Cades Cove
Cades Cove is one of the most visited places in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, if not the most. It’s never been a favorite place of mine, in fact I’ve only visited the area one time.
Cades Cove is stunningly beautiful. The views will literally take your breath away. There’s old buildings and other interesting things to see and lots of folks who want to see them. The area is often crowded to the point of cars sitting still in a long line trying to catch a glimpse of the landscape, buildings, and wildlife.
I prefer the solitude of the backwoods, the high ridges, and the deep dark hollers.
The history of Cades Cove is fascinating. I’ve shared a few stories over the years from the people who once called the area home and several books have been written about the subject.
Recently I came across a wonderful interview shared by Donnie Laws. The interview is with John McCaulley who lived in Cades Cove from the time he was born in 1880 till 1937 when most people had been removed to make way for the park.
You can jump over and hear the interview here. He has a wonderful story and his memories of the way things were in Cades Cove when he was a boy are a joy to hear. I especially enjoyed the language he used and the way he spoke. It is also especially heartwarming to hear him describe the way the community helped one another when a need arose.
Last night’s video: A Traditional Appalachian Summer Time Supper & How To Make Creamed Spinach.
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John McCaulley was my great grandfather. He passed away a few years before I was born. Our family still tells stories of the cove and what it was like living there. Although the stories we hear now are from the descendants of John.
Thanks, Tipper! Great article! Donnie Laws’ 7/19/2022 video about John McCaulley (1880 – 1961) was refreshing. I was inspired to publish “CADES COVE (published 7-28-2022; article #342)” today, on my website!
That interview with Mr. McCauley was very interesting for me. Mr. McCauley is reminiscent of the character of people from that time and location. Hard working, committed, honest people. The type of people that would be good neighbors.
Just watched a video about John McCauley and Cades Cove I guess that came up in my YouTube because I watch you and the girls daily. It brought back such great memories. When I was about five my family went to Panama City Florida like we always did for our summer vacation. It was so hot and we were so miserable Mom and Dad decided we’d leave, go home pack and try going to the mountains for a change. We ended up at the Tally Ho Inn in Townsend Tennessee. I remember so much from crossing over the creek on hanging bridges that back then were still used, to having all our daytime meals from a picnic basket in the trunk in places carved out by the streams in the Smokies. For a little girl driving through the streams ford’s that were at different crossing in Cades Cove just made the ride around the circle road more exciting. The park wasn’t as crowded in the early 60s. The only time you might see a group of cars is if a bear was on the side of the road. That summer was the end just about except for a couple of times that we went back to Florida. The mountains became our vacation place. We eventually moved from going to Townsend to Gatlinburg. All those summer of me, my two brothers and parents roaming through the Smokies are the best memories of my life. I can still fell the chill of the stream water numbing my feet at 68 years old. Thank you Tipper for always bringing back so many good memories. ☺️
If the government really wants to preserve Cades Cove and other historic sites they should disallow modes of transportation later than the time they want frozen in place. People should only be allowed on foot, horseback or in period vehicles. People should travel there the way people did in 1926 when the Park was established.
I’m like you, I’d rather be back in the woods anywhere away from all the hustle and bustle that crowds of people create.
My squash was good! Very good! I cut it up into 29- 1/4″ slices. I fried and ate 7 slices because that was all that would fit in the pan. I froze the other 22 slices for later. If 7 slices fill the pan then I will have 3 more meals with 1 slice left over.
I forgot to say the squash weighed 1 lb – 8.5 ozs. That’s with the stem and blossom end cut off.
I love to go to Cades Cove but it’s got so now there’s so much traffic that you can’t even enjoy the scenery. And some people are so rude. I would rather go somewhere that is totally off the beaten Trail. I love the woods
We really enjoy riding through Cades Cove and do so every time we get a chance to visit the Smokies! My mind is always thinking about how life must have been for them living there back in the day. I listen to that interview on Mr. Donnie’s channel last week and Man i thoroughly enjoyed it. I to love hearing Mr. McCaulley talk about the life they lived there in days gone by and how they would all pitch in and help each other no matter the task! He also kelp saying over and over when asked about their food that they always had plenty to eat, and that’s because they worked hard worked together and trusted GOD with the outcome!!
I agree with others on here to that, it’s a shame that the government forced them all out of this place they called home. Same way they done the Native Americans! Thanks for sharing this Ms. Tipper, probably gonna go now and listen to the interview of Mr. John McCaulley again.
What a great interview. Loved the video. I will say it is truly sad that after buying the land the government came in and took it from them. As much as we all enjoy the beauty of the park today, I can’t help but wonder if the families that once lived there would think it was worth losing their homes for. I also wonder if people enjoying these parks now even realize the sacrifice families that lived on these mountains made just so they could enjoy it now. I loved how in the video John repeatedly said “We lived like kings”. We think of them as poor, but little do we know, they truly were rich like kings! Faith, family, friends working together, enjoying each other’s company, serving each other, living life fully together as one in a beautiful community.
I have been there twice, but much like you I prefer the deep dark hollers and traveling the high ridges. I love the history of the areas where once our forefathers lived, and I find it especially sad when they are pushed out of their land. I can’t get enough of the history! There is a beautiful area in Monroe County WV which reminds me of the lay of the land at Cade’s Cove. I absolutely love the way Donnie Laws tell his stories, and I follow him on anything r/t history.
It is indeed sad to see drastic changes in areas we have become accustomed to. Many of my ancestors were shoddily moved from cemeteries to make way for the Bluestone Dam. Unfortunately, a small community of Lilly was relocated and went underwater. I never dreamed my own ancestors were part of that until I started digging into genealogy and the history of the area. My Dad’s old farm place was sold by the family to a mountain top removal coal company. It is now unrecognizable. All the siblings are gone, so all that remains are my own childhood memories. There was the big farmhouse with an upper and lower porch. I still remember the taste of those early apples, the sounds of the old well pump. The yearly “Dinners on the Ground” were the best. Yep, they literally spread sheets right on the ground. Everything must change, and even the changes become history.
I suppose my beautiful Pinnacle Creek will last as long as the earth remains, because it has become a part of the Hatfield and Mccoy Trail system. Cousins grumble, but I am grateful. The old well site and the rocks that made up my grandfather’s root cellar will remain. The old chimney site of Joe’s cabin dating back to the 1800’s will remain. Since it has been turned into a lucrative ATV trail, there will be no heavy equipment in there destroying familiar landmarks. Cade’s Cove will remain as it once was, and even with past sacrifices from families, I think maybe that is a good thing.,
I have been to Cades Cove one time back in the mid 80’s during the month of October. Like everyone else, I thought it was beautiful. I don’t remember seeing any wildlife, I can see plenty of deer and turkey at home and a few bears are now beginning to be seen. I especially enjoyed the small white churches, there is just something I love about a small church like that. Back then there was a good many visitors but I did not have any problems with the traffic flow.
I had bought a new Ford Crown Victoria the day before we went and I drove out of the park on a dirt road that would take me out to Hwy 28. My precious wife had a fit because I had to ford the creek. She could not believe I was going to drive the car through the water. The road had a cement ramp there instead of a bridge. She talked about me doing that until her death.
Hi Tipper,
I enjoyed your video about cooking supper. I ordered the spinach in the video and it is thriving in the summer heat. I did not put them on wire or stakes- my mistake. I will certainly plant them again next year and I will try the greens the way you fixed them. The supper looked wonderful. I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing.
Cades Cove is a very beautiful place and away makes me feel so at home there. I visited a couple of weeks ago to take a couple of friends who have never been there and was pleasantly surprise that it wasn’t packed with road jams. They got to see Bear, Deer, Turkey and beautiful views. We gotten there about 3:30ish on a Friday so that may have had something to do with the traffic. My husband and I have a cabin in Sevier County and we mostly avoid the GSMNP during the summer months. We enjoy hiking the trails that the visitors of the park don’t normally use.
For my part, I wish the Cove had an interconnecting set of loop trails that mostly avoided sight and sound of the loop road. My guess is the NPS doesn’t want more people bothering the wildlife or just more people period. They would really like to find a workable solution that would stop all the private vehicle traffic but attempts to run buses or anything similar get stymied by opposition.
At one time there was a bus service to Newfound Gap from the TN side. It was operating when Grandma Gatewood first thru-hiked the fledgling Appalachian Trail along about 1950 I think it was. She rode it down to Sevierville to get supplies.
Those “limestone window” geology locations in the Appalachian Mountains are really scenic places. Another one, somewhat like Cades Cove is Burkes Garden, VA. It is surrounded by national forest on the ridges but the valley bottom is private and has its own small community. There is a loop road in it also. It is not so easy to get into as each of the two roads are steep and winding, worse than the NC road into Cattaloochee..
I agree on the beautiful, I grew up in Swain County in the community of Ela, I have always felt the Tennessee side got more publicity and money. The NC side has just as many beautiful side, although not as crowded. Have only been to Catalooche once but it is as beautiful and less commercial. It and Smokemont are more like things used to be. Thank you for what you do. I am also a big fan of Jim Casada and went to school with him one year behind Jim. I was on the basketball team with Jim and worked at Cherokee furniture with his dad.
Was your mother’s name Cora by any chance? Was she a teacher and your father a plumber? Did she teach at Almond School?
My first grade teacher at Almond School was Cora Collins. I’ve been trying for years to find out who she was. Maybe today is my lucky day!
I’ve visited Cafes Cove once and it is a beautiful place.
I strongly disagree with the government forcibly taking the land. It’s not the same as the TVA which supplies necessary power to people.
I agree with you, Cades Cove is an incredibly beautiful place. The crowds and long line of vehicles seriously detract from the experience of visiting the area though. I understand why so many people go there, but unspoiled, isolated places interest me far more. Donnie Laws does some very good videos about Appalachia and it’s people.
Cades Cove is one of the most memorable places I have been. It is so easy to envision the lives they must have led. Last time I was there they were still working one of the farms, ranches? Lots of horses. So beautiful
There was such stress over the people who were forced to leave their homes in that Cades Cove area. I don’t think the people of that area have or ever will forgive it. Tipper, If I am not mistaken Matt’s Grandmother Lura was forced to move from that area and that is how she came to be in nearby Haywood County.
I don’t think it was the formation of the park or the building of Fontana Dam and reservoir that landed Lura Ammons in Haywood County. She and Matt’s grandfather were married in Gaston County in 1924. That was 2 years before the Park was established and 9 years before the TVA was established. She and Matt’s were probably doing like thousands of other people did, going to Gaston County to work in the cotton mills, hoping for a better life but finding the life of “lint heads” no better than what they had left behind. My parents tried it too and didn’t like it.
Thanks for the reminder of the beauty of the cove. It has been years since the Girl Scout troupe that my daughters were a member of visiting Cades Cove years and years ago…they are now part of the ‘golden girls’ age group…lol.