Abandoned town once beloved by wealthy tourists with decaying homes | Travel News | Travel

Tucked in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains, this once thriving town was a popular vacation destination for wealthy tourists and is now a deserted and dilapidated place.

Elkmont, Tennessee, is known for its many hiking trails, the breathtaking 80-foot Laurel Falls, and the annual firefly event that lights up the Smoky Mountains.

However, it is most known as the “Abandoned City of the Smokies.”

Originally known as “Little River,” the area encompassed 86,000 acres of land and was purchased in 1901 by Colonel Wilson B. Townsend, who founded the Little River Lumber company.

The construction of a railroad for his logging operations brought an influx of visitors and made the area a popular vacation destination for wealthy travelers.

Over time, this weekend getaway grew into a permanent residence for Knoxville residents, and the city became known as Elkmont.

Deep in the mountains of Tennessee, eerie photos show rotting and dilapidated cabins that have been untouched for more than 40 years.

When Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established in 1934, homeowners had to choose between selling their homes and moving immediately, or selling their properties at a reduced rate to the National Park Service in exchange for a lifetime lease.

Some homeowners continued to use their homes and negotiate lease extensions into the late 1980s. By 1992, however, most leases had expired, forcing residents to pack up.

This left 70 historic buildings abandoned, and in a place that once housed 1,500 residents, this eerie place was nicknamed Elkmont Ghost Town. With the decision that no one would return to Elkmont, another question arose as to what would happen to the buildings and the town when everyone left.

While preservationists wanted to preserve Elkmont for its 100-year history, environmentalists advocated for the demolition of these cabins so the area could return to its natural habitat.

The National Park Service also considered demolition, but it was decided that 19 of the 74 structures would be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, which would prevent their destruction and ensure their restoration. The remaining buildings were demolished.

Today, visitors can explore this abandoned town in the Smoky Mountains on their own and see the structures that have slowly been reclaimed by nature.

As the images show, you will find broken wooden floors, peeling paint, collapsed roofs and empty huts, all reminiscent of the kind of homes you would see in a horror movie. You can also take a tour of the restored structures during your visit.

Despite this, countless hikers and visitors put this hidden gem on their Tennessee bucket list of things to see, and find Elkmont to be a surprisingly peaceful location. Perhaps you’d like to step into history and experience this ghost town for yourself.