| If you miss Cades Cove Tennessee while | | | | of Cades Cove TN, they must have had a |
| traveling in the southeastern part of the United | | | | wonderful appreciation for the breathtaking |
| States, you've missed one of the most | | | | beauty of the land they called home for many |
| picturesque locations in North America. | | | | years. Despite the unfortunate outcome of the |
| Cades Cove is a 6,800 acre scenic paradise | | | | Cades Cove community, the land is now |
| located in the Great Smoky Mountains National | | | | preserved for all to enjoy. |
| Park near Townsend and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. | | | | There are many recreational activities to |
| With nearly two million visitors a year, Cades | | | | participate in while visiting Cades Cove, but by far |
| Cove TN is one of the most visited areas of any | | | | the most popular is to drive the 11 mile loop |
| National Park located in the United States. | | | | around the cove. Many choose to ride a bicycle |
| Cades Cove Tennessee belonged to the | | | | around the loop to get a more intimate view of |
| Cherokee Nation prior to 1818 and was settled by | | | | the scenery and some even walk. |
| John and Lucretia Oliver in the fall of 1818. The | | | | You can spend anywhere from a couple of hours |
| Cherokee were not a threat to the small | | | | to the entire day enjoying the Cades Cove loop. |
| numbers of whites in the cove for a few short | | | | If spotting wildlife is your aim, you need to arrive |
| years until a larger population suddenly turned | | | | early in the morning or stay till dusk. |
| them hostile. It is sadly ironic that the Cherokee, | | | | Besides the loop road, Cades Cove TN also offers |
| who befriended and helped the Olivers survive | | | | camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, biking, hayrides, |
| their first few years in the cove, were eventually | | | | guided programs and shopping. The shopping is |
| chased out principally by John Oliver himself. | | | | not the crass commercialization you find in |
| Cades Cove fell on hard times during the Civil War | | | | Gatlinburg. Mostly you will find freshly milled grains, |
| as most of the population supported the Union | | | | historical items, books and photography relating |
| and were harassed by Confederates from North | | | | specifically to Cades Cove or the surrounding |
| Carolina. | | | | area. |
| The Cove returned to it's rural lifestyle after the | | | | Camping in Cades Cove is truly an enjoyable |
| Civil War as industry began to spring up in the | | | | experience. It is the most popular campground in |
| surrounding the areas. This led to a slow migration | | | | the National Park. If you would like to camp in |
| from the Cove through the early 1920's when the | | | | Cades Cove you can make reservations via the |
| Great Smoky Mountain National Park was | | | | National Park Reservation Center. You can only |
| established in 1926. | | | | make reservations up to 3 weeks in advance |
| The last resident, Kermit Caughron, lived in the | | | | online or 5 months in advance by calling |
| Cove until he passed away in 1999. Despite | | | | 1-800-365-2267. |
| Kermit's home being of important historic | | | | The rich history and the stark beauty make |
| significance, the National Park Service decide to | | | | Cades Cove Tennessee a must see on your next |
| tear it down in 2001 because it did not fit in with | | | | trip through the Southeastern United States...don't |
| the historic setting of the Cove. | | | | miss it! |
| Even though life was harsh for the early settlers | | | | |
