Cataloochee Valley

On Tuesday as the skies finally began to clear, we jumped (hee-hee) out of bed bright and early and headed for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, specifically Cataloochee.  Elk have been reintroduced into the park and we hoped to see Elk while we were there as well as some colorful mountain viewing.  Our hopes were realized--what a gorgeous day.

We counted thirteen in this herd that included several does and calves.

 This young fella decided it was time to eat....

 ...but Mama had a different idea.

And the herd included this magnificent buck.  As we observed him watching over his herd, we wondered how he kept his head upright with that huge rack.

 The Beech Grove School is the only one of the three schools that remains.  It was built in 1901 to replace an older log building.  School days ended soon after the park was established and relocation of families to communities outside the park was completed.

 The Caldwell house.  Hiram caldwell and his family lived for a long time in the old Levi Caldwell log house.  In 1903 he decided it was time for a new home and this one was completed in 1906.

 The Palmer barn...

 The Palmer chapel....

 ...and the Palmer house.  The Palmer family landed in Cataloochee in 1848 and he, his wife and their descendants became one of the most prosperous families in Cataloochee