Not Many People Know There’s An Abandoned Town Hiding Inside This National Park

Deep within Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there is an entire abandoned town that visitors can explore. Elkmont was once a playground for East Tennessee's rich and powerful, but today the community is deserted and silent. Read on to learn more about this abandoned town near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and then make sure to take a look at some footage of the town at the end of the article.

The abandoned town of Elkmont has a convenient parking lot, so you can drive right up to it.

Near the Elkmont campground, you can take a nice stroll along a nature trail, or if you are in the mood for something more intense you can do the Mount Collins loop.

Elkmont was founded in 1908 by a logging company and eventually became a resort town.

Elkmont’s Wonderland Club catered to famous and wealthy visitors.

The town includes an entire abandoned neighborhood and hotel.

Elkmont is also one of the only places on Earth where you can see synchronous fireflies – clouds of glowing insects that flash in perfect unison. This amazing annual phenomenon is definitely worth a visit!.

Check out the footage of Elkmont below from YouTuber Broyles Outdoors:

https://youtu.be/tP4RmLCHe4w

The National Park Service is studying the continued viability of certain structures in Elkmont, and it's possible that some buildings may be demolished. Yet other buildings have been restored and are ready to explore. Check with a ranger and watch for signage regarding closures when you visit Elkmont, the Smoky Mountains ghost town. You can also check the Great Smoky Mountains National Park web page for updates. Have you visited this abandoned town near Gatlinburg Tennessee? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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