Deep in the Great Smoky Mountains lies one of the park’s most fascinating secrets: Elkmont.
Once a lively summer resort for Knoxville’s elite, today it’s a ghost town filled with decaying cottages, restored cabins, and echoes of a forgotten golden age.
This is the story of how a rugged logging town became the birthplace of the national park—and why you should visit it today.
A Logging Town Turned Luxury Retreat
Elkmont began in the early 1900s as a base for the Little River Lumber Company. At its peak, over 1,500 people lived there, making it one of the biggest towns in Sevier County.
By 1910, tourists from Knoxville began riding the logging train up to Elkmont. Soon, Knoxville’s elite formed the private Appalachian Club and started building vacation cottages.
Just up the hill, the Wonderland Hotel opened in 1912, attracting even more wealthy families. By the 1920s, Elkmont was the premier summer escape in the Smokies.
Guests swam in the river, attended formal dances, and spent entire summers in the cool mountain air.
By I, Brian Stansberry, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2563381
Where the Park Was Born
Elkmont wasn’t just a playground—it helped spark the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In 1920, club members who vacationed here began pushing for federal protection of the mountains.
Colonel David Chapman, a prominent figure in the movement, used Elkmont to host politicians and win support for the park.
Without Elkmont’s influence, the Smokies may never have become a national park.
The Controversy: Preserve or Demolish?
When the park was created in the 1930s, Elkmont’s owners negotiated rare lifetime leases. Most mountain residents had to leave—but not them.
Those leases were extended until 1992. After that, the National Park Service planned to remove every building.
But public outcry led to a historic designation—and a long debate. In 2009, a compromise was reached:
19 buildings would be preserved. The rest removed.
Today, you can walk among restored cabins, crumbling ruins, and see where the iconic Wonderland Hotel once stood.
Visiting Elkmont Today
Elkmont is located just seven miles from Gatlinburg.
Park near the campground and follow signs to “Daisy Town.” There, you’ll find a row of historic cottages, the restored Appalachian Clubhouse, and interpretive signs sharing each cabin’s story.
Wander a bit farther and you’ll see Spence Cabin, trails to stone ruins, and even the chimney of the old Wonderland Hotel.
It’s peaceful. It’s eerie. And it’s unlike anything else in the Smokies.
Why Elkmont Is Worth the Trip
It’s rare to find a place in the Smokies where both human and natural history are so deeply intertwined.
Elkmont feels frozen in time—part preserved village, part reclaimed forest.
Whether you’re into history, photography, or just love a good mystery, this hidden ghost town will leave an impression.
Elkmont is also the site of another famous Smoky Mountain event, the annual synchronous firefly (or lightning bug depending on where you’re from) lottery.
It’s not just a place to visit. It’s a story to step into.