Caldwell Place

Caldwell Place is a historic farmstead in Cataloochee Valley, with a two-story, nine-room frame house, a barn and a springhouse. Hiram Caldwell built the house between 1903 and 1906; it is one of the largest preserved homes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Go inside if you like old buildings and the small clues they preserve. The house and nearby barn are open to visitors, but the rooms are unfurnished.

Newspaper sheets were used as wallpaper, and fragments still show lines from old articles. Elaborate interior woodwork survives too. With the rooms empty, the construction and household details do the storytelling.

The house is about 2 miles (3.2 km) beyond Cataloochee Campground. Parking is across the road, then it is a short walk to the buildings. From I-40, the direct route follows US 276 and Cove Creek Road about 11 miles into the valley, including roughly 15 minutes on gravel. The narrow road winds past steep, unguarded drop-offs, and oncoming traffic can mean stopping or backing up. Take the drive slowly and allow time for it.

Cataloochee is home to one of the park's two main elk herds, and elk may be seen in the fields near the historic buildings, though sightings are never assured. The house is easier to photograph in afternoon light; the meadow across the road catches morning light and is a good place to scan for wildlife.