The “Celebrating Cosby” programs offer a fun and meaningful way for families and visitors of all ages to connect with the rich history and culture of the Cosby area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Created through a special partnership between the National Park Service and local residents, these programs highlight the unique traditions, stories, and heritage of Cosby—helping to keep them alive for future generations.
Plan your visit to the Smokies to include these fun, free events held in the Cosby Campgrounds.
June 13, 7 p.m.- 8 p.m.Mountain Edge Band – bluegrass music and storytelling.
June 20, 7 p.m.- 8 p.m.Moonshiners- Distill myth from fact as you learn details of making moonshine in the mountains from Moonshine Legends Mark Ramsey, Sally Clark, Digger Manes and Kelly Williamson
The events will be held rain or shine. Free.
Come join us in discovering the people, places, and past that make Cosby a special part of the Smokies!
The Pigeon River flows about 70 miles from Haywood County, NC, to Newport, TN. It winds through the Pisgah National Forest, the Cherokee National Forest, and drains much of the northeastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Known for its rugged beauty and thrilling whitewater rapids, the Pigeon River Gorge has long been a key natural feature in the region. Originally used for transportation by Native American tribes and later by settlers, the river’s dramatic rapids and stunning landscapes have made it one of the Southeast’s top destinations for commercial rafting.
Early History
Before European settlers arrived, the Pigeon River and its surrounding lands served as hunting grounds for the Cherokee Nation, and the river was used for canoe travel. In the 19th century, the Pigeon River became an important waterway for local communities, particularly in the timber industry. Logs were floated down the river to sawmills, supporting the construction of buildings and production of goods.
The Rise of the Rafting Industry
Commercial rafting on the Pigeon River began in the mid-20th century. By the 1970s, the river was recognized as a prime recreation destination. Its strong, fast-moving waters offered perfect conditions for whitewater rafting, although water levels could be unpredictable. The rafting industry grew rapidly after the construction of the Walters Dam (also known as Waterville Dam), which regulated water levels, making the river more accessible for rafting. The sport’s surge in popularity, especially after whitewater rafting debuted as an Olympic event in the 1972 Munich Games, further fueled the industry’s growth.
By 1976, Olympians from the 1972 Games were organizing guided rafting trips on nearby rivers, including the Pigeon River. The regulated water releases from the dam helped solidify the Pigeon River’s status as one of the top whitewater rafting destinations in the Southeast.
The Pigeon River’s proximity to popular Smoky Mountain tourist towns like Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Cosby, and Hartford made it an attractive destination for adventure seekers. Rafting companies quickly sprang up along the riverbanks, offering everything from family-friendly float tours to adrenaline-pumping Class III and IV rapids.
The Pigeon River offers a unique combination of adventure, scenic beauty, and history, with both Tennessee and North Carolina offering distinct perspectives on the river’s journey. The Pigeon River Recreation Zone also provides access to hiking trails and waterfalls, enhancing the area’s appeal.
Go with the Flow- Rafting Adventures and River Fun.
Today, the Pigeon River is a hub for outdoor adventure tourism. Eleven companies currently offer guided rafting tours, making it a popular destination for individuals, families, and groups. Rafting on the Pigeon River provides an adrenaline rush while also giving visitors a chance to experience the stunning beauty of the Smoky Mountains from a one-of-a-kind perspective. Other nearby amenities include hiking, biking, and horse trails, fishing, ziplining, and camping.
From its early days as a transportation route to its current status as a premier rafting destination, the history of the Pigeon River reflects the broader growth of outdoor adventure tourism in the United States. The river continues to attract thousands of visitors year-round, while adapting to meet demands for environmental sustainability, safety, and excitement.
Long before interstates or railroads connected Asheville and Newport, farmers faced a challenge: getting their goods to market. The fertile valleys of the French Broad River and Cocke County produced an abundance of food that was in demand as far south as Charleston, SC.
A Fertile Land: Corn and Hog Farming
In 1874, Joseph Buckner Killebrew, a Tennessee Bureau of Agriculture agent, wrote about the area’s incredible potential:
“These are exceedingly fertile valleys, the soil equal to any in the State. It is alluvial and deep. With anything like fair cultivation, it will produce from fifty to one hundred bushels of corn to the acre.”
Much of the corn grown in Cocke County wasn’t used for milling or distilling. Instead, it was used to fatten hogs, which were then sold to markets throughout the South. Hogs are voracious eaters, and the corn yields in the river plains of Big Creek and the French Broad River were plentiful.
In contrast, the plantation farmers in Georgia and South Carolina focused on crops like cotton and rice, selling them in large cities or even globally. These plantation owners needed pork to feed the workers who planted, tended, and harvested their crops. And so, the famous hog drive through Cocke County was born.
The Hog Drive: A Journey to Asheville
Each year, beginning in early November, the hog drive would begin along the dusty road parallel to the French Broad River. Farmers would move their hogs in groups, heading to Asheville to sell them to plantation owners or slaughterhouses. A drover could move his herd about 10 miles a day, keeping the hogs on the move with loud calls like:
“Soo-eey,” “Su-boy,” or “Ho-o-o-yuh.”
Along the route, inns with pens and feed for the hogs were common, and sometimes the drovers would rest at these inns, possibly even spending the night.
One such inn, Wolf Creek Inn, stood near where Wolf Creek flows into the French Broad, south of Del Rio. This route became so famous for the hog drives that Asheville even erected a statue of walking hogs downtown, commemorating the city’s connection to this porcine economy.
The End of the Hog Drive Era
By 1880, the completion of the railroad between Newport and Asheville made the long road journey a thing of the past. The once-bustling hog drives faded into history.
Today, the 25 E Highway between Newport and Hot Springs, NC is part of the East Tennessee Crossing Byway, a national scenic byway. Interestingly, this same road is now popular with motorcycle clubs, especially those riding Harley-Davidson bikes—colloquially known as Hogs. The legend goes that a Harley-Davidson racing team adopted a hog as their mascot, and the name has stuck ever since.
Nestled on the north side of the Great Smoky Mountains is the quiet city of Newport Tennessee. Bordered by rivers, a train track, and divided by a state and federal highway, the city can be easily overlooked. But a glance into its past reveals a historic era from the late 1700’s forward worth exploring.
Cocke County Tennessee embodies a rich history of the pioneers who settled the area. The first town, Old New Port was formed in 1799 when John Gilliland, the first settler of Cocke County, donated fifty acres of land to build the town two years after Cocke County was established. New Port was thus named because it was a newport on the French Broad River. Fines Ferry, the former crossing for the French Broad River, no longer exists, and while much has changed, a few pieces of history still remain. But this history may be told differently depending on who you speak to in the present Newport.
The O’Dell house, the oldest structure still standing, is residential and has been declared an historic site. The building dates back to 1813 and was built by Abel Gilleland, son of John Gilleland, who settled in the area in 1783. The house is the primary physical reminder of the once bustling town of Old New Port. It is a significant architectural example of the type of residence built by men of prominence in early East Tennessee and is still occupied by descendants of the original owners. Few of this type of structure can still be found in this area.
Local resident, Edward Walker was born, raised, and still lives in Newport. As the history of the area goes, Walker is as much an historian as any. A former school teacher, now retired, Walker is a fount of information.
“The railroad arrived at the tiny village of Clifton in 1867,” said Walker. “This is when the controversy to move the county seat really revved up.”
Walker says you had the Cliftonites on one side and those living in New Port on the other. Whoever had the majority on the county legislative body would vote to move the county seat back and forth between the two. This happened at least three times. Finally, in 1884 the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that the county seat could be on the Pigeon River in what was the village of Clifton. The name followed and what once was Clifton became New Port. If that isn’t confusing enough, Clifton was also once known as Gorman’s Depot. But in 1884 all three converged to become the county seat with the name of Newport. The original courthouse in Newport did not survive a fire so many of the original records and photographs are lost.
By August of 1869 the railroad had extended as far east as Wolf Creek. A stagecoach was required at this point if you wanted to go to Hot Springs or Asheville. There was no crossing by railroad until 1882. The earliest existing Newport on the Pigeon map only dates back to 1887.
A discerning eye, with help from a local historian, can spot a few original buildings. The railroad tracks still run through town but are now used for freight only. The original main building of Newport Grammar School is the oldest, continually used, elementary school building in the state of Tennessee.
Walker says the town hit a boom in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Capitalists once looked to come to small towns when starting an industry. “Everyone had big ideas and talked big but wanted to build their business on the backs of the locals. The businesses would succeed but often moved elsewhere after a time.”
Following the route of state road 25E, the East Tennessee Crossing Byway is an 83-mile national scenic byway that links Cumberland Gap and to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive follows the old river road pathway to Asheville and Hot Springs, and runs directly through the town of Newport.
The design plan and completion of Interstate 40 cut a path through Cocke County and Newport. As with most highway system builds, downtowns lost their sense of purpose and direction when industry, and then commerce fled to the areas along highways. Newport was no different.
But Walker says the town is making a comeback. “Downtown Newport looks better now than it has for some time,” said Walker. “We have new businesses coming to town.”
Following the lead of many larger cities, Newport is finding its way back to purpose with the renaissance of new businesses. Newport makes for a great stopover for a cup of coffee, an ice cream treat, or a short walk around downtown to view the remaining historic buildings before trekking on to the Great Smoky Mountains.
Newport’s and Cocke County’s history is woven together with the stories of Appalachian life, mountains, rivers, and the people who lived here.
If you don’t know this name- Wilma Dykeman- you should. Author, conservationist, activist, and historian, Ms. Dykeman’s legacy in Cocke County touches the very water we drink, fish, and play in, while her writing have captured the imagination of so many who come to visit the Smokies.
She chronicled the French Broad as a river, a watershed, and a way of life where yesterday and tomorrow meet in odd and fascinating harmony. And how was she to know, that her assertion that environmental sensitivity can encourage broad-based economic development without risking the balance between nature and commerce.
Her romance with Appalachia’s beauty and with her future husband led her to the ribbon cutting dedication of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on Oct 2, 1940. A month later, she would marry and eventually move to her husband’s family home in Newport, TN along the bluffs of the Pigeon River. Her life’s work is marked by her legacy.
Read more about the work of this incredible woman here.
Cocke County is filled with historic sites to see such as the Swaggerty Fort in Parrottsville.
Tucked in the northeast corner of Cocke County, the average traveler would not necessarily find Parrottsville, unless they were driving from Newport to Greensville. Along the way, a traveler would discover that Parrottsville is one of the oldest towns in Tennessee dating back to 1780, a decade before Tennessee became a state and just a few years post American Revolution.
The original settlers of Parrottsville came from Germany. Two properties are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Yett Ellison House (1857) on Main St and the Swaggerty Block House just north of the downtown on 321 along Clear Creek.
A controversy regarding the date of the structure and purpose was debated until 2009. Blockhouses were fortifications built on edges of the western frontier to protect settlers and to protect Indian lands. The name Swaggerty dates back to an early settler- James Swaggerty, around the time of 1787. Conflict between the settlers and Native Americans were heightened due the Indigenous People’s alliance with the British during the Revolutionary War, and with the repeated breaking of land treaties by settler expansion onto tribal lands.
While the Swaggerty blockhouse has features of a frontier blockhouse, research conducted by graduate student, D Mann, University of TN in 2009* proved that the building was likely built in 1860 by land owner and farmer, Jacob Stephens.
Summer’s sticky sweetness is often celebrated around a blazing campfire with the delicious making of the confection called ‘smores and the storytelling of tall tales and folk legends.
Marshmallows and graham crackers are the stuff legends are made of. Near one of the entrances to the sprawling Union Cemetery in Newport, you’ll find the grave of Earl Mitchell, a salesman for the Chattanooga Bakery and the force behind the Moon Pie. Mitchell was born in nearby Greene County and his travel route brought him to towns in East Tennessee and Kentucky.
According to the company website, Mitchell got the idea for the Moon Pie after a conversation with a Kentucky Coal miner in 1917. The miner wanted a snack “as big as the moon” and Mitchell delivered with a snack that would fit in a lunch pail. A small marker at the foot of Mitchell’s grave gives him credit for “inventing” the Moon Pie.Quite often folks will leave a Moon Pie and an RC cola at the foot of his grave
Which gooey confection of graham crackers, marshmallow, and chocolate came first? The Moon Pie was being sold by 1917, and has been continuously produced for over one hundred years.
Legend has it that roasting marshmallows began as early as 1890. The first recipe for ‘smores appeared as a recipe in a Girl Scout handbook in 1927.
It seems that the irresistible combination of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham crackers have continued to be a sweet treat for many generations.
