightings continued. The real story behind the tale of the Bell Witch has never been uncovered. 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. [18], The Precambrian gneiss and schiststhe oldest rocks in the Smokiesformed over a billion years ago from the accumulation of marine sediments and igneous rock in a primordial ocean. The lodge is not accessible by road, so to get there youll have to hoof it uphill on a hike ranging from 5.5 miles to 9 miles in length depending on which trail you use. Much of the work was completed by the Civilian Conservation Corps throughout the Great Depression, and the national park was officially dedicated in 1940. These ancient mountains are full of history, diverse flora and fauna, and breathtaking views. [12] These mountain wave winds are strongest in a narrow area along the foothills, and can create extensive areas of fallen trees and roof damage, especially around Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Camp Creek community. Imagine youre deep in the woods when you spot a sudden movement through the trees. Popular Native American folklore says that a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Catawba tribes took place on the mountain. 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. The park has partnered with the University of Tennessee to use analysis modeling and data visualization to predict the locations of the parks species. The museum is home to a statue that was found at the confluence of the Valley and Hiwassee Rivers in the early 1800s. Born and raised in town, Wamsley was only five years old when the Mothman showed up and began terrorizing his neighbors. The hike to the peak is only a half-mile from the Clingmans Dome parking area and it's fully paved, but be warned -- it's very steep. Theres no doubt about Bigfoots existence in Phil Smiths eyes. 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). Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Ghost UFO Bigfoot Tour Expeditions Though its hard to say why stories of unexplained phenomena pop up in these mountains, Rivers says that fear can easily get the best of people. Dominant species in the Smokies include the Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), Catawba rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). 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. 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. Streams in the Smokies are part of the Tennessee River watershed and are thus entirely west of the Eastern Continental Divide. 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. The 11 best things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park The range is home to an estimated 187,000 acres (76,000ha) of old growth forest, constituting the largest such stand east of the Mississippi River. In fact, the Smokies are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world! To many eyewitnesses, the lights appear as glowing orbs that hover in the sky above the mountain before suddenly disappearing or soundlessly exploding. Explore a historic mill. The forests of the Smokies are typically divided into three zones: Appalachian baldspatches of land where trees are unexpectedly absent or sparseare interspersed through the mid-to-upper elevations in the range. Similar reports came in over the next few days, and the sensational story was soon picked up by the local newspaper. Water and. Species have been observed and documented in the park for over a hundred years and new discoveries are being made all the time. Strangely, there were no thunderstorms in Cades Cove that night, just the stray bolt of lightning that took Basil Esteps life. Almost 95% of the park is forested, and about 25% of that area is old-growth forest. [61][62], Most of these villages were part of a minor chiefdom centered on a large village known as Chiaha, which was located on an island now submerged by Douglas Lake. Brief Synthesis. 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). The sources of several rivers are located in the Smokies, including the Little Pigeon River, the Oconaluftee River, and Little River. 3 Smoky Mountain Ghost Stories That Will Scare Your Socks Off 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. Explore. [10] For comparison, the surrounding terrain has annual precipitation of around 40 to 50in (1,000 to 1,300mm). It wasnt long before Trulie Jane talked Basil into buying a metal bed for their cabin. From hiking to kayaking, here are the very best activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you want to spend some time exploring the Smokies without camping or renting a cabin, there are numerous RV rental companies in Knoxville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge the later being two towns that are unofficial gateways to the Smokies and home to attractions like Dollywood. There were hundreds of eyewitnesses, says Jeff Wamsley, owner of Point Pleasants Mothman Museum. I had to, he says, and there beside the grapevines was a seven-foot creature. All campgrounds have running water, flush toilets, picnic tables, and firepits . Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of historical structures maintained by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, "Great Smokies Parkway Top List of Visitors", "Old Growth in the East: A Survey. [17] On the other hand, Gatlinburg's climate is four-season subtropical (Cfa) under Kppen (oceanic Do under Trewartha), typical of Tennessee. The City of Morganton, North Carolina even recently helped to improve the Brown Mountain Overlook on North Carolina Highway 181 for the purpose of attracting curious visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the ghost lights. Appalachian Folklore, Monsters and Superstitions - Blue Ridge Mountains Clingmans Dome (1 mile round-trip) is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at 6,643 feet, with truly unbeatable views. Some thought they did it for money, but the Bell family never charged a cent to anyone staying over in their home., Though Fitzhugh has considered many theories, he says he cant say one way or another what the Bell Witch truly was. [23] Stands dominated by the Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) are occasionally found along streams and broad slopes above 3,500 feet (1,100m). Reports of UFOs and suspicious men in black began streaming in to the Point Pleasant authorities. Caves, a hidden lodge and panoramic fog-filled vistas await along the best hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. People soon began traveling to the Bell farm to experience the supernatural phenomenon for themselves. Five of the world's nine families of salamanders are found in the range, consisting of up to thirty-one species. Or you happen to catch something out of the corner of your eye and you swear its a ghost. The Smokies are also home to an astonishing variety of plant and animal life - from lumbering black bears to dazzling displays of synchronous fireflies.

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