The Appalachian Club

The Appalachian Club. . , The Appalachian Club was established in 1910 by a group of local and regional business and civic leaders who had hunted and fished in Elkmont for many years. Although the area had been home to several families since the 1830s, it was relatively unknown until the coming of the logging industry in the 1880s. As word spread of its scenic beauty and outstanding recreational opportunities, Elkmont became one of many southern Appalachian resorts that thrived in the early 20th century. In 1912, the Wonderland Park Club opened a hotel a half-mile north of here, and members of both clubs built vacation cabins near the clubhouses. For a time, Little River Lumber Company not only logged the area , complete with logging camps and company town , but provided daily railroad excursion service to Elkmont for club members and guests. , The 1920s were a time of transition for Elkmont, as the lumbering era closed and the resort era boomed. In 1934, Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established and many families retained their cabins under lifetime leases, the last of which expired in 2001. With input from the public and in cooperation with local, federal, and historic preservation agencies, the park developed a plan to restore 19 historic structures. Implementation of this plan began in 2009, and preserves the integrity of the Elkmont Historic District, while protecting the rare montane alluvial forest and pristine waters of the Little River.