I Wandered Off The Beaten Path On This Iconic Tennessee Location To See One Of The Best Cabins In The Smokies
By Chris Dodge|Published April 24, 2024
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Chris Dodge
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My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
I have always wanted to go to John Oliver Place, but have always skipped it for some reason. This historic cabin is located in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains, and although I have been on this scenic route many times I have never made the time to stop to explore this cabin. One brisk morning we were driving through this area of the Smokies once again and decided to finally stop and check it out. What we found was an intriguing piece of Appalachian history and worthwhile detour while in Cades Cove.
Driving around and looking for bears is one of my favorite things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There is no better place to do it than the scenic one-road drive through Cades Cove. One foggy morning we set off in search of the elusive black bear once again and I decided to finally stop and check out John Oliver’s cabin.
The structure is a bit hidden with a small parking area and a long path through the field leading up to it. I have heard several people mention how they have seen black bears roaming around the property, and I myself have even seen them in the very fields I started my journey on! I am not afraid of bears, but they're something I always prepare for, so I kept my eyes open and my bear spray close.
The cabin was a brilliantly created structure and I started to imagine what it was like to live in such a place. I pictured waking up early and hearing the creaking floorboards as I prepared for the day. I put myself in the shoes of the individuals who would start a fire to prepare a meal and warm up the cabin.
I noticed a small staircase and had to explore further. Most cabins I have seen from this time period don’t typically have a second story, so it was exciting to see it. I carefully moved up each step in the narrow staircase.
There was a railing that did not allow visitors to walk in the second story section, but you can peek at what it was like to have a wide open space that the family presumably used as a sleeping area.
The exact date of this cabin is unknown, but John Oliver arrived in the area in 1818, so it is presumed that his cabin was finished in 1820. That makes this one of the oldest structures in the Smokies! Building such a place back then was no easy task, as each log had to be hand cut, shaped, and placed just right to finalize this design. There were no chainsaws or power tools to help get the job done, just back-breaking labor. Knowing this made me appreciate the craftsmanship so much more. The work that went into building this cabin and having it still standing after 200 years is a testament to the workmanship!
I stopped to read a sign and was greeted by a lovely couple who wanted to ask me a few questions about the Smokies. I apparently looked like a local to these tourists, which I was very proud of, and gave them some helpful tips. I gave them a few suggestions on how to look for bears and recommended that they also take some time to explore the ghost town of Elkmont while they were on their Smoky Mountains trip.
I said my goodbyes and decided to take a different path back. This time I choose to go through the woods. It was so quiet and peaceful as I traversed the simple hike back. The area is similar to many of the Smoky Mountain trails I have been on, with downed trees in the distance and many green rhododendrons lining the trail. I got back to my vehicle without seeing any bears and continued to have a great relaxing day in my favorite national park.
John Oliver Place is something I have wanted to visit for a long time now and was glad I finally stopped. There is just so much history built into these mountains, making for an interesting detour on an already amazing scenic drive. To learn more about this history please visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park page. If you decide to go on any of the trails in the park I would highly suggest bringing along bear spray I always have it ready on the side of my backpack just in case.
Another must-stop place in Cades Cove is the old Methodist church so make sure you check it out. If you want to see more of our journey through Cades Cove check out this Adventuring in the Moment video. This was also the trip where we saw the most amount of deer we have ever seen in the park.
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