Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a place which boasts a very rich history. Of course, all the attractions and shops lining the Gatlinburg Parkway are fun, but behind all the touristy stuff lies quite a few historic sites you can visit to experience the essence of what makes our quaint Smoky Mountain town so special.
In about 1802, William Ogle laid claim on what was to be the site of the first home in Gatlinburg, then called White Oak Flats. He cut and hewed the logs for the cabin and returned home to South Carolina to get his family, telling them they were moving to the “Land of Paradise.” William Ogle came down with malaria and died in 1803, before he could bring his family to his newly-discovered paradise. His wife, though, followed through on his plans — four years after his death, she gathered the family and they traveled to White Oak Flats, found William’s hewed logs, and finished the cabin. She raised 7 or 8 children in that little home. It’s humbling to go through and think about the lives of people during this time. http://www.gatlinburg.com/things-to-do/culture-history/
The Ogles modern day descendants own most of the land around Gatlinburg. The business you see are mostly long term ground leases, not Fee Simple ownership of the land.
The nature trail behind the house is very beautiful and peaceful (the trail head says easy, but is rocky). The streams and creeks are very relaxing to hear.
Address – Corner of Parkway & Cherokee Orchard Road, Gatlinburg, TN 
We had a hard time finding this cabin. It is right at traffic light number 6. This is a big intersection where the Aquarium and the bar Draft’s is. If you take the trolley and get off at the Ripley’s Aquarium, you will see a gift shop across the intersection. To the right of the gift shop there is the cabin hidden by some trees. We did not see a trail.
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- What’s in a name…. (cluffcabins.wordpress.com)
- Gatlinburg Road Tour https://www.flipkey.com/gatlinburg-cabin-rentals/g60842/virtual-tour/?utm_source=traveler-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Aug15_Tours&m=20545
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