Inside The Smokies’ Prettiest Ghost Town With A Chilling Past
Elkmont, near the campground that shares its name in the Great Smoky Mountains, is often called a ghost town. But what visitors see today—restored cabins, stone ruins, and a few preserved community buildings—reflects a century of change. Here’s how this town came to be
A Town Built On Timber And Summer Dreams
Image via Wikimedia Commons/ University of Tennessee Special Collections
The modern community at Elkmont began in the 1840s when settlers farmed, hunted, and trapped in the valley. Decades later, the Little River Lumber Company cut its way into the mountains. A railroad carried logs to Knoxville, but it also brought in wealthy families who saw the valley as a retreat.
In 1910, the Appalachian Club was established, and soon afterward, in 1912, the Wonderland Hotel opened its doors. A line of vacation cottages known as Daisy Town followed.
Promises That Slipped Away
When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934, the families were told they could stay only under new terms. They were forced to sell their cabins at reduced value but were allowed to remain under lifetime leases. Those leases were extended twice, but by 1992, the last families were required to leave. Homes that had been filled with people for decades sat empty.
A Battle To Save What Was Left
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Steven C. Price
The National Park Service planned to erase Elkmont. Cabins would either be demolished or left to collapse. Families and preservationists pushed back, unwilling to watch their history vanish. In 1994, part of the district was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The listing did not save everything.
Most buildings were cleared away in 2018. Only 19 remain, chosen for their historical weight and condition. Among them is the Levi Trentham Cabin, built around 1830, as well as the Appalachian Clubhouse and Spence Cabin.
What Visitors Find Today
Walking through Daisy Town today is unsettling. There are various remnants along the Jakes Creek and Little River trails, where stone foundations and old chimneys mark former homes. Nearby cemeteries add to the historic record of the community.
The preserved buildings are accessible from the outside during the day. The Spence Cabin can be reserved for special events, while the Appalachian Clubhouse is available for group use by arrangement. These spaces keep part of Elkmont’s traditions alive.