Tennessee is home to all kinds of unique history from as far back as pioneer times to the modern history that is made here every day. But none of that history would be possible without the Cumberland Gap, the site where the first pioneers over the Appalachian Mountains crossed in to the beautiful state of Tennessee and decided to call it home. Today, that site is also home to the longest tunnel in the state, and the tunnel has some fascinating history of its own.
The Cumberland Gap Tunnel is nearly a mile long and stretches under the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, just outside of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.
The tunnel was definitely needed at the time. Highway US-25 went over the mountains between Tennessee and Kentucky but had gained the nickname of "massacre mountain" because of the frequent accidents on the steep and winding roads.
The tunnel goes under the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and marks the spot of the "first doorway to the West" where pioneers successfully crossed the Appalachian mountains.
I will jump at any opportunity to go down to Pigeon Forge. I love the Smoky Mountains and all of the fun attractions found in town, so when my daughter said she wanted to go to Beyond The Lens, I was fully on board. This unique attraction in Tennessee combines technology and family fun in a wonderful mix that they call Techno-tainment. I feel like this an apt description; however, there is so much more waiting for you when you visit Beyond The Lens.
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While driving down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Beyond The Lens is impossible to miss.
The structure is certainly eye-catching, as a giant bell tower looks as though it has crumbled to the ground. Two big hands are holding a camera -- the "entrance" you walk through -- setting the stage for the unique experience that awaits at Beyond The Lens.
The very first thing you do is walk through the kaleidoscope walkway, which is a trippy and fun way to begin. It was admittedly a bit disorientating as the mix of colors and swirling patterns twisted and turned from floor to ceiling.
Soon after that, you will be introduced to a common element throughout the rest of the building which is the picture-taking stations. There are cameras everywhere that you and your family can use to snap pictures like your Hollywood stars or dogging bullets like the Matrix.
Beyond The Lens mixes fun and games with education and pop culture history quite nicely.
There is a room that showcases how technology has advanced over the decades from rotary phones to smartphones and more. The old-school video games were especially fun to learn more about.
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From room to room, you will experience a variety of themes and interests. History buffs will love the Hall of Presidents which tackles the J.F.K. assassination.
Fans of cryptids will be pleased to see the Bigfoot section. Stepping from the pristine and regal historical parts to this swamp and jungle-like area was a great transition that made us feel a sense of anticipation. You never know what kind of fun you will find at Beyond The Lens!
One exhibit I especially enjoyed was the sports area. We challenged each other in a basketball pop shot game, pitched some fastballs, and even balled Skee-Ball.
Both of my girls loved the space section. The ball pit (or what they call “alien eggs”) was one of their favorites as they dove into the balls and threw them around.
This was a spot where kids went wild and had a lot of fun, so much so that I kept finding the “eggs” way down the hall. So naturally I just threw them at my kids to see how many times I could hit them. They hardly even noticed.
You bop from room to room by design and you can always backtrack if need be, but we tended to just do everything in one place and then moved on to the next section.
We arrived right when the attraction opened; later in the day, the place started to get busy. It is easy to see why, because we were certainly enjoying ourselves the whole time. The last spot we went to was the virtual reality exhibit.
You can shoot robot ships, take a wild Jeep ride away from a charging T-rex, and create (and ride) your own roller coaster in this interactive space.
My favorite was the balance beam which makes it look like you are stepping out from a skyscraper to get a plate of donuts. It's pretty immersive and feels real; but in reality, you are only on a piece of wood about an inch from the ground. It was amusing to watch people get into the experience and have a hard time with a simple task once the headset was on.
"Flyride" is a separate experience where you will need a different ticket to enter. This ride is similar to Skyfly at the Island, but we thought this one was better. At this attraction, you enter into a room where you are seated and the floor drops out from you as your feet dangle in front of a massive screen. For the rest of the ride, you will soar over some of America's most iconic spots like our national parks and more. The seats rumble, tilt, and move as you go, and even "mist" you with smells to fully immerse you in the experience.
When it's all said in done, is Beyond The Lens worth it? I would emphatically say yes it's worth it! I would even go as far to say it's one of the best things to do in Pigeon Forge. I would highly suggest it to anyone visiting the area. Beyond The Lens is a great option for families to play together and have a great time. For more information, please visit the website for Beyond The Lens. If you want a discount on your tickets then check out our friends at Viator for the best price for Beyond The Lens.
Of course, Wonderworks is another attraction in Pigeon Forge that's similar to Beyond The Lens that I would also recommend visiting while in the area!
The allure of abandoned places is a strong pull that I have a hard time resisting. There is something poetically beautiful about long-forgotten places that nature is retaking. There are abandoned structures in the Smokies on the Cucumber Gap and Little River Trail that house some rather intriguing set pieces. If you are like me, then these echoes of the past beckon you to take a closer look.
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The trailhead is found at the Elkmont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains. I have been to this location many times and am always fascinated by the abandoned cabins in the area.
The Elkmont ghost town is a terrific adventure and simple enough to take, but if you want to go another step further, you will want to take the Cucumber Gap and Little River Trail. Head into the woods and you will start with a familiar and peaceful experience in the Smokies. If you are familiar with hiking in the park, the first part of the trek will feel very familiar to the Gatlinburg Trail. With a slight uphill grade, the path follows the Little River as it gurgles, babbles, and smoothly flows around boulders. You will be able to witness small waterfalls as you traverse the trail also.
Further in is where things start to get interesting...
By now the park has undergone some extensive repairs and restorations on the luxury cabins in the ghost town of Elkmont. It is a pretty simple level road leading from one cabin to the next, but there are more and untouched structures in the woods.
There are stone bridges, pillars, and long-forgotten remnants of the past hidden throughout the hike.
These are the extended structures of what was once a thriving vacation resort in the Smokies for rich Knoxville residents. Certain cabins were designated "redeemable" -- but you won’t find those on this trail.
Instead what you will find are old foundations that still have the staircases, lone walls, and towering fireplaces just left in the woods slowly deteriorating back into the earth. You can explore plenty of these structures and you never know what you might find.
The best way to experience these abandoned structures in the Smokies is to get the AllTrails app on your phone and download the Cucumber Gap and Little River Trail map before you hike. This is one of those hidden gems in the park that you don’t want to miss. While everyone is busy hiking to Clingman’s Dome and Alum Cave head out on a journey through the past on this enticing trail next time you visit the Smokies.
