Eagle Creek Copper Mine

Another "legend" I heard about growing up was the Eagle Creek Copper Mine. It supposedly had all the mining equipment still there, several pits and railroad ties to see. After investigating this legend I found out that it does in fact exist. I have been there four times and keep finding neat things. From Eagle Creek on Fontana Lake, go toward Campsite 90 but turn right into another draw. I will post its name later. Paddle about a mile and on your left will be an obvious opening in the woods. Immediately you will find railroad ties almost operating as steps up to the mine site Once there you will see the fenced in pits to your right and machinery to your left. Up on a rise to the left is this winch that my son is standing near.

These are the ties at one of the fenced pits.

Again, a photo of the winch.

Panther Creek Slate Quarry and Rail Car

Fact or Fiction? When I was growing up I heard about a train car still on its tracks in the Abrams Creek section of the Smokies. I hiked in three times to the Panther Creek area and finally hiked up far enough to find the answer. I will add more later but in a nut shell there are remnants of the quarry activity there! Below is the sky line that went from the north shore to the cart.


Here is Mike Wood kneeling at the arch behind the cart. The skyline apparantly looped here for its anchor.

An here is the cart...still on tracks! Not very large but a cart nonetheless! So....FACT!

Tri-pacer Airplane Crash

Here my friend Charlie Wimmer is at the crash site. This is close to Double Springs Gap shelter just off the AT a few yards.

The plane crashed in a snow storm and the pilot survived! I will add more details later.

Another look at the Piper Tri-pacer

Sugarlands Rock House

You gotta wonder who built this house, who visited it, who slept in it, what was cooked, how deep the snow ever got, how many animals came by and finally who was the last person to stay in it before it was torn down.

This is looking south from the fireplace hearth. Notice the beds to the right. I think I counted four sets of beds inside and outside the house. Two are beautiful with neat designs at the feet.

The hearth in the larger of the rooms. Pots and pans are still there lying even on the mantle.

Here is a map to the cabin.

This is a gas stove. It has three burners (which are still there).