Mountain News
This is the Spring/ Summer issue of the Mountain News. We invite you
to come and visit us in the mountains of East Tennessee and enjoy
the seclusion of the forest and its wondrous natural beauty. The
cabins at Whispering Ridge provide just the right amount of nature,
seclusion and comfort. They all feature Hot Tubs, a full kitchen,
air conditioning and heat, TV/VCR and linens. Each cabin has its own
private campfire site and picnic area. Our cabins feature charming
appointments and each have their own unique theme.
The newest cabin is the Davy Crockett. It is secluded deep in the forest on the side of a mountain. It sleeps nine and has a gas log fireplace. It also has an extra large deck and refreshing hot tub just out back. The cabin is completely constructed of rough sawn lumber cut from the surrounding forest just like Davy's home. The smell of fresh cut lumber brings one back to a time when pioneers explored the mountains for new hunting grounds and encountered wild Indians.
Adjacent to the Davy Crockett and underneath the canopy of the forest the ground is covered with a velvety material unique to this area known as ground pine. It creates a beautiful rich green layer that carpets the floor of the forest. On our new nature trail you might also see a Lady Slipper or Wild Mountain Lilly blooming here too! Our next cabin, the Mountaineer, has recently been completed and has a tree house effect. It sleeps eight and features a deck with Hot Tub just outside your front door. It is nestled high on a ridge among the trees and has all the comforts of home.
The Woodsman sleeps 4-5 people and also has a complete amenity
package including a relaxing Spa nestled in the forest for your
enjoyment. Whispering Ridge Cabins are located just minutes from
white water rafting on the Ocoee and Hiwassee rivers. Please visit
us online at our new website. You can book your reservation online
at
www.whisperingridgecabins.com
Springtime in the Mountains
Dogwoods and redbuds are blooming, a sure sign that spring is here
and summer is just around the corner. The change of season is
nature's way of inviting you to enjoy all the outdoor activities
that the mountains and surrounding area have to offer. At Whispering
Ridge Cabins we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by the
Cherokee National Forest and just minutes from the Hiwassee River
and Ocoee River. These rivers provide plenty of outdoor fun
including white water rafting or just relaxing while quietly gliding
downstream in a canoe.
If you enjoy hiking, the John Muir Trail is just minutes from Whispering Ridge Cabins. It offers a relaxing scenic hike along the Hiwassee River. Another hiking area known for its beauty as well as its gold panning is Coker Creek Falls. This trail is a little more rugged than the John Muir, but worth the adventure.
At Whispering Ridge Cabins we are just 13 miles from the Cherohala Skyway, a 52-mile scenic highway that starts at Tellico Plains, Tennessee and ends in Robinsville, North Carolina. This is something you must see! Amazing scenic views and elevations of over 5,000 feet create an awe-inspiring experience. There are also scenic overlooks along the way as well as areas where you can picnic and hike. At the end of the trek, turn left on FR81 and follow the signs to the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. This is the last virgin forest in the southeast. The size and beauty of the trees will amaze you!
For additional information on other sites to visit and activities in
the mountains you can go to
www.tennesseeoverhill.com
for a complete listing. We hope you come and visit us soon and enjoy
the mountains and friendly atmosphere of our area so that we can say
"Welcome to the Mountains!"
Did you know?
By 1700, Cherokee Indian hunters and
trappers from East Tennessee provided various skins for the European
fur trade including beaver. However, the most highly prized were
deerskins. The Cherokees from this area were known as the Overhill
Cherokees. They hunted and trapped from their agriculturally-based
villages, which were settlements along the Little Tennessee,
Tellico, Hiwassee and the Ocoee Rivers. In the 1700s they provided
thousands of deerskins to the European leather market. In the 1800s,
White-tailed deer provided Indians and white settlers with meat and
pelts until the mid-1800s.
After 1850 white settler populations grew and by the early 1890s deer were virtually extinct not only in Tennessee but also in most of the eastern United States. In 1943, deer were restocked by the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission. Today deer are plentiful in our area and hunters keep the growing deer population in check.