Appalachian Clubhouse

Appalachian Clubhouse is a 3,000-square-foot meeting hall at the north end of Elkmont Historic District, on Jakes Creek Road B. It belonged to the Appalachian Club, whose Knoxville members vacationed among the cabins at Daisy Town. Stop if you’re already exploring Elkmont’s history; for a standalone visit, keep expectations modest. The building is now chiefly a seasonal day-rental venue, so treat it as an exterior stop unless your group has a reservation rather than expecting a regular interior tour.

The one-story clubhouse was rebuilt in 1934 after a fire and restored to its 1930s character. Its dark timber walls, tall stone chimney and broad covered porches sit among the trees. French doors along the east side open from the 60-by-25-foot hall to a porch facing forest and a small creek; inside, exposed beams and two massive stone fireplaces give the room its character. For a photo, include the chimney and both porch sections in the frame so the building’s shape reads against the woods.

The hall is rustic rather than climate-controlled: it has electricity and running water, but no heat or air-conditioning, stove or refrigerator. A warming kitchen supports catered food, not cooking from scratch. Accessible flush restrooms are about 150 feet away. Fifteen parking spaces are reserved for clubhouse use; vehicles parked elsewhere need to follow the park’s regular parking-tag rules. Jakes Creek and Little River trailheads are nearby, making this easy to pair with a longer Elkmont visit.

The Appalachian Club began in the early 1900s as a hunting and fishing retreat on land leased by lumber-company owner W.B. Townsend. Knoxville families built nearly 80 cabins along Jakes Creek between 1910 and 1935. Before the logging railroad tracks were removed in 1925, families reached their summer cabins by train; afterward they drove in. The customary cabin season ran from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the clubhouse was where members and guests gathered.