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Location DB >
United States >
Tennessee >
Great Smoky Mountains National Park >
Elkmont
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Publically Viewable |
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This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
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Located in the center of the beautiful and scenic Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Elkmont is an unexpected group of abandoned houses and buildings including the colapsed Wonderland Hotel, the expanisve and well perserved Appalachian Clubhouse and stables as well as dozens of unique vacation homes in various states of decay. While all of the buildings were orignially constructed prior to the Park's conception in the 1930s, they were privately maintained and modernized until 1992. Following almost fifteen years of negect, several buildings are beyond repair yet many remain remarkably well preserved.
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Type: Vacation Community
Status: Abandoned - but some of the houses are being worked on.
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: worth the trip
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Address
Elkmont Campground
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
United States
Owner: United States National Park Service
See a map of this location
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Essentially Elkmont consists of 74 buildings, what remains of the Appalachian Club vacation community and Wonderland Hotel. The buildings themselves are quite varied in design and size, displaying innovative and unique architectural styles. While each building has a posted "No Trespassing" sign, almost every building can be entered from the rear if not the front door.
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Elkmont consists of 74 abandoned buildings located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
"These vacant buildings were once part of the "Appalachian Club" vacation community. This community grew up adjacent to the former logging town of Elkmont when the Little River Lumber Company sold land to individuals to create a private social club. What began as a "gentlemen's hunting club" soon developed as a place for affluent Knoxville families to escape oppressive urban summers. The present-day campground exists where the original town was located.
When the state of Tennessee and North Carolina were acquiring property for the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the 1920s and 30s, most farms and homes of the mountain people were purchased out-right and residents were required to vacate upon transfer of property. Club town residents were able to negotiate lesser payments in exchange for life-time leases on these properties. Leases for all but two expired in 1992 with the last two ending in 2001.
The park's 1982 General Management Plan calls for all structures to be removed upon expiration of leases and the area to be returned to a natural state. In 1994, Elkmont was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district, affording the district special status. The park is currently conducting an Environmental Impact Statement to determine the future management of this district."
- National Park Service (www.elkmont-gmpa-ea.com)
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While consiting of a National Historic District, Elkmont is nevertheless slated for destruction. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is designated as a biological - ecological park which does not include any mandate for cultural preservation and presentaion. Despite the future of ultimate destruction, the cash-strapped National Park Service has no resources to begin immediate destruction let alone preservation. Although the NPS favors a plan to save 18 of the 74 buildings and create an interpretive exibit and employee housing, the cheapest thing to do is simply allow the buildings to fall appart. A final decision will be reached in early 2007.
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The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.
This location has not yet been rated by a moderator.
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This location's validation is current. It was last validated by
SaraBellum on 1/26/2009 1:46 AM.
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on Jan 26 09 at 1:46, SaraBellum validated this location
on Jan 25 09 at 22:24, camarochic007 updated gallery Just for fun
on Jan 25 09 at 22:23, camarochic007 changed the following: Status
on Jan 25 09 at 22:22, camarochic007 updated gallery Just for fun
on Jan 25 09 at 22:22, camarochic007 updated gallery Just for fun
on Jan 25 09 at 22:21, camarochic007 updated gallery picture 0125091132.jpg
on Jan 25 09 at 22:21, camarochic007 updated gallery picture 0125091132.jpg
on Jan 25 09 at 22:21, camarochic007 updated gallery picture 0125091132.jpg
on Jan 25 09 at 22:21, camarochic007 updated gallery picture 0125091132.jpg
on Jan 25 09 at 22:19, camarochic007 updated gallery picture 0125091151a.jpg
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