You have to hand it to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the rest of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They know how to entertain guests, even when the attractions seem to be hiding in plain sight.

Hidden Smokies Road Trip

But even "hidden" attractions aren't really hidden in a region that prides itself on bringing in tourists every second of every year. It doesn't seem like a week goes by that we're not hearing about something new to see in the Smokies. However, the "hidden" Smokies Road Trip is shrouded in name only.

House of the Fairies

Built as part of an estate in the 1920s, this hobbit-like enclosure is a favorite of hikers who regularly make sojourns to the Smokies. Yes, it's part of the "road trip," but the road takes you to the point where you need to start hiking.

Elkmont Troll Bridge

Don't worry. Humanity has left all the trolls to the Brothers Grimm. But not this troll bridge. Now this one IS hidden, but these folks will show you how to get there. Charge your phone; you'll want to take a lot of pictures.

Steam Engine Wreck

The remains of an old steam engine can be found on this Road Trip, but you have to know where to look. What's an old steam engine doing amongst the forestry of the Smoky Mountains? Visit My Smokies will tell you.

Thomas Divide Tunnel

I love tunnels. I'm the guy who will honk while driving through one of them. Every time. The Thomas Divide Tunnel in the Smokies would not be an exception. Of course, I'd have to bring a portable horn, as you can see:

Road to Nowhere Tunnel

I hope SOMEONE cues up the Talking Heads while navigating this tunnel. It's the right thing to do. Anyway, the Road to Nowhere comes with a vaguely creepy but no less fascinating history that dates back to World War II and a Tennessee Valley Authority Project that went awry.

Ogle Tub Mill

The Hidden Smokies Road Trip gives guests an opportunity to "ogle" a piece of a equipment from an old school occupation. Having just learned of the Ogle Tub Mill, I'm also happy to report on my newfound knowledge of millstones.

Proctor Ghost Town

I'm quite pleased that we're wrapping up with ghost towns. Proctor is gone and is now a ghost town because of that same errant TVA project I mentioned earlier. By the way, it's underwater. It just got creepier, didn't it?

Elkmont Ghost Town

Visit My Smokies has an eerie tale to tell about the former resort town known as Elkmont:

When the national park was established in 1934, residents had to decide whether they would sell their homes for full value and relocate right away, or they could sell their properties to the National Park Service for a discounted price and get to stay in their homes for the remainder of their lifetime. Most of the leases expired in 1992, so the Great Smoky Mountains National Park had about 70 historic buildings with no one to maintain them.

These dilapidated old structures formed what is now the Elkmost Ghost Town.

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Proof keeps rolling in that you need at least two weeks in the Smokies (and that still might not be enough) to get everything in. Happy trails, quite literally.

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