I'd like to tell you that you and others like you let me go on so many adventures that I want to be able to do. I'm unable to do these things because I can't walk. These places you go allows me to go with you. Thank you 😊

If I was Homeless living on a limited income like SSI or a minimum wage job and came upon a place like this I would inhabited it and try to repair it starting with the roof. . I feel its more of a crime to abandon buildings and let these Buildings go to waste being destroyed by the weather and vandals. Buildings that with a little work could be livable once again. I hate how we waste We disregard people and places like its nothing . all because of money has become more important.

At last someone who exp[lains about the area rather than walk around pointing a camera. this man is talented. others should copy.

"Apparently youre not supposed to go in to these, they frown upon it" Immediately goes inside 😂

Too bad they don't repair them and rent them out as camping cabins

@ 11:45 - The tiny log cabin you entered is called a larder. They were made to store all of you food in. The cement flow would draw up the cold from the ground, and keep the inside at a steady cool temperature year round, keeping all of your root vegetables fresh as the day of their picking. The windows are smaller than normal, and up high to help release any type of heat from building up. You might say that they were the first walk-in refrigerator.

Lived in East Tn. Most all of my life. Born and raised. The Smokey Moutains have been my stomping grounds since childhood. Now we take our boys there camping or just a day trip. This is one place we have not been to. I have to make a note to go and check it out. Perhaps this fall we will go.

Tennessee Smokies is one of the most beautiful places i have ever seen. I live in the Arkansas mountains now and have lived half way around the world. The Smokies took my breath away. Thank you for showing us this. I wish so much these places could be restored and respected. Blessings.

It always takes you back to a more simpler time, personally I can't stand this world we live in. Technology is nice and all but its destroying our kids. I believe that there will eventually be a mass separation from technology, there will be groups that will want to live without it. Unfortunately the powers that be the $$$$$$$ men will keep pushing for more.

I appreciate all of your concern for my lighting. It was going dead and I have since returned with a better light. Here is the link and its more in depth thanks. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/frKcddeZvr3OhmQ.html

OMG!!! I’m blown away by this!!! I had a very strange dream about this exact place and I’ve never ever been to Tennessee or any state near it!!!! Eerie!!!!

I hate to see places like this rotting away, I would love to be there nobody to bother me.. lol.. I love nature.

Hey John screw the idiots on here making comments about your weight. They are trolls with no life or friends. Keep exploring and congratulations on losing weight. I enjoyed your video.

My father was the last person to be buried in Elkmont in 2013. His name was Brownlee Reagan. The national park system was not allowed to go into any money making business, or so it was ruled. So now I think the cabins will be cleaned up and out. I don't know any change of status of the cabins today but you could get the true story at Sugarlands Visitor Center about 5 miles from there. Yes and that is a fireplace but probably doubled as an oven years ago. Oh and I've known this place all my life (as a Gatlinburg native) and I'm 50 so this is no discovery by a hiker.

Nice video I’ve been going to the smokies for 32 years I remember seeing people living there sitting on there porches there was a dirt road. Back then no parking lot just a lot of mud

My best friends family still had a lease on a cabin in Elkmont when I was in jr high and high school, ( I graduated in 1983). We would spend several weekends each year in the mountains. We used to swim in water cold enough to take your breath away! Thanks so much for taking me back!

I am from the State of WA. In the hills where my grand parents settled (back when land was free for the pioneer settlers), there was a similar situation. The homesteads were spread around in the hills. As a child I hiked into the woods to "pick cone" to sell so I could buy school supplies (even though my foster parents received money for that purpose!). I would often run into an overgrown collapsing structure. One day I found my grand parents old homestead! I was in awe. I began to cry as I remember my mother telling me about tying the horses to the posts near the house or going into the barn not to far away. I saw it all, exactly what she was talking about even though the barn roof lay on the ground, the house walls covered by vines with trees protruding from moss covered cedar boards. The only thing standing was the horse posts. My mother was born in 1909. When she was 9 she need medical attention which was too far away. Her father hiked over the hill because a group of native people lived near the river. He got the medicine man to come to help. That would have been 1918. I hope those old places in Elkmont can be saved! They have a lot of history. Lewis & Clark first explored WA in 1864.

We found these cabins by mistake while just hiking about twenty years ago, we got to the top and met a couple that were up there on there anniversary they had spend there honeymoon there thirty years ago, and they came every year back there on there Anniversary their family are the ones that had the life time lease, I love going to visit them, that parking lot wasn't there when we found it, my sons go up there to fly fish, kind of sad they all had to leave I wish they would let the people come back it seems like a dream community, mailboxes still standing, do you know why they have never opened the road back up in Cade's cove that goes over to N.C. When we first found the houses they were still in good shape! Thank you for the video!

Isn’t it crazy how many KZfaqrs you took here since this video! Same with that prison! You deserve much more recognition and respect for all you’ve always done to help others. 💯✊🏻❤️🙏

So charming. Love the stone walls everywhere. Someone loved it at one time.

My parents use to rent one of those cabins back in the 1970's-80's. I remember staying in them when I was a child. We went back in 2000 and many were grafettied and caved in. Sad. Lots of memories there.

Just stumbled up on this video and was impressed. I remember when "folks with money" rented those cabins back in the 1960s-mid 1980s. Hearing somebody say they were going to be hunting Elkmont told you all you needed to know. It was common knowledge that Elkmont was there and that it had once been a "logging town" so I was amused when two or three years ago I found several videos that, if you didn't know the truth, would leave one to believe that they discovered this "abandoned town" all on their own. Keep up the great work.

My daughter and I visited last month had a wonderful time exploring, thinking about how the families would gather in the rooms and spend time together. Before electronics. I am sure many great times were had in those homes. We actually have a video from the last house you visited that startled us both, the open door in that living room slammed shut. No wind haha Thanks for sharing

I live not far from where you’re at, and I’m so glad that you are showing off the beauty that is rural Tennessee.

I can't get over how spacious the homes are, think how comfortable they would be if they were taken care of.

It's sad there are locations like this all over the USA abandoned, when we have so many homeless people (many of whom veterans). All these buildings need is some remodeling and TLC, and they would be livable again. Another one that comes to mind is an abandoned subdivision in Dawsonville, Georgia (known as the Greenleaf subdivision) with brand new houses just sitting empty and falling apart, because it was apparently part of some kind of mortgage fraud scheme.

Love how the setting flows from Friday the 13th to Children of the Corn to The Cabin in the Woods. Awesome video.

Thank you for sharing! If you ever come to Arkansas, check out the abandon City of Rush in the Northern part of the state. Sad that the homes/structures could not have been preserved. I support Historical Society, because they work hard to preserve out historical properties. Thank you for respecting property, and sharing your knowledge!

Investing in a more powerful flashlight would enhance our viewing enjoyment by 80%or better! You're not over weight,Sugah,that wood is under strong. ;D.

I have a photo of my great grandparents at the 1st cabin from a few years after WW2, about 1950. I'm almost certain that's the cabin. They use to rent one in that area of Tennessee, but the place closed down. The 1st cabin in the video and the photo looks so much alike, but the photo shows the cabin in much better condition, even though it's black & white.

What a great video! Thanks for making this place available to everyone.

Picture all the families enjoying themselves staying in these cabins. They were more simpler and joyous times. It would be great to bring them back.

nice place. I am from Panama, but when I go to USA I really like visiting places like this. Once I visited one in Georgia.

It is a shame that they let this go down. It would be a awesome place to fix up.

THANK YOU for adding this!!! It's guiding me through some tough times. I have 'help' from 'outside sources' due to these videos, so thank you! I hope you're doing ok! Bobbi

I love this place Elkmont. I've been there many years ago, I went through the houses and I saw the big building. But it was locked up . I love to read old stories about it & see pictures of it when it was in it's hay day.. it was a very special place when it was alive & booming... So many peoples memories... Great Smoky Mountains is an amazing place to go to. I grew up going to those beautiful Mountains. I have been on filed trips there with my son's class,I've been to family reunions in the Smokies, my grandmother & uncle are both buried in a family cemetery in the Wears Valley area of the Smokies. ... The Great Smokey Mountains are very special to me... I Thank you for your videos you make in them. Love em ALL!! ♥️💯🇺🇸👍

You need to carry bigger brighter spot light so we could see more.

You can see what a lovely little community this once was and could be again. I would love to live there. Those fireplaces!!!!

Exploration Unknown, we have ancestors that lived in the Tipton homestead in Cade's Cove. My sister and I went up a couple of years ago. It was a chilly but sunny day. We went up the steep staircase to the second floor where the children slept. I was in the room by myself and was facing a window and shot a photo. When we got back to my sister's house and uploaded the photos, there was what appeared to be a small child wearing a bonnet in the photo I took. Amazing the things you can capture in old homes / buildings. I'll bet those camping houses come alive at night. Thanks for your video!

Jon, I really enjoy your wonderful videos! You are a great tour guide!! Your parents have every right to be proud of you!! Thanks for everything!!! 🙏🏻♥️

men are so brave. I will be so scared to go into abandoned houses in such ghost towns. Thank you sir - you have enlightened us all. nobody in america should sleep on the streets due to poverty.

thank you for sharing, I love seeing historical places. its too bad the government ran off the original owners. they built those cabbins well.

That scenery looks perfect for another Friday the 13th remake!!

The trees are so beautiful I can see my dream Mid Century Modern inspired home in that backdrop!

I suggest you try to find the town dump and look for glass bottles and jars which are highly collectible.

I would love to explore abandoned towns.

The first cabin you entered was called Spindle Tops. The rooms in the bottom are were once horse stalls. My grandfather helped build it and it has since been torn down.

I love the Smokey mountains! I'm trying to move there.

I like the way he stops to read the "no trespassing" before entering the building

I think the Great Smokey Mountain National Forest is probably THE MOST RELAXING place I have ever visited in my entire life. It is beyond comprehension that anyone could ever set fire to this gorgeous majestic place. I'm so deeply saddened by the fire. I'm praying for everyone who has suffered loss. Things there will never be the same.

I love hearing stories from the elderly & the history. I'm like tell me more I'm curious. It's like I can't get enough of it. I guess that's why I get along with the elderly so much bc I want to sit down & hear the stories good or bad. I love it, I just can't get enough of it!!! Thanks for showing us this video!! I appreciate it so much!!

Thank you John! Great video about a nearly forgotten place. Cool cabins. 🏚

I have been to Tennessee a few times and it is a beautiful state. Warm and friendly people. It is a shame that this area is like it is. I live in Los Angeles and know that countless people would love an area like this in the woods. Quiet. peaceful and nice. It needs to be brought back. It's real life.

What an awesome place. One fun fact is the cabins that you walk thru the front door and lined up straight thru the cabin is the back door, They are called shotgun houses I forget the reason why. Thanks for uploading this interesting place for us to visit with you!!!

I enjoy exploration videos like these where the person is educated on the location and shares it's history and doesn't use a click bait thumbnail to get views. It was cool to learn about this place, thanks for showing it to us 🤗

The park service is restoring some of these cabins now. The last time we went about 5 were being worked on. I don’t know what the plan is for them but I know you can rent the lodge there for weddings, reunions, business conventions, etc. We go a couple times a year. No live it here. Since the pandemic it has become unbelievably crowded with tourists though.

I love your videos has for me and my wife and kids also have a special place in our hearts for Gatlinburg pigeon forge area we have been going there last couple years for vacations. I enjoy watching your videos for the nice information and footage of such and amazing place as well as I can see ur passion and love for that place. it also broke my family's hearts with the wildfires prayers to all the families that lost. we actually just got back home from pigeon forge this past Monday stayed Easter weekend in echota cabin community. thanks again for the videos and I will continue to be a fan

Smokemont was a big logging town there also. Love it there. I lived in Bryson City NC for 21 years until just recently. Beautiful there,

I was there before the town was abandoned. There were people in half of them. It was 1994. There was a petition one owner was asking people to sign to save it. That house had a real nice log cabin behind it. The town was bought out in the 50’s but once he last of the original owners children died off it went to the National Parks.

That little Hewn Log Cabin is my favorite also, and that place should have been preserved from the time it was abandoned. People like stepping back in time like you did there. Thanks for sharing.

since it is a camping site. How come they don't fix the cabins up and rent them out?

I love Tennessee! Thank you so much for the tour. I hope Ivan visit this place some day....

I was there in October 2019. They were working on a couple of them fixing the roof and chimney.

Hi Jon, thanks for sharing. We've been to Elkmont and had a great time the summer before last. There's supposed to be a cemetery there as well. We wanted to take the hike but my mother was with us so we decided against it. Earlier this year we heard in the news an arsonist had set fire to some of the cabins. :( Hope we can make the trip again soon.

Would make for a great scene on the Walking Dead 👍🏽

Should be given back to the #Cherokee Nation.

It would be really neat to see all of this restored and a museum created to show how the original settlers lived.

the small town I grew up in is also almost totally abandoned, just a shame, beautiful place, memories of almost daily adventure, small quiet little place, everybody knew everybody

I don't know where you're from if those places don't look too awful bad to me I'm sure there be enough people out there that would love to live in a place like that including

I really want to check this place out sometime! Love the Smoky Mountains, one of my favorite places to visit!

The "cabins" are beautiful! Not what I expected at all. lol Fine, solid foundations and craftsmanship you cannot find anymore.

It's really amazing what one finds deep into the woods/ forests, but this place is out in the open. They should restore them, it's a pity to let it rot away!

Nice job documenting.. I have always loved hiking.. thank you an God Bless

Very cool, these are such nice cabins. The wood floors look amazing. I'd love to see this place.

Just got married in Elkmont in July! One of our favorite places it’s so beautiful and serene!

Hey, thanks for sharing this amazing location. Hope to see more :D

I love the smokies! Shoutout to my fellow Tennesseans!

If anybody lives near there, it would make a good bug out location. Make a Cache and hide some supplies up there

Wow wish I could go there to see this place it looks so awesome. I love old homes on how they look.

Hey, good for you, man! You said you have gotten into better shape while also doing something fulfilling for yourself and that also brings joy to others. I can't think of anything much cooler than that. Thanks for the tour of a place I never would have known existed if not for your video!

The government can renovate all those houses and have homeless housing made what shame.

Thanks for the tour. Why, with so many homeless people would the Gov not fix these cabins up for Homeless Children? The scenery is so beautiful and a children's sanctuary would be a good thing?

Awww amazing video. I seen ya in Marks stream and had to see your channel. Amazing town and history. Smashing the like button

Most of these cabins are not “left overs “ from the logging era. They were a part of a “vacation community” built after the logging heyday to keep the Wonderland Hotel as a viable business. You could either build your own home, rent rooms in the hotel , or buy an apartment in one of the buildings built beside the hotel. My husbands grandparents owned one of the apartments and spent every summer living there with the grandchildren in tow. The hotel building proper was dismantled when the US Parks service shut it down . The last apartment building burned to the ground 5or 6 years ago. Most of the cabins are being let fall to the ground. They are not hidden, there is a paved walking trail thru the middle of the community, but because of the condition of the homes entrance is forbidden.

This is so sad to see. I would totally live in one of these cabins. Put in a little work and it is totally livable.

There's been a alarming amount of people that have and still continue to go missing there and never been found,not even a trace.

It is such a shame,the gorgeous log cabins could fixed up,people could hire them for a two day hike,it shocks me when you come across this type of thing,I think to myself "why" is nobody fixing these beauties up?

It’s a fireplace from a house in the very beginning. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Very interesting!! You needed a stronger light on your camera, however.

See how our government waste money. The homes could have been sold toprivate owners while the land could have stayed public and maintained as a public park. Somewhat like the homes built on golf courses. Allowing the homes to fall apart is inexcusable. There is apparently not enough tax payer dollars to keep up these kinds of homes so the money earned from them could have been used to preserve the surrounding park.

It was popular in the 1920's-50's to have outdoor stoves to cook your wild game or fish,. Aka BBQ facilities for outside of house sometime near a patio or outdoor structures. My grandparents had a similar fire place on their property that they built their house in the 1930's. They had a brick house, plus outside oven/fire place were the men entertained, while the women where in the house, in the kitchen. In the books/outdoor magazines of the period, they talked of steaming and smoking meat in such ovens.

Such a beautiful place. There’s a really relaxing energy. I wish there was a way to get permission to rehabilitate the cabins. I’m sure there’d be plenty of people that would volunteer their labor if the state paid for material. I’d absolutely be out there, then hope to buy one after lol.

Thank you for this video,it was very enjoyable, I love the simple old buildings.

I would squat there then take it as my own.

It's been a long time, but I don't see where anybody has answered your first question about that furnace you came across at the beginning. I live up in Carter County, but I believe that is what my father showed me once when we were in the Shenandoah Valley in Northern Virginia. He said it was a pig iron furnace, which would fit with the Appalachian scenario of the 1800s since pig iron is a crude form of iron, "poor man's iron". The one we saw was beside a stream, and my father said they are usually located alongside a water source. It looked like there may have been a somewhat dry spring/stream there off to the side of it.

I went to that town late one night and felt a presence. The feeling grew stronger as I walked in a certain direction. I followed it until I came to one of the abandon cabins and when I crept around back I saw two demons sitting on a bench sharing a snickers bar. I accidently farted loudly when I tried to silently slip it out passed my butt loafs but my cheeks were smashed tightly together in my acid washed good butt jeans and the demons instantly glared at me with glowing red eyes. I blacked out and woke up two days later on my back lawn. One of the freakiest moments of my life!

dope vid! now i know where to go If i ever go homeless

This is so cool and amazing place to do meditation embracing the nature! Thank you for sharing and God Bless. Later kiddos:)

I have been playing there since I was a child, my mother and I always played "pooh sticks" on the little bridge over the river there, it's where I'm going to put her ashes per her request one day, it's very special to us.

This is amazing to see!!! Maybe you could get a REALLY GOOD light and go back and redo. The lighting was so dim I couldn’t see very good. Still, I love history and learning about places like this.