Return to Elkmont, Tennessee!
Back on the blog in 2019 I shared with you our trip to Elkmont Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains. At the time the previous resort town was a forgotten row of crumbling cabins, gently encouraged to once again become one with nature. What I didn’t realize was a movement to put preservation of these structures into action had already begun, the results of which became visible in the years following our initial visit. Last fall we were thrilled to be in the area again and have the opportunity to walk through the restored and preserved cabins on site. Many were still in various states of repair but the ones that you could tour were everything I had always hoped for when I first set sight of this row of cottages.
Here’s a photo from our first visit:
And Here it is now-
Previously:
Currently restored to look like this-
Cabins that once looked like this:
Now look more like this-
The transformations are truly impressive. To understand the type of construction they are working with you have to appreciate the slanted floors and uneven foundations of time and weather worn housing that was constructed in a mountain region back in the 1920’s. As you can see, the window in this picture can’t hide the fact that the home is no longer level or plumb:
I love the charm of this, the history. I love that they didn’t try to straighten every nook and cranny and try to make these cabins perfect. They repaired them, they made them whole again. They understood that they would need to continue to stand on their own- doors open. How they settled, how they fit into the land around them was how they would remain. And where they could they added some carpentry and craftsmanship to honor the time in which they were once standing in all their glory.
This scallop detail is an example of careful and thoughtful craftsmanship. Whether it was an original detail recreated or an idea born of studying the architecture of this region at the time, I would love to know more of the story behind this cabin.
This railing design is an absolute favorite of mine and the X is a detail we have incorporated into our own outdoor living project. This sea glass shade of green is a great choice for a summer cottage.
Another exterior detail I took notice to was the Adirondack influence of this v-shaped corner accent out of barked tree branches.
The interiors of these cabins were very satisfying to walk through. Although empty, the evolution of the floor plans, the simple kitchen areas and the classic stone fireplaces provided me with a lot to think about and imagine.
I really appreciated the use of colors in the cottages when the most traditional look is white ship lap walls or the warm woodsy tones of stained wood.
The single interior shot I kept from peeking into a deteriorating cabin on our first visit gives a glimpse of the same blue cabinet that has been restored.
Previously:
Now-
All in all the changes are evident, the disintegration of history at a pause. Trees trimmed and sidewalks swept…crumbling stone walls restored…
Life in Elkmont resort town will never be revived, but for those of us who can allow our imagination to take us back in time these little buildings are a rare gift. They grant us another piece of the picture. They give us a glimpse. A glimpse at what was and what will never be again. Not to be viewed with remorse, but to be a lesson for the change of heart that transpired. From reclaiming the park to preserving architecture, what one decade saw as a blight on nature, another was inspired to began a quest of salvation. And this is history. The study of the ever changing ideas of the people and how it shaped their worlds. For most of us left standing in awe of a town like Elkmont, we are contemplating how our future will be shaped by ours.
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