Catalooche

We took a ride with Jerry up to Cataloochee which was once home to a substantial Appalachian community and Cherokee hunting ground. 

A variety of historic buildings have been preserved in the valley, including two churches, a school, and several homes and outbuildings.  

This is the best place in the park to see historic frame buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Elk were reintroduced into the park in February 2001 when 25 elk from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area were released in Cataloochee.

  

Elk once roamed the highlands of Southern Appalachia, but were eliminated by over hunting and loss of habitat.

We counted (as best we could) about 20 in this field.

Elk herds are a common sight in Cataloochee in the Spring and Fall.  After the 2011 calving season the total population of elk in the park was estimated to be just over 130.  We talked to one of the rangers and she said currently they estimate around 150.

Some 1,200 people lived in this lovely mountain valley in 1910.  Most made their living by farming, including commercial apple growing, but an early tourism industry developed in Cataloochee with some families boarding fishermen and other tourists who wished to vacation in the mountains. 

Sad that they even have to post something like this...

We stopped at a scenic overlook on the way back.

Beautiful!