Cherohala Skyway Attractions

Rating
Featured/Unfeatured
Claimed/Unclaimed
tellico-plains-visitor-center.jpg

Whether you’re looking for things to do in Monroe County, TN or planning an East TN vacation, we have everything you need to make it perfect. Monroe County is full of historic cities, hometown restaurants, and plenty of outdoor beauty. All of this combined is why Monroe County, TN is one of the best vacation destinations with people coming from all over the united states to see our mountains and hiking trails!

charles-hall-museum.jpg
(423) 253-6767(423) 253-6767

The Charles Hall Museum exists to preserve regional and Appalachian history with an emphasis on the Tellico Plains area. Born in Tellico Plains in 1924, Charles has been a local historian since boyhood. Among the first white settlers in the area, his mother’s family settled in Tellico Plains by 1830. His father’s family settled in the area by 1908 and moved within the city limits in 1929. Charles served Tellico Plains as mayor for 31 years, as alderman-recorder for two years, as Justice of the Peace for six years, and as a county commissioner for six years. Showcased in two Museum buildings are his magnificent collections of historical memorabilia, artifacts, equipment, guns, antique telephones, coins and currency, photos, and so much more. Along with his collections, the Museum has acquired many public donations since opening in 2003. There are currently over 6000 artifacts and thousands of historical pictures and documents either displayed or archived for future reference. Tellico Plains is a special place with a rich heritage and limitless possibilities.

big-river-falls.jpg

The 90 foot high Bald River Falls is recognized as one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the region. It is easily accessed from Tellico River Road (NFRS 210), and provides outstanding photographic opportunities. Parking is limited, and visitor use is high on weekends and holidays. If possible, plan your visit during weekdays.

fort-loudon-state-park.jpg

Fort Loudoun was a British colonial-era fort located in what is now Monroe County, Tennessee, United States. Built in 1756 and 1757 to help garner Cherokee support for the British at the outset of the Seven Years’ War, the fort was one of the first significant British outposts west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Fort Loudoun State Historic Park is 1,200-acres and is one of the earliest British fortifications on the western frontier, built in 1756. The fort was reconstructed during the Great Depression and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

During the French and Indian War (1754-1763) the British Colony of South Carolina felt threatened by French activities in the Mississippi Valley. To counter this threat, the Colony sent the Independent Company of South Carolina to construct and garrison what became Fort Loudoun. This move helped to ally the Overhill Cherokee Nation in the fight against the French and guaranteed the trade would continue between the Cherokee and South Carolina.

8 AM to 4:30 PM – Park Office

(423) 253-2661(423) 253-2661

Tellico Hatchery was originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), between 1930 and 1941. It included six 25-foot circular pools and for many years was known as the Pheasant Branch Rearing Pools, because its water supply came from Pheasant Branch. Linear raceways and earthen pools, with a water source from nearby Sycamore Creek, were added in the 1940’s. More raceways were added in the 1960’s along with a water intake on Tellico River. The facility underwent major renovation in 1991-1992 and now has 28 main outdoor concrete raceways, one C-Series raceway, six concrete circular pools (not in use), a hatchery building, and two residences. Tellico Hatchery is actually a trout rearing facility (9-in. rainbow trout from Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery are transported to Tellico where they are then reared to a larger stocking size). A brook trout hatchery building was constructed in 1991 on one of the original circular pools. Southern-strain brook trout were hatched and reared at the facility for about three years as part of ongoing brook trout restoration projects in the Tellico area. The brook trout facility is still functional but no longer in use. The facility’s current water supply comes mainly from the Tellico River, Sycamore Creek, and to a lesser extent, Pheasant Branch. Unlike other Region IV trout hatcheries (Buffalo Springs and Erwin), which have spring-fed water sources with constant year-round temperature, Tellico Hatchery water temperatures can vary from as low as 32º F in winter to 72º F in the summer. As a result, trout growth is generally very limited during mid-November through late February.

kilmer3.jpg

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is part of the Nantahala National Forest, approximately 3,800 acre tract of publicly owned virgin forest in Graham County, NC, near Robbinsville as a living memorial to the writer/poet Joyce Kilmer. Veterans of the Foreign Wars asked the government to set aside a fitting stand of trees to serve as a living memorial to Joyce Kilmer, who was killed in action during World War I. Although Kilmer was both a soldier and a poet, he is most remembered for his poetry about common, beautiful things in nature

One of the largest contiguous tracts of old growth forest in the Eastern United States, the area is administered by the U. S. Forest Service. The memorial is a rare example of old growth cove hardwood forest, a diverse type unique to the Appalachian Mountains. In 1975 the memorial forest was joined with a much larger tract of the Nantahala National Forest to become part of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness.

Due to a devastating disease of the American chestnut tree that caused a rapid, widespread die-off of the once plentiful tree from its historic range in the Eastern United States, the American chestnut, once the dominant tree of the forest, was affected by the chestnut blight. Although the last of the Kilmer chestnuts had probably died by the late 1930s, their wood is so rot-resistant that remnants of the massive logs and stumps are still visible.

Another more recent loss is that of the giant hemlocks due to an infestation of an exotic insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid. For safety of visitors from a falling limb or tree, Forest Service managers decided to bring down dead trees near the memorial trail in a way they believed would mimic natural blowdown. In November 2010, the Forest Service blew up the trees with explosives, making the lower loop trail much lighter and drier.

The best way to enjoy the impressive memorial forest is by doing the easy 2-mile hike to see the majestic Trees such as Sycamore, Beech, Basswood, Red and White Oaks and Hemlock. Some of the trees are over 400 years old and the oldest Yellow-Poplars are more than 20 ft (6.1 m) in circumference and stand 100 ft (30 m) tall. Aside from the trees there are also other variety of shrubs, vines, ferns, mosses and other plants to see. This popular family hiking destination features an easy two-mile, figure-eight trail and has two loops: the 1-1/4 miles lower loop passes the Joyce Kilmer Memorial plaque, and the upper ¾ mile loop swings through Poplar Cove, a grove of the largest trees.

The trailhead parking area has a flush toilet and picnic tables. No camping or overnight parking is allowed.

The only way to see the impressive memorial forest is on foot. The figure-eight Joyce Kilmer National Recreation Trail covers two miles and has two loops: the 1.25-mile lower loop passes the Joyce Kilmer Memorial plaque, and the upper 0.75-mile loop swings though Popular Cove – a grove of the forest’s largest trees. The trailhead parking area has a flush toilet and picnic tables. No camping or overnight parking is allowed.

Located about 15 miles from Robbinsville. Take Highway 129 North for 1½ miles to the junction with Highway 143 West (Massey Branch Road). Turn left on Highway 143 and travel approx 4 miles to a stop sign/T intersection. Turn right and drive for approx 7.3 miles and bear to the right at the junction of Santeetlah Gap and the Cherohala Skyway. Continue for another 2½ miles to the entrance of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest on your left.

They are known as the “Museum That Runs” because of their unique goal of offering their visitors an experience unlike any other by starting some of the motorcycles daily. This is home to the world’s foremost All-American Vintage Motorcycle Collection, with over 300 historically important motorcycles displayed in 24 marquees.

Wheels Through Time Museum is home to the world’s premier collection of rare American motorcycles, memorabilia, and a distinct array of unique “one-off” American automobiles. Located just 5 miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Maggie Valley, North Carolina our museum houses a collection of over 300 rare machines.

Visitors to the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum will experience the life of the man Sequoyah – father, soldier, silversmith, statesman and creator of the Cherokee writing system. At the center of the story the deeply personal quest of Sequoyah’s single-minded concentration on solving the mystery of the “talking leaves.” He spent those years in near isolation, facing down social derision and tribal suspicion, enduring family rebellion, and believing – almost alone – that he could create a written language for the Cherokee

Showing 8 results