Near Gatlinburg in Sevier County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
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.
Erected by National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.
Location. 35° 39.243′ N, 83° 34.899′ W. Marker is near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in Sevier County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Jakes Creek Road B and Little River Road. Marker is mounted on the east side of the Appalachian Clubhouse building. Access to Jakes Creek Road B and Little River Road is via Elkmont Road, about 4½ miles west of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Sugarlands Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gatlinburg TN 37738, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Quite a Social Place (here, next to this marker); Appalachian Clubhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Daisy Town's Eclectic Architecture (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elkmont Historic District: Appalachian Club (about 400 feet away); Back to Nature (about 500 feet away); Rare Mountain Forest (about 600 feet away); Spence Cabin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wonderland Hotel (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gatlinburg.
Regarding The Appalachian Club. The Appalachian Clubhouse is a contributing property in the Elkmont Historic District, National Register of Historic Places #94000166.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Elkmont Historic District
Also see . . .
1. Elkmont History. Great Smoky Mountains National Park website entry:
In 1910, the Little River Lumber Co. deeded a tract of 50 acres of land to the existing Appalachian Club on which the group erected a clubhouse. Founded in 1907, the Appalachian Club was a hunting and fishing club of which many of the Knoxville weekenders were members. The lumber company accorded the club a 10-year lease of exclusive hunting and fishing privileges to the Appalachian Club covering some 40,000 acres on the headwaters on the Little River above Elkmont. (Submitted on May 27, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The Abandoned Town Of Elkmont In Tennessee Is A True Piece Of History. Only in Your State website entry (Submitted on April 26, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 109 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 27, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.