Elkmont, Historic ghost town in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, US
Elkmont is an abandoned settlement within Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. The wooden houses and cabins stand scattered beneath tall trees along the Little River, some with collapsed roofs and overgrown porches.
The lumber company operated a sawmill here from 1901 and built railroad tracks into the mountains. After logging ended, private families bought the buildings and used them as summer homes until the 1990s.
The name Elkmont comes from the logging camp era and stayed after the timber industry declined. Visitors today find decaying vacation cabins among the trees, showing how wealthy Tennessee families spent their summers here.
The buildings can be viewed from outside, but most interiors remain closed. A short walk leads from the parking area to the old structures, and additional trails connect with routes along the river.
In early summer, thousands of fireflies light up simultaneously here, creating a rare natural event. The shared blinking lasts about two weeks and attracts many observers.
Location: Sevier County
GPS coordinates: 35.65370,-83.58044
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26
Tennessee offers a notable mix of geological formations and historical sites that document different periods of American history. The state extends from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west, encompassing extensive cave systems, waterfalls, and forested areas. Underground attractions include The Lost Sea Adventure near Sweetwater, one of the largest underground lakes in America, and Tuckaleechee Caverns near Townsend with its flowstone formations. Ruby Falls in Chattanooga takes visitors 1,100 feet (335 m) below ground to an underground waterfall. The state's natural parks protect waterfalls of varying size and accessibility. Fall Creek Falls near Spencer drops 256 feet (78 m) and ranks among the highest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. Burgess Falls and Cummins Falls offer hiking trails to cascades, while Ozone Falls is accessible directly from the roadside. Big South Fork National River includes gorges and whitewater sections in the Cumberland Plateau. Historical sites document the Civil War through battlefields like Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and through preserved structures such as the Carter House in Franklin. Belle Meade Plantation near Nashville shows life on a 19th-century horse farm, while Chucalissa Archaeological Museum presents pre-Columbian settlements of the Mississippian culture.
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