There are few specific ghost stories about the area, but a place filled with abandoned cabins, churches, and cemeteries is bound to have some spooky history. Others report feeling an immensely sad presence, which may or may not have come with paying the bill. Have a spooky good time in the valley! For more information please read our privacy policy. The parking area for the historical Elijah Oliver Place and homestead, is on the left side of Cades Cove Loop Road just past Cooper Road Trail (approximately 4.6 miles from the beginning of the loop). This beautiful 5.5 mile drive through the Smokies has a lingering hitchhiker named Lucy. Here are 27 OTHER places to visit in Tennessee and we promise they arent haunted. Its a classic haunting yarn, a tale as old as time. Some visitors report seeing spooky things and lost souls in the area. A blood stain on the living room floor of the house stands as an eerie reminder of a father slain by his son centuries ago. Want even more scares and goosebumps? She named her masterpiece The Cussing Cover because Basil had been wearing the red shirt during one of the couples first marital argument, in which Basil had spit some very colorful language. If you meet a barefoot woman on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail, dont slow down. Spearfinger is a Cherokee legend of a stone woman with an obsidian spear for a finger. In the 1930s, a woman named Lydia is jilted at the altar of a Gatlinburg church and returns to the lodge where shes staying. Known as The Cussing Cover, this electrifying ghost story is perfect for your next campfire. Hours later, a rogue bolt of lightning struck the bed and killed Basil Estep. As the moon rises, spirits of departed brethren, some of them lacerated and bleeding, rise up and terrify the young man. The rest of the cabin remained untouched, and the Cussing Cover was in pristine condition. Now haunted Cades Cove, read on to learn of The Cussing Cover, the most popular haunt of this area! to another web page, changed the Arrival Date or number of Nights. There are plenty of ghost stories associated with the Smoky Mountains, just don't think about them when you're hiking through. Some guests have reported seeing glowing orbs from the graves in Cades Cove at night (Illustration of Cades Cove by TheSmokies.com). Some diners report seeing a strange young woman atop the pivotal staircase. This is one of the favorite haunted places in Gatlinburg, TN which hosts one of the most famous ghosts in the Smoky Mountains. Perhaps the pioneer's legend was adapted from the early Cherokee tale of Jutaculla, a slant-eyed giant with a voice like thunder and arrows made of lightning, who made his home in the same cave dancing and carrying out his own judgments. After the owner of the estate left Wheatlands Plantation to her grandson, his jealous father confronted him and in turn was murdered by his son with an iron poker. Many residents left willingly, but some others refused to leave the place they had resided in their entire life. Devastated, Lydia hung herself in the rafters of the old building. Today, the Elkmont ghost town, as it's referred to by those familiar with it, is the most popular campground in the park. March 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. than 3 boxes may be selected at one time. Briefly describe your issue, provide contact information, and submit up to 3 photos detailing your situation if applicable. She was looking over the balcony. Of her many beautiful quilts, Maviss favorite creation was a patchwork made up of pieces of one of Basils favorite red flannel shirts. The Cussing Cover: This Smoky Mountain legends, tells the story of Mavis and Basil Estep, a married couple who lived in Cades Cove a very long time ago. You can find the end of Lakeview Drive and this road to nowhere while hiking along Noland Creek Trail. September 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. When she moved in, she told Basil the old wooden bed wasnt good enough, and after some prodding, Basil went against Mavis deathbed wishes and bought a new metal bed for the couple. Apparently in the 1910s, there was a man named Forester who saw Lucy, a woman who was barefoot walking through the woods. Me and Tim decided to take a stroll through Cades Cove at midnight. All the children who grew up there did not stay, however, some leaving for other nearby settlements while . Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. Known for its sprawling views and light finger on the pulse of Tennessee history, Cades Cove Campground is most likely a spot you happened to visit at one point or another. Known for its sprawling views and light finger on the pulse of Tennessee history, Cades Cove Campground is most likely a spot you happened to visit at one point or another. We respect our customer's privacy and feel it is disrespectful to bombard anyone with emails. Old Greene County Gaol - Greeneville Wikimedia Commons Another notable creepy encounter is the ability to see a woman's face coming out of the church walls. Thats some eerie stuff, wouldnt you say? Alert: This site requires a JavaScript enabled browser. After you've signed all reservation documents and paid the balance in full, you'll receive an email with your active stay information 8 hours prior to arrival, which includes the following: Note: If the reservation documents have not been signed electronically and/or the balance has not been paid three days prior to arrival via the credit card on file, you must check in at our 2140 Parkway office. Ultimately, it was not lightning that took Maviss life but a severe illness. Gatlinburg doesnt fall short of haunted cabins, check out our article about The Cabin on Roaring Fork here! No more Hikers who brave this rock face will expect a 4-hour steep climb near Mt. There are reports of glowing orbs floating above the graves of people who lived in the Cove before it became a tourist track. Start with our picks for the best meals to cook on vacation! Cades Cove 5,508 Reviews #26 of 104 things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Nature & Parks, Nature & Wildlife Areas Cades Cove Loop Rd., Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN 37738-4102 Save Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Audio Driving Tour 1 Book in advance from $12.99 per adult Check availability View full product details Here are nine of our favorite tall tales and true stories about The Great Smoky Mountains. You havent been right and truly scared until youve been alone in an Elkmont cabin. A woman named Lydia lived at Greenbrier Lodge in 1939. May 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. They describe this woman as a ghost apparition who appears in full form or just her face. The Primitive Baptist Church, well-known and highly regarded by photographers, was built in 1826. The Blackwell House is known for death, though. A historic settlement, Cades Cove was initially settled by John Oliver in 1812. Vacationers looking for haunted places in East Tennessee that are uniquely creepy will want to stop by this spot. A deceptive shape-shifter, Spearfinger operates in the mountains between North Carolina and Tennessee, seeking out children. It's a beautiful gem of a place, tucked up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - but folks have reported some strange things happening out there. The operating hours, policies and procedures of other businesses may change at any time without notice. Anyone know more about that one or anyplace that has a story behind it in the park? We hope you enjoy your stay with us and look forward to helping you make incredible vacation memories. Some have even reported a womans face coming out of the walls of one of the churches. August 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Some people who tour Cades Cove say they get an eerie feeling around certain buildings or have even seen apparitions floating around the historic site. Cades Cove is Named After a Cherokee Chief Cades Cove takes its name from Chief Kade, a Cherokee leader who was active in the area in the late 1700s and early 1800s. As a result, this fearful presence could take the form of a seemingly harmless squirrel or a faint shadow in the forest. Did you know its actually haunted? Distraught, she hangs herself using a rafter, still wearing her dress. One particularly notable photo seems to capture a woman's face coming out of the wall of one the old churches. Several pictures on the internet depict orbs in the graveyards, cabins, and other buildings at the historical site. It's been said that more than 70 people have been murdered on the property, and 69 of the home slaves and 2 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried on the grounds. What we heard really frightened us.Big Foot Encounter In The Great Smokey Mountains (Dire. There are several cemeteries along hiking trails, such as the Noland Creek Trail or Little Greenbrier, and Cades Cove boasts a cemetery at both the Primitive Baptist and Methodist churches. Perhaps it's just a squirrel moving through the leaves, or perhaps it's Spearfinger on her way to claim her next victim. That's not the only thing about this plantation, though - it's also rumored that something like 70 murders took placeinsideof the house. One evening, when the weather was strikingly cold, Trulie Jane asked Basil if they could add one of Mavis quilts to the bed to keep warm. Yikes! Keep in mind the email used to create your guest account must match the email provided on your reservation. Cades Cove Quite a few people have reported that the churches, graveyards, and other historic structures in Cades Cove are haunted. Lucy still looks for rides along the highway and can be seen in the woods near where her cabin burned to the ground. The establishment was Drummond Bridge is part of a railway system that transported coal from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s in Eastern Tennessee. Within thirty years by 1850, the valley had reached a population of 685 residents. One of our favorite tall tales from the valley was transcribed in The Granny Curse and Other Ghosts and Legends from East Tennessee, a 1999 book by Janet Barnett and Randy Russell. Cades Cove has been a victim of gruesome murders and tragedies throughout history. After submitting your request, one of our reservationists must complete the cancellpingation process before your reservation is canceled. Haunted is a haunted house located near Lamar Alexander Parkway. all information. The specter locked eyes with Trulie and started screaming and cussing up a storm. Haunted Cades Cove Probably the most well-known location on this list of haunted places in the Smoky Mountains, the abandoned cabins, churches, and cemeteries make for an eerie scene as dusk approaches. Read on for our retelling of this classic yarn. The Lake Fontana area contained several settler communities and their presence can still be seen in the gravestones marking the trail. June 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. There's no telling what kinds of encounters you could have in this historic community. Love Tennessee? It was no uncommon for each family to raise 10-12 children each. Not only are strange experiences common in the Cove as a whole due to its extensive history, but freak thunderstorms have been reported here as well. informational purposes only. Our Guests Are Our TOP Priority! If you're headed to the Smoky Mountains, these are some of the most well-known stories that have been passed down for centuries. That is why it is now one of the most haunted places in Gatlinburg. These hot spots are famous for their hauntings, full of legend and horror. Others have noted strange noises, eerie sounds that echo through the cove at night. In the end, it was not lightning that took Mavis life from her, but a severe illness. Mavis Estep and her husband Basil lived in a quaint two-room cabin along the Whistling Branch stream. Even if you dont see any paranormal activity, seeing these historic buildings at dusk will definitely give you an eerie vibe. Mavis grew ill, and toward the end of her life she gave Basil permission to remarry under two specific conditions: he was never to sell any of her quilts, and absolutely never place any of those quilts on a metal bed. We are not endorsed by, authorized by, or affiliated with any mentioned attractions. It's also said that at least 70 murders took place within the house itself. Full-day Tours. While there are plenty of other spooky haunted places in the Smoky Mountains, these are some of the most spine-tingling highlights. While this may all seem like a colorful legend and sure, since this story has been passed down by word of mouth exclusively, some details have become lost. There has been a great amount of history that has occurred in the Smoky Mountains and particularly in Cades Cove. April 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. All you need to know about the most visited national park in the country. A haunted campground, you say? Long before the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Esteps were one of the families that called Cades Cove home. She walks around clenching her right hand tightly as to protect her one weak spot - her heart hidden in her right palm. While we do our best to bring you the most up-to-date information, TheSmokies.com LLC makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of any content contained within. Once a thriving resort at the beginning of the 20th century formed by wealthy hunters who founded the Appalachian Club, Elkmont now stands completely abandoned. We're not sure why campers have found themselves dogged by eerie situations - but there always seems to be a ghost where history runs deep. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Oddly enough, there were no thunderstorms that night in the Cove, just a single bolt of lightning that happened to land right on Basil. As the population grew, many other buildings were erected in need of things like a schoolhouse and churches. We cant say for sure (thats a question for paranormal investigators), but we do know that there are a few Cades Cove ghost stories that have been told for decades around these parts. When you walk around after most of the guests leave in the evening, you may feel an eerie feeling around the historic structures. He shared his horse with her and ended up falling in love with Lucy. Not only would a fall from the steep cliffs of one of the most dangerous haunted places in the Smokies maim you, but, since authorized trail books don't even list the trail. You now know the spookiest places in the isolated valley! Its a relic of a long-ago time when the world was wild and the 20s were roaring. Look through our Smoky Mountain cabins and book one today for your next ghost hunt! While no one is quite sure which cabin belonged to the Esteps, one may be able to check the remaining homes near the stream and check for burn marks on the cabin floor! I talked to the Manager, and I told him what I saw, and he explained that a little girl fell from the balcony years ago, and from time to time people would see her playing on the balcony. Before the formation of the park, dozens of workers were maimed or killed in horrific logging accidents and train wrecks in this rugged part of the mountains. The cabins that were built long ago look exactly the same (with a bit of wear and tear, of course, due to the elements and the factor of time passing) and the cemeteries that were dug centuries ago have not been moved or relocated. We treat all information that customers share with us as private and confidential. Ignoring the promise he made to his first wife, Basil allowed Trulie to bring a quilt onto the metal bed. The 11 cemeteries include Boring Family Cemetery, Cable Family Cemetery, Cades Cove Methodist Church Cemetery, Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, Davis Cemetery, Graveyard Hill Cemetery, Lawson Cemetery, LeQuire Family Cemetery, Noah Burchfield Cemetery, and Post Cemetery. In these quiet places that were once filled with life, it's not uncommon to get an eerie feeling while hiking in the mountains. Inside the 800 square-mile national park, the landscape is littered with abandoned homes and gravesites from former residents of the Smokies. Liberty Land is said to be haunted by an old carousel worker, a man who leapt to the rescue when a young child lost their balloon - he forgot one very important step, however: turning off the whirring carousel. He found it odd that Lucy was barefoot on a cold winter's night (apparently, abnormal warmth one upside to dying in a fire), but enraptured by her beauty, he fell in love with her. When the smoke of the light cleared, she found her husband Basil lying on the floor burnt to an absolute crisp where the metal bed had stood. View List: Displays a full list of all your Favorites with some details. Think; bright and sunny day turned dark grey with downpours within a matter of minutes. We know it was a different time, but goodness! A.M.S. April 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. If youre one of those people who enjoy the creepy and scary things of the world, then you definitely need to come to the Smoky Mountains! Basil acquiesced to these requests and Mavis passed shortly thereafter. Related:Mansions, Hotels, And Lighthouses: Canada's Most Haunted Destinations Have Us Rethinking These Trips. Creating a guest account is as simple as submitting your email and creating a password. These structures are frozen in time and represent when the valley was a heavily populated and lively place. Over the years, dozens of hikers have gone into backcountry or off-trail areas of in the national park never to be seen again. The house itself has seen 70 murders and deaths, giving it the most deaths of any of the haunted places in East, TN on this list. Her enemy, Stone Man, also ate livers. The greusome tale was probably told to Cherokee children in order to scare them into behaving, but we still wouldn't recommend going and looking for her in the mountains. The Blackwell House is known for death, though. Check out the many activities to do in the fall in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Townsend, Wears Valley, and Sevierville. While this is enough to understand why the Greenbrier Restaurant is haunted, whats even creepier is days after she died, Lydias fiance was found mangled by what locals assumed was a mountain lion. Few can deny the eerie feeling of Cades Cove at dusk. Additionally, Elkmont was once an active logging camp in the early 20th century. We all know about the hauntings at the Ryman and Carnton Plantation, weve heard the stories about Andrew Jackson and Bell Witch Cave. Legend has it that Spearfinger was eventually destroyed when a Chickadee tipped the Cherokee warriors off on her weakness. Take some time to explore abandoned communities inside the national park like Elkmont, Sugarlands, Tremont, and Cades Cove, and you may even run into some mysterious spectral presence from days long past. There are many ghost stories about Cades Cove to learn about! Now, perhaps to make up for not locating his beloved daughter, a light is said to guide lost hikers to safety on the trail. She would offer to brush their hair until they fell asleep, then she would stab them with her finger through the back of the neck and withdraw the liver, which she would eat. After Basils death, Trulie Jane didnt want anything to do with Maviss quilts, so she gave them to one of the Estep daughters, who in turn sold them to a collector. Monks started to notice that an apparently large . As Halloween approaches, our thoughts tend to shift to candy, costumes and pumpkin spice. To this day, some visitors to the area even report an uneasy feeling as they walk past historic homes in Elkmont or the lingering feeling they are being watched. Please Note: Cabins USA LLC's, hereinafter referred to as Cabins USA, area information, There are quite a few places in the Smokies where paranormal activity has been reported. A man once spotted her walking along the road barefoot and offered her a ride on his horse. For your next cabin vacation in the Smokies, be sure to explore some of these spooky places in the mountains! Many people have attempted to walk through these woods at night only to be met with things they can't explain, strange noises, and eerie sights. Our favorite story is The Cussing Cover. The land was fertile and provided the settlers with everything they needed to flourish. Mavis quilts were eventually sold to one of the Estep daughters and ended up in the hands of a collector. Legend has that Lucy died in a cabin fire around 1909. By glancing at a trail map of the Smokies, you may notice that there are several places with names that conjure up imagery of the devil and hell. Before finding a home with TheTravel, her focus was indie publications and she has been published with Bolde, The Arts Fuse, The Silver Tongue, LI Pulse, Tattooed Heroine Magazine, and more. A murder victim, perhaps? Here are the spookiest places in the isolated valley: The Primitive Baptist Church has a rich history in the area! Many have described the animal as a mountain lion like creature with 6 legs instead of 4; others say she's some kind of amphibious creature. When the sun begins to fall at dusk behind the mountains, the old cabins, churches and graveyards begin to take a far eerier countenance than they do in the daylight. Repeat the above steps to find your ultimate vacation accommodations. It's also a haunt of Spearfinger (who we'll get to later). Now, the houses stand as an eerie reminder that the Smoky Mountains wasn't always home to a national park and was once, in fact, home to many people. The Primitive Baptist Church in Cades Cove. If you have a future reservation and haven't completed the Express Check-In, please send your confirmation number and email used for the reservation to [email protected] to request an invitation to complete the process. Compare Favorites: Click in the check boxes to the left of the property name, in your Favorites, you wish to compare. Is the Primitive Baptist Church part of a haunted Cades Cove? One of the most talked-about places in regard to uneasy feelings is the Baptist Church, which was an early installation by those who settled in the region. Probably the most well-known location on this list of haunted places in the Smoky Mountains, the abandoned cabins, churches, and cemeteries make for an eerie scene as dusk approaches. Heres something lighter for you: undeniable reasons why Tennessee is most definitely HOME. Before European settlers came to the valley, the area itself was heavily traveled by the Cherokee people and was worked as a place to hunt the abundance of deer, elk, bison, and bears. That first trip is what ignited a lifelong passion, and it's one that continues to be fueled through pen and paper Or, in this case, a keyboard and a computer screen. The Blackwell House may as well be the Amityville Horror manor of the south - it's been said that a family can't live in the house for more than a month. Many have taken photos of scary sights as the sun is setting (look around for a woman's face on the side of the Primitive Baptist Church). The Elkmont Ghost Town is a particular point of interest for those interested in the spookier side of the park's history since it was officially abandoned after the 1930s, which is quite a few decades later than most of the park's settlements. Optional Search Items: (Amenties, Cities, etc) Below are several boxes in which you can either select from a drop down list or click Now, all that's left are empty homes and eerie ruins that are slowly returning to nature. This lovely lunch spot in Gatlinburg refers to itself as "a food and spirit outpost" for a reason. The reason for its abandonment was due to the NPS purchasing the land on which the town stood for use as a national park, thus no more residents were permitted to move to the town. Let us know in the comments! She was made of stone so no weapon forged by man could stop her. But if you follow the sounds all you will find is a dried up pit of mud with no animals or blue waters to be found in sight. Mavis, her husband Basil, and their children lived in a cozy two-room cabin along the Whistling Branch stream. Just a few hours later, a brilliant flash of light burst into the Estep home and knocked Trulie Jane right out of bed. Therefore, there's plenty to see and explore in this area for history buffs but those who walk around these grounds late in the day might also be in for quite a spooky surprise. The 28 Cherokee who died at the battle rest in a mass grave on the Wheatlands Plantation property. February 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. These gruesome incidents involved exploding boilers and derailed trains with tons of falling logs, so some poor souls must have met ghastly ends. Next I looked down on the rocks below ,I saw the little girl standing on the rocks, pointing up to the balcony where I first saw her playing. According to the story, this young woman died in the early 1900s when her family's cabin burned down. It's this hopeless energy that many people claim one can feel as they're making their way to and down the road that, indeed, leads to absolutely nowhere, in particular. When she accepted that she did not have much time left, she gave Basil her blessing to remarry but made him promise her two things: one, he could never sell any of her quilts, and two, he was to never under any circumstances place her quilts on a metal bed. This remains a mystery! Furthermore, specific questions regarding any Read Also: Elkmont ghost town: Why was it abandoned, what does it look like today? There's a graveyard on the property. Little did residents know that their small, happy town would turn into haunted Cades Cove. Haunted Cades Cove: The Spookiest Places in the Isolated Valley September 28, 2022 Listen To This Blog- Click Play The fall season brings about sweater weather and is also known as the spooky season! When finished, an email will be sent to confirm your email address. Cades Cove: Excellent views - See 5,510 traveler reviews, 6,306 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. One cold night, Trulie Jane awoke to find an extra blanket. click on the Favorites tab to view a list of your selected Favorites. If you encounter a beautiful young woman looking for a ride on the Roaring Fork Trail, you may have just met one of Gatlinburg's most famous ghosts. Now it is a symbol of haunted Cades Cove, living on in legend. If you go on a hike in a quiet part of the park, it's easy to become spooked by a sudden sound by some unseen animal. guests staying in Gatlinburg cabin rentals, How to Plan a Weekend Getaway for Couples in Pigeon Forge, Best Meals to Cook on Vacation in the Smoky Mountains, Additional information regarding your stay. August 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. One of Mavis's favorite pieces of patchwork was a quilt she made out of one of Basil's old flannel shirts. Mavis called her masterpiece, the Cussing Cover because Basil had been wearing the red shirt during the couples first marital spat, in which Basil had used some colorful language. Read on for our retelling of this classic yarn. Folks that have stayed the night at Cades Cove have repeatedly reported figures in the woods, people that they in no way packed with them and brought to the park. Trulie Jane and Basil bought a new metal bed to sleep in. Its a 3-story haunted house located in downtown Gatlinburg and has live actors. At my house, that means my little girl Ainsley woke up in the night and wants something to drink. Anyway, the man went back to talk to Lucys parents and ask for her hand only to be told shed perished in a fire the year before. One of the scarier legends is the Cherokee story of U'tlun'ta, or Spearfinger: a female creature with one long, sharp finger on her right hand and stone-like skin. Cades Cove is a very old part of the Smoky Mountains and it's not surprising that there are so many stories to come out of this area. It's no wonder that several visitors hold this site to be a haunt for Smoky Mountain ghosts. After Mavis died Basil married a girl named Trulie Jane. The antebellum plantation in Sevier County known as Wheatlands is on the National Register Of Historic Places and is the location of the famous Battle of Boyd's Creek. Many of the ghost stories associated with Elkmont focus on the tragic losses of life that occurred around the logging and rail operations. The legend says the lake is hidden from human eyes because it is a sacred place for the creatures of the Great Smoky Mountains. Spearfinger appears throughout Cherokee stories and is said to make her home in the highest ridges of the Smokies. The jail was moved stone by stone to its location at 115 Academy Street in Greenville, Tennessee. The interesting part about this haunted campground is that it happens to be one of the most popular campsites in Tennessee. But a couple of facts remain: when visitors step foot into the Cove, unknowing of the stories that were born here, they report strange feelings and voices. You don't have to wait until the search completes to select/deselect items for your perfect search. In the autumn, the Cherokee tribe would burn brush fires, which Spearfinger would use to locate their village. The Smoky Mountains has several spooky cemeteries that vacationers eager for a scare can add to their list of haunted places in the Smokies to visit. They pierced her heart, ending her. For future stays with a balance open, you can make credit card payments from $50 up to the total cost of the reservation. Popular Cabins: PARKSIDE PALACE 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms COZY OAKS CABIN For over one hundred years before the park was designated, plenty of families worked and lived in the Cades Cove valley. It's been said that more than 70 people have been murdered on the property, and 69 of the home slaves and 2 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried on the grounds. When the smoke cleared, she found Basil, lying on the floor, burnt to a crisp, where the metal bed had once stood.
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