We departed from Creekside RV Park at 11 am and made our way into Gatlinburg, via the Parkway, to avoid some of the stop and go traffic. Our destination was the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. It's an intimate journey through the Smoky Mountains lush mountain wilderness. Drive along the road and immerse yourself in the mossy green rocks and boulders as you gaze at the water rushing through the mountains.
Its name derived from a “roaring” mountain stream, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail twists and turns for six miles, forming a one-way looping scenic drive through the Great Smoky Mountains. The narrow roadway only allows cars—trucks, trailers. Unfortunately, or maybe it's a good thing, RVs cannot fit on this road.
Healthy second growth forests escort the road on its journey. A few better drained ridges support a pine-oak forest, but cove hardwoods and hemlocks dominate the landscape. Rhododendron's thick, sprawling foliage green the understory year-round. In early July their pink blooms highlight the shadowy forest.
The drive on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail begins at the Noah “Bud” Ogle farmstead, where you can take a walking tour of the historic buildings. The cabin, barn and working tub mill have all been restored and preserved. One look at the Ogles’ handcrafted wooden flume plumbing system will make you think twice before you complain about modern day plumbing!
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail also provides access to the Trillium Gap Trail. You can hike the Trillium Gap Trail to reach Grotto Falls, the only place in the Smoky Mountains where you can stand behind the falls as the water cascades to the pool. If hiking to a waterfall is not your thing, the Place of a Thousand Drips can be reached by car. It’s one of two waterfalls in the park accessible by caron the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
In places, it reveals some of nature's secrets, while in others it weaves the story of the people who once lived here. Water is a constant companion on this journey. Cascades, rapids, and falls adorn the roadside. The sound of rushing water is never far away. The air feels damp and tropical throughout the summer months, yet the icy water rarely reaches 60 F.
No trip to Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is complete without getting a history lesson by visiting the old cabins, barns and working tub mills that have been preserved and restored. See the early settlers’ ingenuity firsthand at the Noah “Bud” Ogle homestead. The one-time Ogle farm features a handcrafted wooden flume plumbing system as well as one of the few working tub mills still in existence.
The historic district of Roaring Fork includes the Jim Bales place, the Ephraim Bales place, and the Alfred Reagan place. The problem with stopping is the parking is limited and all filled up! Especially when you need 2 spots to park!
Before we headed back into town, we found Ely's Mill, near the end of the motor trail, and two parking spots! Its a family owned and operated mill built in 1925. Inside Ely’s Mill you can score a jar of delicious honey, locally-made antiques, and crafts that make for fun keepsakes. You can also rent a cabin.
Known as "Old Man Ely", he was a Yale law school graduate, a practicing Tennessee lawyer and a printer. Disenchanted with city life after the death of his wife, he bought this 25 acre tract in an effort to live a healthy life. He preached against smoking and strong drink--coffee, tea, alcohol--along with the evils of various foods: milk, salt, white bread, and "store-bought" food.
He advocated eating fresh vegetables, bananas, buttermilk and lots of spring water. For years, the old Lines Bakery made a special bread from his flour. There was no subject he felt lukewarm about, be it politics, taxes, marriage, youth, religion, or the like. It's been told that if he liked you he'd talk for hours, but if he didn't approve of you, he'd take the whole afternoon off just to tell you so.
He hired local craftsmen to build the mill and showroom to display their wares. Initially called the Water Wheel Craft Shop, the mill featured weaving and local crafts, made solid wood furniture and sold antiques. The water wheel powered the machinery in the furniture shop, belt sanders, lathes, planers, and saws, by a system of pulleys and belts.
The wheel itself is almost 30 feet in diameter and 8 feet wide. It was supplied with water from a race which came over the top of the buildings and began 800 feet upstream. A second mill was located 800 feet downstream to do the grinding of corn and wheat.
As the place grew, more buildings were added: barns for livestock, sheds and chicken houses. A caretaker family lived here also to tend the garden, keep bees and manage the animals and grounds. A hammer mill was built to crush and mix feeds. A blacksmith shop was added to repair tools and make parts. When the building was completed in the 1940's, Ely's Mill had grown to almost twenty buildings.
No, Sheryl is not trying to push Gary in... We had to "test" the water...
Yes, it was a bit cold!
While we had a signal here, we added our names to the wait list for Five Oaks Farm Kitchen. It was going to be a 60 - 75 minute wait. Perfect... that gave us plenty of time to slowly finish our scenic drive!
Five Oaks Farm Kitchen is proud to carry on the legacy and lore of Dr. John and Blanche Ogle.
Dating back to String Town, their hospitality was known throughout the county.
The Ogle family is well known in the Sevier County area. The first Ogles settled in East Tennessee in 1925 on the Five Oaks property.
They worked the land to provide for their family, and their legacy continues today through several businesses, including Ogle Brothers General Store.
Just for "chocolate" Terri, they have warm chocolate gravy!
Later in the evening, we enjoyed warm peach & apple cobbler with ice cream, conversation and trivia. Before the rain chased us all inside!
Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!
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