The Economic Times

Beneath one of America's most visited national parks, lies a forgotten town. What happened 100 years ago in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

In 1908, the lumber corporation laid the foundations of Elkmont, which flourished into a vibrant town housing over fifteen hundred residents by 1918. The logging industry eventually declined, leading to the departure of the railway and a quiet end to its industrial phase. Yet, the spirit of a vacation destination lived on, ultimately integrating into a national park. Presently, nature is steadily enveloping the remnants of Elkmont's past.