Smoky Mountain Pickin’ always follows visits to our daughter who lives in Maryville, near the Smokies. Her hubby is a direct descendant of one of the original Cades Cove families, so we often visit the Cove or an obscure historic site if we can find one. Elkmont fills the bill, a fascinating abandoned village right in the middle of the Smokies, so interesting to visit for its crumbling vacation cottages, most of which are falling in.
Look at that fantastic chimney!
Most of these cottages were built between 1910 and 1930 and renovated over the years. Now the Park Service will save only a few, allowing the rest to fall in….demolition by neglect.
The pink cottage, the last one vacated, is in better shape than the others, and restored for modern use. The others? They don’t look too bad until you get up close, and see the deterioration, holes in the floor, holes in the roof, rot, water damage, etc.
The visit is not complete without seeing the site of the Old Wonderland Hotel built in 1911 with its heyday in the 1920’s.
So back to pickin’~Speaking of antiques, Townsend, Tennessee, where we were staying, is LOADED with antique shops. A great place to browse for us vintage lovers!
Unfortunately, the thrift stores were slim pickin’s. We went to about 5 & this is it!
The real Smoky Mountain Pickin’ jackpot came on the weekend where we hit one estate sale, and several good yard sales. Here is the extent of that haul. This would have been impossible without GPS…Cheapskate Southern Girl Picker finally got one, even though hubby says reading maps is good for the mind.
MOST favorite finds…would you look at that cool 50’s pink can opener?? Vintage suitcase…no handle, and beautiful etched glass lamp…I LOVE old suitcases so this was a lucky find!
The frosted vintage hurricane lamp came from a rummage sale. Examining it closely to discover why it was so cheap at $2, I discovered AFTER I got home~I may have just inherited a new lamp…I’m not so sure it will sell with this much damage…what do you think?
Kicking myself AGAIN for not examining closely enough…one of my biggest faults. (a bad fault to have)
Most of these will be going into my Etsy shop~
But here’s what’s already sold~
Vintage Rotating Tie Holder, Lighthouse Lantern, Boston Rocker Doll Chair, Pink Can Opener, Thrift store Silverplate Tray.
Hope you’ve enjoyed the mini tour of Elkmont! Perhaps it’s encouraged you to visit and pick the riches of Tennessee!
DON’T FORGET TO PIN PLEASE~
Florence
Latest posts by Florence (see all)
- The Latest Vintage Hauls - February 10, 2020
- A Vintage Fall Haul - November 3, 2019
- September Sales on Etsy and My New Antique Booth - September 30, 2019
- Camping Trip Thrift Store Haul - August 2, 2019
I love old structures! Your photos are beautiful! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Thank you Marci!
What a magical place, My husband and myself would love to visit there, we are big bikers and i heard its great for that. Winding roads and all.
Yes it is great for that…crowds yet out in the woods. We love it!
My goodness Florence these pickins are fabulous. I love the little lighthouse lantern and the mini rocking chair is so cute. You definitley have an eye for these things. And that resort must have been magnificent in it’s heyday, too bad they don’t restore it.
Thanks Mary! Yes I’m disappointed, too, that the Park Service won’t restore those old buildings, but they are letting them fall in so they can go back to nature. And they can’t tear them down because they’ve reached historic status.
that pink can opener is fab. I might have kept that one for myself if I found it..
I know…it is so cool! Thanks for your comment Kimberly!
What a beautiful and enchanted place to visit! And you found such great treasures too! I’d love to go!
The Smokies are beautiful! We are blessed to be able to go often. Thanks for stopping by Katrin!
What a shame the state won’t restore the cabins. I know money is always tight, but those could be money makers!
I adore that pink can opener! And some lucky duck already has it. Pretty quick sell, wasn’t it?
(I like the new blog design, too.)
Yes it is a shame & there’s so MUCH interest in them. I’m not sure it’s a money issue. From what I understand about it, the Park Service wants the area to go back to nature. They can’t tear them down because they’ve reached historic status. So they just let them fall in.
Yes the pink can opener sold pretty quickly! I’ve never seen another one like it.
And yes I like this blog design so much better!
Such a fascinating place to visit, Florence. I’d so love to do a “photo-shoot” there. I enjoyed all your finds, but that pink can opener is something else–just wonderful. So glad you linked your posts up with us at Vintage Charm!
Thank you Diana! Appreciate your comment!
surprised to see Maryville there, my sister lives there too. LeeAnna at not afraid of color blog
Oh yes Maryville! Love Maryville…a quaint little town, and close to the Smokies! Small world your sister living there. Has she lived there long? Does she like it?