The company also established company towns at Townsend (named for the company's chief owner and manager, Wilson B. Townsend), Elkmont, and Tremont. This years festival falls on September 17 and 18, 2022. 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. Report. Unlike other Appalachian monsters, the Moon-Eyed People were considered to be a distinctively separate race of people, rather than supernatural beings. The lights, claim the legend, are the ghosts of grieving women still searching the mountainside for the bodies of fallen warriors. If you do see a black bear on vacation, consider yourself lucky because it happened by chance! 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. Watch out for slippery rocks, and dont swim or wade in park waters (falls and drowning are among the leading causes of injury). [24], Cove hardwood forests, which are native to Southern Appalachia, are among the most diverse forest types in North America. Hang a horseshoe upside down to keep good luck from running out. As timber resources in these regions became exhausted, and as the demand for lumber skyrocketed after the Civil War, entrepreneurs began looking for ways to reach the virgin forests of Southern Appalachia. [60] Fortified Mississippian-period villages have been excavated at the McMahan Indian Mounds in Sevierville and more recently in Townsend. 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. Aside from crowds of hikers, campers, and general tourists, there's a dark side to . 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. Second, she gave Basil permission to remarry after her passing, but she implored him to never, ever put any of her quilts on a metal bed. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Camping one of the best ways to experience the Smokies runs less than $25 a night per site and as little as $14. 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. [65] The Cherokee called Gregory Bald Tsitsuyi , or "rabbit place," and believed the mountain to be the domain of the Great Rabbit. Today. TN [31], The main difference between the spruce-fir forests of Southern Appalachia and the spruce-fir forests in northern latitudes is the dense broad-leaved understory of the former. They were so spooked by their experience that they went directly to the police. Why such a wondrous diversity? 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. But a major flood in 1916 changed that theory. Hold your breath when you pass a cemetery, or youll be the next to die. . 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. READ MORE: The 7 Best Caves & Caverns in North Carolina. Currently residing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Amy is an English teacher and soccer coach who grew up in the Appalachian Mountains. Instead, the word referred to a ghost or hobgoblin. 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. 107 Park Headquarters Road Extensive work and research is being done to preserve the biodiversity of the Smokies. 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. [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. While you have a chance of seeing wildlife throughout the park, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is an excellent route if youre hoping to peep the parks animal residents, especially in winter time, at dawn, and in the evenings. A walking stick also comes in handy. 6 Mythical Beasts and the National Parks They Call Home Hike Mt LeConte, explore Cataloochee, and raft on Pigeon river; all with your trusted travel companion. Plants and animals common in the southern US thrive in the lowlands. Today, exhibits on the Moon-Eyed People can be found at the Cherokee County Historical Museum in Murphy. Appalachian Folklore, Monsters and Superstitions - Blue Ridge Mountains Jerry Crew, a logging company employee, discovered a set of extra-large footprints in Six Rivers National Forest. 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). Others say that Shults sayed in Greenbrier, but suffered a stroke before he could tell his wife where his fortune was buried. Bailey Freeman shares how she overcame her fears and embraced adventures in nature. Theres a 3-foot- tall sculpture of two conjoined figures thought to represent Moon-Eyed People,which was found in the early 1840s. 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. The park contains five historic districts and nine individual listings on the National Register of Historic Places. The Catawba rhododendron has purple flowers in May and June, while the rosebay rhododendron has longer leaves and blooms white or a light pink in June and July. Trout in the Smokies are generally smaller than other members of their species in different locales. 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. [26] The American chestnut (Castanea dentata), which was arguably the most beloved tree of the range's pre-park inhabitants, was killed off by the introduced Chestnut blight in the 1920s. Never try to climb waterfalls or get close to a ledge to get a selfie. The Sasquatch was a hairy creature, known for bellowing, stealing livestock, and shaking trees. [1], The Great Smokies are part of an International Biosphere Reserve. For further assistance in planning your next journey into the beyond, please call (423) 743-WALK (9255) year-round, 11 AM to 11 PM, daily. All campgrounds have running water, flush toilets, picnic tables, and firepits . Hiking aside, there are many ways to experience the Great Smoky Mountains. country, with 12.1 million recreational visits in 2020. It stated its purpose was to kill John Bell.. They are one of 146 native land snail species in the park. The poltergeist received the name Kate after it claimed to be the witch of a local lady named Kate Batts. Many believe it is a depiction of the Moon-Eyed People. Smoky Mountain Legends passed down for Generations - Piddlin.com Information accessed 3 September 2007. Unlike the first national parks out west, which were originally reached by trains and where visitors stayed in grand hotels financed by railroad companies, Great Smoky National Parkcame together with support and input from auto organizations like the American Automobile Associations (AAA). Dive deeper at your own risk. The Little Tennessee River passes through five impediments along the range's southwestern boundary, namely Tellico Lake, Chilhowee Lake, Calderwood Lake, Cheoah Lake, and Fontana Lake. Weather and an array of habitat conditions supports a wide range of living things. 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. Elevations in the park range from approximately 850 to 6,643 feet. As this is bear country, you must store all your food and any trash that smells like food appropriately. 37738, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. The Flamed Tigersnail emits a bioluminescent bubbly orange mucus as a defense mechanism. Then, the Bells two daughters began complaining of something trying to pull at their bedcovers and pinch them while they slept. 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. To throw potential robbers off his trail, Perry played his cards close to the vest. According to another version of the story, mentioned in Smoky Mountain Living Magazine, there really was some sort of monster haunting the area. [77] In the North Carolina SmokiesCherokee, Haywood, Jackson, and Macon countiesabout 46% of the population favored secession. Theres no doubt about Bigfoots existence in Phil Smiths eyes. Although much of the tribe was forced west along the Trail of Tears in 1838, a fewlargely through the efforts of William Holland Thomasmanaged to retain their land on the Qualla Boundary and today comprise the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. 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. When you look at how long the story has endured and how many people have put forth theoriesdoctors, lawyers and preachers back in the day signed eyewitness manuscripts saying they witnessed these things, says Fitzhugh. There are numerous supernatural legends originating in the Great Smoky Mountains. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Photo by Caitlin Riddell/The Points Guy) Hiking. 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. Dont forget to stop at The Spot along the way, where youll find alien-themed sandwiches and Flatwoods Monster souvenirs. The first reported sighting of the Brown Mountain Lights was in 1913 by a fisherman who claimed to see odd red lights dancing above the horizon. There are no motels or rental cabins within the park. Make sure you have sturdy walking shoes (preferably waterproof hiking boots), ample water and snacks, warm clothing (it gets chilly at higher elevations, even in the summer) and gear for rain (precipitation is a year-round possibility). 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. [39] The National Park Service has successfully reintroduced river otters and elk into the Great Smokies. Camping details and reservation information. 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. Decades ago, a booger didnt have anything to do with Kleenex. Legend tells of a brutal battle betweenCherokee and Catawba warriorson Brown Mountain,which left many dead on the battlefield. [19], Around 20,000 years ago, subarctic glaciers advanced southward across North America, and although they never reached the Smokies, the advancing glaciers led to colder mean annual temperatures and an increase in precipitation throughout the range. Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, encompassing some of the oldest mountains on earth, is located in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. To many eyewitnesses, the lights appear as glowing orbs that hover in the sky above the mountain before suddenly disappearing or soundlessly exploding. Predictions are based on observations of species. The village of Oconaluftee, which was situated along the Oconaluftee River near the modern Oconaluftee Visitor Center, was the only known permanent Cherokee village located within the national park's boundaries. With diverse terrain, outstanding landscapes and well-maintained trails, hiking in the US is a joy. Hold your feet up when youre crossing a railroad track, or youll lose your boyfriend. All are located off NC-105 S or NC-181 near Asheville and Boone, and offer great scenic vistas at any time of day. Many lives were lost. 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. While most men in the area had no money, Shults always had plenty of coins to spend. The Smokies are famous for their supernatural tall tales! Water and. Feel the cool spray of a waterfall. Expand. 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. When I asked my Tennessee-based family about the most common Appalachian superstitions, I was shocked by how many we still practice today. Sightings continued, and in 1922 the U.S. Geological Society investigated, determining that the Brown Mountain Lights were really just the headlights of cars or passing trains. If a black cat crosses your path, turn and go a different way. Some of the red spruce trees in the Smokies are believed to be 300 years old, and the tallest rise to over 100 feet (30m).