Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse

Little Greenbrier Schoolhouse is a one-room log building in Metcalf Bottoms that served the Little Greenbrier community as a school, church, and gathering place. It’s a good stop if you want a look at everyday life in the old Smokies; it’s a small historic place, not a grand house or a big attraction. When Little Greenbrier Road is open, you can drive close to the school.

From Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area, the packed dirt trail climbs through hardwood forest, with some steep sections, roots, and rocks. The full 3.4-mile round trip continues uphill from the school to the Walker Homesite, so the school comes first if you want to make it your turnaround. Little Greenbrier Road closes in winter. Dogs aren’t allowed on the trail, and the nearest restroom is at the picnic area.

The school was built in 1881 from tulip poplar logs. Local residents raised it after Gilbert Abbott donated the land, with Ephraim Ogle supplying the timber. Richard Perryman was the first of 39 teachers, and some students walked nine miles daily from Meigs Mountain to get to class. The school also served as a church and meeting place for the valley until 1936.

A cemetery sits near the school, adding a quiet reminder that this was once a lived-in community, not just a stop on a trail. For a photo, step back along the bend in the gravel path to fit the whole three-quarter view of the log walls, shingled roof, and wooded setting into the frame.