Bear Camp - 23rd Annual Mountain Quiltfest
The Smoky Mountains don’t just feel like a magical place, they really are a mystical destination. The phrase “old as the hills” rings true when you really dive into the old lore of the mountains. When you come to visit, take this otherworldly tour and investigate for yourself. Here are six of the Smokies’ best kept secrets.
1. Elkmont Trollbridge
Escape to a place that really feels like a glimpse into a mythical land. The Elkmont Trollbridge is a true hidden gem that only locals know about. Hike along the Little River Trail until you reach this spot. Covered in moss and mushrooms, the Trollbridge is perfect for capturing pictures or looking for hidden fantastical creatures.
2. House Of The Fairies
This whimsical spot is only a mile from downtown Gatlinburg yet it feels like you’ve been transported into another realm. Map to this magical place, then go out and explore. Here, you’ll find towering trees and moss covered logs and boulders. Then at the end of the trail you’ll see it...an arched doorway, that looks like it’s almost cut into the side of the hill, sits with a wooden ladder leaning against the frame. Step inside and find a cool spring, filled with water that tinkles like bells.
3. Synchronous Fireflies
The synchronized fireflies that come out every year like clockwork might be more science than magic but when you’re sitting among the trees and they begin to spark in unison, flickering in and out of sight, it feels like something otherworldly. This rare phenomenon is only seen in a few places in the world and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of them.
4. Elkmont Ghost Town
Once a thriving vacation spot for the Knoxville elite, the Elkmont Ghost Town looks like a legend brought back to life. Recently restored, explore inside the homes and hike trails where you will find the remains of homes once occupied by Appalachian locals who would serve, supply and work in the town. This piece of history is frozen in time and feels like stepping back into the past.
There are many magical places in the Smokies and these are only four of them. Don’t stop here, continue to search for more mystical creatures and sprites living in the trees and hollows. To discover more, stay overnight in the mountains in a log cabin. This cabin is even called Magical Moments, which is exactly what you’ll find when you visit the Smoky Mountains.
Quilting, Pigeon Forge Cabins & Gatlinburg Cabins go back a long way
If you had to guess which events that traditionally take place in Spring draws some of the biggest crowds and most hardcore of fans to the subject at hand, and it wasn't a Rod Run, would you guess the annual Mountain QUILTFEST? Probably not, but then again, quilting has a surprisingly large and dedicated base of people, as Pinterest and Instagram have shown us, and the artform was more than a necessity here in Appalachian history.
With as cold as the Winter gets here in the Smokies, it's safe to say that if out ancestors here didn't know how to quilt and pass it down along the line, we wouldn't HAVE an Appalachian culture to celebrate today! We wouldn't have survived!But thankfully we did and so did quilting. Heck, quilting more than survives in the South - as evidenced by this being close to the quarter-century mark for as many years as we've been enjoying everything the Mountain Quiltfest has to offer. The Quiltfest is a near week-long affair going on between March 21st and March 25th for 2017 and many, many, MANY exquisite works of quilting art will be on display for all to see. Traditional patterns, creative patterns and maybe even some avant-garde quilting can all be expected along with over 50 vendor booths filled with quilts and quilting merchandise.
But displaying and selling quilts is not the only big reason this event draws major crowds - there is also much to find for those who want instruction and participation too. More than 15 quilting instructions will be there providing workshops to help quilters of all skill sets learn and hone the craft. The featured instructor will be RaNae Merrill from New York City (http://www.ranaemerrillquilts.com/) and, as traditional as the event itself, there will of course be a quilting competition with over 20 categories to enter into - there's even a youth category as well! Over $20,000 in cash and prizes are available to winners, so those of you with some confidence have a good reason to come on by!
A Mountain Quiltfest will be held at LeConte Conference Center in downtown Pigeon Forge and it's extremely convenient to get to from just about any of our cabins here at Bear Camp Cabins. Find the closest cabin to the event available by going to https://www.bearcampcabins.com/find-a-cabin/.
Click Here to Get more information on the 23rd A Mountain Quiltfest
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