I explored an abandoned resort town in the Great Smoky Mountains, where the wealthy vacationed a century ago
Elkmont Historic District was once a Tennessee ghost town. Now, 16 cabins have been preserved and restored, and are open to the public. Take a look.
A reporter visited an abandoned 100-year-old resort town nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, known as Elkmont. Upon arrival in the spring of 2023, they were astonished to discover that the historic cabins, preserved and restored by the National Park Service, were open for public viewing. The reporter took a taxi to the resort town via US-411, following signs to the Elkmont Campground and Elkmont Nature Trail.
The reporter then explored the historic district, reading about its past through historical markers provided by the National Park Service (NPS). The town had transformed from a farming community in the 1800s to a resort town for wealthy Tennesseans seeking nature during the 20th century. After the land was purchased by the NPS in 1934, the resort town diminished, and by the late 1900s, it became a ghost town.
In 1992, the NPS stopped renewing leases, leading to the deterioration of abandoned cabins. In 2009, the NPS began preserving Elkmont's historic buildings, removing trees, repairing roofs, and adding insulation. The reporter visited all 16 cabins lining the pedestrian street, finding them eerie yet intriguing, with built-in kitchen counters and cabinets hinting at a past life.
The reporter pictured the town as an ideal getaway for city dwellers, imagining a shaded summer spent relaxing on porches and enjoying natural views. On leaving Elkmont, the reporter noticed families still wandering the street, indicating that the site was no longer the ghost town it once was.
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