One of my new favorite places in the GSMNP is definitely the Elkmont Ghost Town. This place is simply like stepping back in time, but not so far back.
A little history about the area:
The Elkmont area was first settled in the 1840s. However, the community was originally known as “Little River” because of its location in the upper Little River Valley. In 1901, the Little River Lumber Company was formed when Colonel Wilson B. Townsend purchased 86,000 acres of land along the river. In order to transport the timber, Colonel Townsend built a railroad that connected the riverside logging site to his company’s sawmill in Tuckaleechee Cove. The logging railway contributed to turning the town into a top vacation destination! Wealthy families in Knoxville would take the train to the Smokies for weekend getaways, and the area was eventually bought so they could set up their own resort community. It was then that the town took the name of Elkmont.
You can wander in and out of 1950’s era homes and see some magnificent architecture and design elements. There are a total of 19 structures that have been restored.
Chubb Adventures 
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