Donnie Lawson has a channel. He tells the history of this tree. He is from up around Cade's Cove...Wears Valley...Townsend.. its close. He talked to a man who knew the family. I want to say the family name was Gorman or Golman. This family had a son who was in WW2..and he planted that tree for him. He put an old tire rim I guess to protect the tree to keep it from being cut down and to mark it. Well now the tree has grown and the rim has merged into it. Interesting story.

A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier’s family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. Leaving a penny means you visited. A nickel means that you and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime. A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that soldier died.

Good memories in the smokey mountains.

Crickets and cicadas are the soundtrack of the South

A coin left on a headstone lets the deceased soldier's family know that somebody stopped by to pay their respect. A penny means you visited. A nickel means you and the deceased veteran trained at boot camp together. A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together in some capacity.

I grew up in NW GA right across the state line from Chattanooga, TN. We loved to go to the Smokies back in the 60s when I was a child. Fast forward to today and it’s just too crowded! I can’t take it! The poor bears get harassed and honestly I’m amazed they even show their faces. After the horrific fires I’m really glad to see all the wildlife. Thank you for your beautiful videos. You take me places my poor feet can’t go anymore!

I used to take my Grandma here and we stayed in nearby Townsend in a motel. so nice!!!

I watch alot of camping videos and I really like this one, thank you 😎✌️

We camp every fall in Elkmont, in our Rpod. Also, drive the Cove, lunch along the way, then stop in the store for soft serve. A good rain fly to the ground helps. 😌 Happy Camping 🏕 ☺️ That campground is so noisy with kids!

Just watching your video and would like to tell you something about the cemeteries in Cades Cove. We are local and visit the cove often. My husband works part time at a funeral home. Relatives of the families can still be buried in the cove but the graves have to be hand dug. They will not allow the diggers that companies use to come into the cove. I just think that’s interesting. You also mentioned the Cliff Dweller’s business. It is still opened but has moved out to Crafters Village. If you haven’t visited that area then you need to.

been probalbly 50 yrs since I was there. thanks for doin a nice video.

Me and my wife Dorothy we both love your videos😊🎉

Thank you so much for doing this video. I've enjoyed it so much!

Loved this video! Very beautiful and relaxing.

I live in western NC, and I love going to Cade's Cove.

We visit The Great Smoky Mountains every yr! We live in west TN. I love your video! Thanks for taking me on this beautiful trip with you!

Great video! I'm an NC native and have never been to Cades Cove. Always wanted to see it but just never made it happen. Thank you!

Really enjoyed this vlog. I watched in one sitting.

Love your little grumpy dog.

I just found this channel and started watching, so I subscribed and I can watch part of it, cause I have to go somewhere . I saved it and will watch it all when I have time . I live in Lawrence County, Kentucky and have been to Cades Cove and absolutely loved it . I would like to go back there again some day . Thanks for the video and will be looking forward to seeing you all again . 🤗👍❤️💫

My son and I are heading down to the area to camp for a week and stumbled onto your videos. Good work, got some hike and stop options, thanks for sharing. Cheers! 🍻

I love visiting the mountains,one of the most beautiful places on earth. Cade’s Cove is worth seeing even if you get caught in all the traffic that often happens. Everyone should visit at least once in their life. It is always a real treat to see a bear. I’m glad the weather worked for y’all for the most part. I don’t spend much time in Gatlinburg, I like to spend my time in the mountains.

This is so beautiful a place, wow, and y'all made it very interesting and entertaining. I want to go there. I LOVE the tree frogs, crickets, and nature sounds. Even the children's laughter, play, is not too annoying, lol.

Enjoyed your video, I’m ready to book a trip now. I think the gentleman in the church was playing a zither, It was beautiful.

I love burnt everything lol. Thank y’all for sharing another awesome video. Cades Cove is my favorite place in the park.

The last time I was at that church, there was someone there that said women went in one door and the men went in the other door. We love your videos!

I remember Gatlinburg (Main Street) was nothing but candle makers, glass blowing shops, fudge making shops back in the 60-70’s. That’s what I wish they would bring back. There was a few such shops like that on Craft Loop Road off of Hwy. 321 towards Cosby, near the Food City store. I don’t know if they’re still there since the fires in 2016.

Oh I’m so happy to see this!! I grew up camping at Cade’s Cove and haven’t camped there in years. I was wondering about generators - I read there is a section people can use them and was concerned about noise. The last thing I want to do is listen to generators running☺️ Looks pretty quiet where you were, though☺️☺️

My wife and I just watched this before heading to church. We usually watch them right away. But we been busy. We really enjoyed watching as we do all of your videos. Would like to ask you to pray for my mom. Her name is Janet. Please add her to your church prayer list. She is dealing with several health issues. Thank you and God bless you both.

We love Cades Cove. I did see the bear in the field. Love the mountains. Goodness, quite a bear jam. We have not visited in a few years now. We used to visit every year. We miss it. Thanks for this. Fun to watch.

great video . I've been doing some family research .found out my 4th great grandpa was an original settler in Cades Cove . He's buried at the Primitive Baptist Church .

We must have been in the cove at about the same time. We love the cove. We only get to go one time a year. I would love to camp a few days and drive the cove every day. Thanks for the video.

We live in East Texas and follow you from time to time on some of your videos you do great work and we vacation from time to time in Cades Cove and it is truly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We have kinfolks buried in the cove and enjoy visiting from time to time keep up the good work and keep the videos coming and my God bless

The wife and I were there in the early 60's searching the cemeteries for her family names. There were still folks living there before the feds parkified the cove. For a feeling of that time find and watch "A Walk in the Spring Rain" a movie filmed there, bittersweet love story.

Good job on the video my wife an I love driving through the cove we was there yesterday an took r time an seen a lot of deer was so nice keep up the videos god bless Yuns on your next camping trip in the cove an your next adventure

Love both of your happiness and smiles, plus your patience with others. Wish others would OBEY RULES AND CAMP EDICATE. IT SAME LIKE THAT EVERY WHERE YOU GO NOW, THERE IS A VERY FIEW THAT CANT ENJOY BEAUTY, LIKE ON BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, CUTTING DONUTS IS OVERLOOK GRAS AREAS, MARKI G ON SIGNS, TAUSING T=ASH OUT , ALONG PARKWAY AND STREAMS. It has to be from trashy minded people, that are jealous of the sealers of mountains and streams. I don't like posting things so negative as this but your videos helps all of us by offering a beautiful outing in God's Beautiful world. In closing I want say thank you both for stating you prayed over your mrals,meals, you showed respect ar rhe church that was holding a worship service. One last thing tears filled my eyes when you filmed the gentleman playing the beautiful gospel songs, I could imagine all the founders of that church sitting in on this in there new glorified bodies. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES FOR THIS HEART FELT VIDEO.

Hey y’all…Enjoyed this lots. One day closer to our Gatlinburg trip.

The reason for the 2 doors at the Methodist Church is one door was for the men and the other was for the women. A penny on a tombstone means that you visited the grave, a nickel means that you trained with the deceased and a dime means that you served with the deceased.

Oh my.. you guys are so cute! Thank you for the awesome video. I am planning to hike Mt. leConte in five weeks and so excited. It will be very difficult since I am not in good shape but I will try my best. After I hiked Mt. Washington about 10 years ago, I said I won’t climb any mountain over 5000ft but…after watching this video, I really want to see the views myself. This film is very informative.

😂🤣😂🤣 I love the Yorkies!! They're so cute!!

Channel is growing 👍 content

THE CHURCH WITH THE 2 DOORS, KT SAYS THAT IN ONE DOOR WALK THE MEN,THE OTHER FOR WOMEN.THANK YOU VOR THE VIDEO.I HAVE BEAN THERD VERY OFTEN WITH BIKES,AND MY HORSES..I LIVED IN ROBINSVILLE N.C.,WERE RONNY MILSAPS HOME WAS.

Hi this is our favorite way to go to Gatlinburg,but we have never went camping at Cades Cove.

I will be following you

You two are so sweet I live in Townsend and love East Tn

As yall are cooking on the first night, we are the red truck and camper behind you. We are in that spot every year

Thanks for sharing. My wife and I are leaving next week for the Smoky's. Camping in Smokemont and Cataloochee.

I’m in Mo. now but I lived out there for several years. At Townsend we took a very semi truck size inner tube and attach a wood bottom in it so rocks won’t gouge ya. Then go floating those rapids! Take a paddle if you want. Beautiful area of America isn’t it???

I believe the instrument he was playing is a psaltery.

Than you!

Just came across your CC camping. Drive thru gatlinburg was enjoyably. We come down every year. About when did you tape this, we were there 3rd week of August.

Did you say you were there early September or was that another video I was thinking of. We actually drove home Labor Day so guess we were there too. I think the last few days we were there we explored Townsend and Wears Valley. I'll comment again. Take me a bit to watch the whole thing...lol..

My birthday is June 14th and we will be in Cherokee NC that week. I love to trout fish. I have heart surgery in February so we will see. We are planning lots of camping

The way you have your tarp set up water will drain off at the entrance for your tent. Turn your tent so the entrance is running parallel with your ridgeline.

We spent Thanksgiving week in the Smoky Mountains and somehow CC got left out. Good excuse for a return to Cherokee for the fudge shop.

Wish there had been more about the camping

Hey guys. First time viewer. What a relief to find this vid. I was thinking it sure would be nice to find a video of an individual going through Cades Cove and this was the first one that popped up and was just what I was looking for while recovering from a rather nasty stomach issue! When I’m feeling down or blue I’ll put on a Smokies vid and reminisce about all the dozens and dozens of trips I’ve made there from the time I was a young family man outta the USAF to now @ 61yrs old. It is odd how so many folks go there but never venture into the park? I love the place but honestly, to me, making it through Pigeon Forge is ‘the price one pays to get to Gatlinburg if not coming in from Townsend. It’s like the midway of a county fair but to each their own I guess. Just a suggestion that you tubers include the month & year in your conversation for when these vids age. I know the posted age is on the vid but still. When I see how nice it looks in your vid, I take note as a potential time of year to go to the park. I’m not sure how long you guys have been going there, but for me a sense of history and romance was a big drawing card and so many things are changing now to accommodate the new generation of tourist who are more tuned into short attention span, blinking light every 5 feet kind of experience versus when I started going there and you could go through Gatlinburg particularly and actually feel the vibe of the mountains and what they were trying to promote. I don’t like change and it is nothing but change there anymore. You brought up the tin roof and I did not know it was gone but I and the one that I worshiped would go into that place, not that it was particularly different than the other places like it, but it was just a known stop with each trip we would go there and knowing that even a trinket shop that I have known for so many years is gone breaks my heart. Between the “modernization” and what I consider the cheapening out of Gatlinburg, along with the devastation of the environment from all the recent storms and 2016 fires the “Gatlinburg Experience “ is only a short few years from being lost forever. I know a lot of people will be basically thinking OK boomer, but the crowd they are catering to now are like a group of seagulls that when one or two jump to a different place the whole flock goes to a different place, they have no connection, loyalty, or deep appreciation or love for anything long-standing. Just one guy‘s opinion, but seeing that basically weed bars pop up in Gatlinburg it’s just absolutely atrocious and grieves me so much. Soon it’s going to be tattoo parlors and adult movies with drug users lined up in the alleys. This is why of the park is important. Even with the changes from storms and fires one hopes that it returns to its former glory and is probably the only thing that has a chance of doing that. I remember so many years seeing these great hundreds year old trees in the Meadows of Cades Cove and how they have disappeared through the years from lightning strikes and severe thunderstorms and feeling a sense of loss. Now that I retired I may be able to squeeze the last bit of positive vibe and memory from a place that meant so much to so many people for so long before Gatlinburg became nothing but a land investment destination. Blaine‘s restaurant near the space needle was another long-standing institution that just killed me to see rebranded, even though it’s basically the same place thank goodness, and I’ll admit not everything new is on the down side as several of the new restaurants near the south end of town are incredible and they are appropriate changes, fitting in with the original vision. As long as I can go to Park Vista Hotel restaurant past the space needle for my arrival and departure breakfast, and go at least one time for a treat to myself and have a steak and mountain light beer at Cherokee Grill they’ll still be somewhat of an anchor to the old times. Honestly if I lose those two final anchors to my past history there I may may only approach the park from the Townside side until they “improve” it. You know, exploring small North Carolina, other East Tenn locations for ‘nostalgia Gatlinburg’ refugees such as myself could be a good growth opportunity for your channel. Well sorry to blab, but it was good to take a minute to dwell on what a truly magical experience it used to be when entering that town, it was Switzerland in America, a really magic kingdom instead of the midway at a Myrtle Beach or county fair.

I camped at cades cove last month. In one area there was a bear. A man 3 cars ahead gets out and watches a bit. I sat patient then he started motioning for people in the HUGE October line to get out and come look AND THEY DID! I waiting another solid 5 minutes then I stuck my head out and said "Folks, look behind us you can't just stop the like like this get in a pull over or slow down a bit but keep moving!" One lady one car ahead of me was nodding her head and said "can you believe you have to tell adults that" 🤦‍♂️ people are so selfish..insane

Another video about the smokey mountains mentioned something about the large number of people from appalachia and Tennessee that fought in world war 2.it was a sizable number so I guess that was part of why the memorial was established there

Loved this video, cades cove is our favorite place, we are actually going to be camping there this weekend in a tent for the first time, I can't wait. I was wondering though do the bears ever come in the campground at night messing around? I'm a little on the nerves side lol.

Wow, I’m surprised to see all those cones and no parking for the overlook areas! I honestly don’t know how I feel about the paying to park for 15 minutes. Has that come into effect yet? As you said The National Park is a no fee park, but I think I’d rather pay an entry fee than to pay for every time I want to stop and stretch my legs or take a picture or walk up the mountains to hike for a little bit. I’m willing to support these beautiful mountains but this just sounds crazy to me. And, yes I do belong to The GSMNP and Friends of the Smokies and I do donate to this beautiful park. I don’t know, mixed feelings on this…!

I have been going to Cades Cove for 47 years. Everytime I see something different. My favorite place in the Cove is Elijah Oliver's home place ( he is John Oliver's Son )

I loved the long video of Cades Cove and your pups. I'm not happy about having to pay for parking next year, we spend a lot of money in Tennessee especially Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg but I'm really disappointed in this new law.

You know you can do Andrews bald and see tons of flames and so easy and a hidden secret !!!!!! Have you done Elkmont campground the best in the park try to get one on the river

I just found your channel here and you did a great job thanks. I myself have never been to Cades Cove but after seeing your video it is on my camping list. Would you know if the camp grounds let's motor homes stay or is it only for tents ? Thanks

I have a dogs that have funny quirks like yours

I grew up in a Baptist church that was built in 1803.

Hey this very neat video. That campground you was at did you all or did they have electric and water site for tents?

What is the stucture in the back of your truck? I've enjoyed your blog. I'm new to your channel

Wonderful video. I am thoroughly enjoying watching! May I ask what kind of camera you are using? The video and audio are great!

have you camped at indian creek campground in cherokee nc?

Do you go to Tremont and roan mountain is known for their rhododendrons

The man in the church is playing a type of auto harp

Definitely not a copper head! Copper heads have a Hershey Kiss pattern and do not have vertical strips around the mouth. You were correct. It was a water snake which some species have a tornado pattern like that one did.

so yall live in Gatlinburg? i couldn't remember. i use to go often because its in my back yard basically. (from Cherokee area side)i dont anymore, its too busy!

That's bluegrass backcountry intro music

45:33 Well, we know who the real boss in the family is! 😊

First of all, great vid as usual my fine folks! Second, hate to say the snake guy was wrong but the snake guy was wrong, lol. Copperheads don’t have round pupils and the banding was wrong. 100% water snake. I grew up in south Louisiana playing in rivers and bayous, I’ve caught many a snake species venomous and non. I should know the difference, lol

That's why football is called a pigskin

The dogs are mad because they had to eat chicken while you all were eating ribeyes

Definitely a water snake.....lines on mouth confirm it is not a copperhead.

Why do old churches have two doors? The two doors were originally separate entrances for men and women who sat separately during worship; in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Primitive Baptist churches used this type of gender segregation.

The mam has breaks on all the time...and you stay close to cars in front of you...hmmmmm