Stories from Great Smoky Mountains National Park ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a wealth of history with lots of stories. We hope the stories we have published will enlighten you and cause you to appreciate these mountains even more.

Stories from Smoky Mountain Settlers
"I was born about a mile and a half or two miles below Gatlinburg. That's what is known as Huskey's Grove Branch now. That's where I go to church at, Huskey's Grove, but I was raised in and around Gatlinburg. I used to live in the Sugarlands before the park service ever was started." -- Reaford McCarter
[Read entire story]

Ghost Stories from the Smoky Mountains
" I heard my father tell about the time that he was a young man doing his courtin'. He would travel down what they call Sugarland Branch now, and there was a place where you cross a little creek. Everybody was scared of that place because . . ."
[Read the ghost stories]

Personal Accounts
Trip to Mt. LeConte Lodge - We convened at Skip's house on the afternoon of Easter Sunday, April 12th to begin "The Great Mt LeConte Adventure". I was to drive the Rodeo so we could all ride together. We loaded up and departed around 3:00 pm headed for Gatlinburg. This trip had been in the works for 6 months and I think all of us were looking forward to it. We spent the night in Gatlinburg.

Storytellers
Dianne Hackworth, Storyteller - When listening to Dianne Hackworth you will realize immediately why storytelling is once again becoming a popular form of art. The stories she tells creates images in the mind, "better than TV" as one first grader exclaims! Touring throughout the Southeast telling stories for all ages, Dianne brings to life Appalachian and Celtic folktales; stories of fantastic beings, dragons and jugglers; musical tales of cats, monsters, and toads; humorous stories, scary stories, and touching tales.
Kathleen Mavournin - Kathleen's interest in storytelling goes back to her childhood. She has learned her craft through practice and performance, through detailed observation of master storytellers, and from coaching, workshops, and intensive seminars by superb tellers. Her repertoire includes rarely heard stories from distant countries as well as familiar European fairytales and Appalachian, Native American, Hasidic, and Celtic stories. She leads workshops on telling life stories, creating fairytales from personal experiences, and goddess mythology. She teaches storytelling to children and also teaches teachers how to teach storytelling to children.
Elizabeth Rose, Storyteller - Elizabeth Rose was introduced to the world of storytelling by her family in the traditional way, by sitting around the table and on the front porch sharing stories and episodes of life growing up in the small southern town of Etowah, TN. Elizabeth’s stories include a blend of traditional southern folklore, fairy tales, ghost stories, and folktales from around the world.
Millie Sieber - Millie Sieber is a member of Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association, the National Storytelling Network, and a board member of Tennessee Association for the Preservation and Perpetuation of Storytelling (TAPPS.) One of her proudest accomplishments is that she co-founded the highly respected Cleveland (TN) Storytellers Guild, which sponsors OCOEE STORY FEST each spring.