Gatlinburg History

Gateway to the Smokies

Surrounded on three sides by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is an ideal vacation destination for a wide variety of travelers. Throughout its history dating back to frontier days to the present day, it has continued to retain its reputation as a scenic wilderness dotted with vigorous hiking trails and cascading waterfalls- a divine, nature-centric escape for those needing to unplug. Entertainment and thrill-seekers who want to enjoy a bustling downtown full of unique attractions, one-of-a-kind shopping treasures, and a beautiful, interactive night scene will be in heaven in this Tennesee wonderland that has just grown quirkier over the centuries.

From Ancient Footpath to Modern Parkway

the winding highway that takes you through the fog-draped mountain ridge of North Carolina and Tennessee, directly through the heart of Gatlinburg, is known for its historical homesteads and abundant wildlife. It was built about the legacy of an ancient footpath known as Indian Gap Trail. It gave the Cherokee and other Native American tribes access to the wildlife and game hidden in the dense forests of what would one day become 500,000 acres of the Great Smoky Mountains National Forest.

By the 1800s, veterans of the American Revolution and the War of 1812 were awarded land grants of 50 acres each in appreciation for their service.

European fur trappers and traders had been camping in the Smokies sporadically before settlers began to populate the area they called White Oak Flats, after the abundant trees that surrounded them. The self-sustaining community of hardy mountain folk that settled on the ridge changed little in the first 100 years, carving out a life for themselves from the unforgiving terrain.

"The hewing was hard. The dangers were many. The rifle could never be far from the ax. The pioneers stood on their own feet, got their own game and fought off their own enemies. In time of incident or misfortune, they helped each other."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Like many small Smoky Mountain communities, Gatlinburg would attempt to remain neutral during the Civil War, but with battles raging all around them, the townspeople suffered deprivation and hardship, effects that would linger for decades to come. Railroad expansion and the logging industry would boost the local economy as residents supplemented their meager farming income by providing lodging for the workers from the logging companies, who saw the value of the strong, healthy trees in the region.

The threat of hundreds of acres of dense forest transforming into a barren wasteland due to logging activity alarmed conservationists.

Through heartfelt petitions from wilderness experts, outdoor enthusiasts, hiking and fishing guides, and support groups, the goverment was persuaded to establish an area in the mountains that would be federally protected from industrial devastation. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was dedicated in 1940 and the resulting tourism brought a new era of prosperity to the region.

"The magnificent forest we see today is a pale shadow of the immense original natural blanket which spread before pioneer settlers when they came to farm in ever-increasing numbers in the early days of the nineteenth century."

"Whistle Over the Mountain

Attracted by descriptions of the area's beauty, thousands of tourist streamed into the park each year, and residents of nearby cities began to build vacation homes around Gatlinburg. Popular restaurants and hotels grew to accommodate visitors, resulting in Gatlinburg's development as an all-season mountain resort getaway.