Abandoned Appalachia Series – Elkmont Ghost Town
Deep within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you will find remnants of a town once thriving in the Appalachian Region. Today, it is considered the “Elkmont Ghost Town” by most visitors, but it is historically known for the significance the community had on the area. Before it slipped into the past, it went from early settlement to a logging boom, then to a mountain resort before the creation of the national park, which slowly led to the decline of this forgotten town.
The First Settlers of “Little River”
Appalachian farming families were the first to settle in this area in the 1840s. They lived in what was then called the “Little River” community, named specifically because it developed along the banks of the river. Many farmers settled beside the river, as the area had richer soil than the surrounding mountains, helping them grow crops.
As years went on, settlers farmed small plots and raised livestock. They even began logging timber on a small scale, which would later develop into a much larger industry. Until then, however, it remained a small, isolated, but self-sufficient community.
Logging Changes Everything
Born in 1865 in Pennsylvania, Wilson B. Townsend later moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, before finding his way to Little River. Townsend is known as a lumber entrepreneur who became involved in the lumber business after arriving in Tennessee. He quickly recognized the economic value of the old-growth forests in the Smoky Mountains, and in 1901 purchased 86,000 acres of timberland along the Little River. His decision to log the mountains would change the Little River community forever, and his Little River Lumber Company would become one of the largest logging operations in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Before logging, Little River was known primarily as a farming community that relied heavily on crops. The lumber industry transformed this small settlement into a growing town with more jobs and an increasing population. There were many valuable trees that could be harvested, such as chestnut, yellow poplar, oak, and more. As time went on, logging camps and support buildings began appearing around the valley.
One issue that had to be solved was the transportation of logs. To address this, Townsend built the Little River Railroad, which followed along the Little River deep into the Smoky Mountains. The railroad not only provided a way to haul timber out of the mountains, but also encouraged people to settle along its route. This growing settlement eventually became known as Elkmont.
Over time, the logging industry transformed the quiet valley into a bustling community. Worker housing appeared, new businesses started up, and the population grew. With all these changes came visitors, and it did not take long for Elkmont to begin transitioning into a vacation resort.
From Logging Camp to Luxury Mountain Resort
Throughout the years, wealthy families began visiting Elkmont for its cool summers and scenic beauty. By 1910, visitors formed the Appalachian Club, and members began building summer cottages along the Little River. Before long, the location of these cottages became known as Daisy Town. The area offered fishing along the Little River, hiking trails in the mountains, social gatherings and dances, and a peaceful escape from the summer heat, making it the perfect place for visitors seeking relaxation.
Not long after, a second group formed known as the Wonderland Club, as some visitors were not accepted into the Appalachian Club. This new group built the Wonderland Hotel in 1912, and additional cottages were constructed in the surrounding area. Families began returning summer after summer, creating a seasonal community. The Elkmont railroad even transitioned from hauling lumber to bringing visitors directly into the mountains.
The Beginning of a National Park
By the 1910s and 1920s, Elkmont had transitioned into one of the most popular mountain resort communities in the Smoky Mountains. While the town thrived in the summer, a movement began to protect the mountains. Conservationists started pushing for the region to become a national park. The first step in the process was purchasing land from private owners in Elkmont.
In 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was officially established. During this time, people were still living in the area, although many cottage owners began selling their land to the federal government. Others agreed to lifetime leases, which allowed them to keep their summer homes but prevented the properties from being passed down to descendants.
As leases expired and cottages were vacated, the buildings slowly began deteriorating. Most leases ended by 1992, and it wasn’t long before Elkmont changed from a once-booming lumber town and popular mountain resort into the quiet historic area seen today.
Elkmont in the Smokies Today
Now preserved as a historic district within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visitors can walk through the former resort community. The National Park Service preserves around 19 historic structures. Some have been restored, while others remain weathered. Walking along the Little River, visitors can find chimneys and foundations that provide a glimpse into a past that was once thriving.
If visiting Elkmont today, there are several nearby features to explore. One is the Elkmont Campground, the largest campground in the park. Other features include the Little River Trail and Jakes Creek Trail. In fact, Elkmont is one of the most visited historic areas in the park.
Known today as the “Elkmont Ghost Town,” the area was once a thriving community that transitioned from a lumber town to a luxury mountain resort deep within the Smoky Mountains. As time passed, some structures were preserved and restored, while others slowly faded into moss-covered foundations and weathered cabins, creating the ghost town atmosphere visitors experience today.
Sources & Further Reading
National Park Service. “Old Town of Elkmont.” Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Last modified October 10, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/places/old-town-of-elkmont.htm
National Park Service. “Daisy Town: The Birth of Tourism in the Smokies.” Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Last modified October 10, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/places/daisy-town-the-birth-of-tourism-in-the-smokies.htm
National Park Service. “Cabins and Daily Life.” Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Last modified October 10, 2024. https://www.nps.gov/places/cabins-and-daily-life.htm
National Park Service. “Appalachian Clubhouse.” Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Last modified November 14, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/places/appalachian-clubhouse.htm
National Park Service. “Why Preserve Daisy Town?” Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Last modified October 10, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/places/why-preserve-daisy-town.htm
Bible, Robin. “Stringtowns: Early Logging Communities in the Great Smoky Mountains.” Forest History Today, Spring 2002. https://npshistory.com/publications/grsm/fht-bible-2002.pdf
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Elkmont Historic District. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, March 22, 1994. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/94000166_text
Oppermann, Joseph K., Architect, P.A. Chapman-Byers Cabin Historic Structure Report, Elkmont Historic District, Sevier County, Tennessee. 2009. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/420606
Oppermann, Joseph K., Architect, P.A. Spence Cabin Historic Structure Report, Elkmont Historic District, Sevier County, Tennessee. 2009. https://irmaservices.nps.gov/datastore/v4/rest/DownloadFile/420630?accessType=DOWNLOAD
Friends of the Smokies. “Elkmont Area Restoration Funded, in Part, by FOTS.” May 2, 2016. https://friendsofthesmokies.org/blog/elkmont-area-restoration-2016/
Little River Railroad Museum. “History.” Accessed April 8, 2026. https://littleriverrailroad.org/history/
Blount Partnership. “How Townsend Got Its Name: History of the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company.” September 3, 2024. https://www.smokymountains.org/how-townsend-got-its-name-history-of-the-little-river-railroad-and-lumber-company/