http://www.gloria305travels.com/google68e958dd14763a9e.html .

 

A few months ago my son suggested that we  meet at a cabin in Tennessee for the HOLIDAYS, so my daughter in-law Cathy began searching for a cabin in the Pigeon Forge area.  This area is so popular at Christmas, that you have to book them months in advance.  We left Miami in two cars and stayed one night  in Atlanta, Ga.  The next day, as we had more than enough time, we decided to go through the Smoky Mountain National Park to enjoy the scenery, but when we got to Cherokee,  the road ahead was closed due to ice and snow which fell the previous days, so we had to detour, and we lost a few hours.  We  took I-40 and then SR 411 to enter in Sevierville, and then  441 to reach Pigeon Forge. The traffic was,! HORRIBLE! in 441 and in I-40.

At last we arrived our destination, so we stopped at the market to buy food for the first night and breakfast, since it was already 6 pm and the night had fallen. We ‘ll buy the rest of the food for our stay in the cabin next morning after we have settled down.

When we reached the gate house where the cabin is, we felt relieved. My son Ford Excursion and our Mercury are both rear wheel drive, but we thought that we would make it fine to the cabin, but on our first try,  we got to the road indicated on our directions and it was closed, due to ice. (here is a  photo of the road)

We returned back to the gate house to ask for new directions, and they gave us a map highlighting  another road.  We proceed on the new road, but after a few turns we got stuck in the snow as my son in the bigger car proceeded up the mountain.   We were blessed that a snow plow nearby saw us and was able to pull us out of the snow.  We continue our journey, and with difficulty, we were able to meet our son again, but he told us that not even his truck was able to continue, and that his family had left walking toward the cabin instead.  Since we had my parents (88 and 90 years old) with us, we knew that walking was not a choice for us, since the cabin was over one mile away.  We began a 3 block backup in order to find a place where we could turn around our cars.  My mother and I were hysterical during this ordeal, but we made it back to town and got a hotel for that night.  My son decided to go back and  join his family, which have left before on foot  to the cabin.   Some time later, he called me to say that his car was also stuck in the snow, and thanks God,  a couple in a truck gave him a lift to the cabin.  This was the beginning of our holiday reunion.

The Excursion getting pull out of the snow

Our Cabin

The next day, my daughter in-law spoke with the owner regarding our situation, so he sent us the cabin caretaker with a truck and he gave us a lift to the cabin.  Meanwhile our car was left in a flat parking lot at a nearby lodge.  We were able to take all our luggages and the food we had previously purchase to the cabin, where my son and family had no real food since their car was still stuck in the snow.

In the mean time Kent, the caretaker, had also rescue their luggage and food from my son’s car. 

! HALLELUJAH!  We arrived at last!     and then  our family reunion began without any more incidents.   From there on we had a terrific time together.

MORAL: When you go to rent a cabin in winter, find out the  road conditions, and try to reach there in daylight.

Even Lucy (dog) had a good time

Cades Cove

 

Cades Cove was formerly known as “Kate’s Cove” in honor of  an Indian chief wife.  This area had so much animal life that appealed to Europeans for hunting in 1800, they built cabins in this area for that purpose.  Currently still have lots of wildlife, which has been preserved, since this area was incorporated into “The Great Smoky Mountain National Park.”

Cades Cove  retains some of the original huts, stables, barns etc built by the pioneers, because they planted corn, wheat, and also sold cattle, that why Cades Cove looks like a valley without trees, because it was the area where they planted.  These families lived there before the area was incorporated into Smoky Mountain National Park.

Cades Cove area

 

OLIVER ELIJAH CABIN

After my son regained his truck, we decided to go see a waterfall there, “Abram Fall” but when we arrived, we needed five hours to make the journey, so we decided to go and see the Elijah Oliver cabin.

Elijah Oliver was a pastor and an employee of the Primitive Baptist Church for 37 years and he was buried there, he was known as a good hunter, he hunted from 3 to 6 deers a day.

This cabin is not the original, which was destroyed, but  his son built this one for his honeymoon in 1866.   His father had bought the land in 1826.

Cades Cove people are known for their hospitality,  they will gather on Saturday and Sundays  to tell jokes, stories etc. They always have a guest room available for those passing by.  

 Cades Cove Loop

It is a road built as a closed loop that runs around Cades Cove, it has several parking lots where you can take foot trails, this is what you have to do to see the pioneer’s cabins and the waterfalls.

You could also visit the center of Pigeon Forge, who are well prepared for tourists, and it is easy to reach and enjoy a pleasant time.

Downtown Pigeon Forge

Also Downtown Pigeon Forge

My suggestion is to do it again soon, and see those things we missed this year.

Photos by: Cathy & Vily