Calderwood, human settlement in Tennessee, United States of America
Calderwood is a ghost town near the Little Tennessee River in Tennessee, founded around 1912 as a worker settlement for a dam construction project. The community included homes, schools, and churches, of which only the Methodist church, school buildings, and a former movie theater Quonset hut remain today.
Calderwood was established in 1912 to house workers building and operating the Calderwood Dam, which was completed in 1930. The town lost importance after the 1950s, and the Alcoa company demolished most buildings in the late 1960s.
The name Calderwood comes from I. G. Calderwood, the engineer who oversaw the dam project. The small Methodist church that still stands was the center of community life, showing how residents gathered together and shared their daily experiences.
The site is accessible on foot, with some remaining paths and trails leading to the remnants of the old town. The area is surrounded by forest, so sturdy footwear and care on overgrown trails are recommended.
Across the river stood Scona Lodge, a former luxury retreat with golf and shooting ranges that was later demolished and is now overgrown with Kudzu vines. The remnants hint at a vanished resort that once attracted wealthy visitors from afar.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
