Smoky Mountains To Close Three Historic Homes This Summer

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced the temporary closure of three park historic structures over the course of the summer. The Joe Queen House in Oconaluftee, NC, the Hiram Caldwell House in Cataloochee, NC, and the Noah Bud Ogle Cabin along the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg, TN will each have repair work completed by the park’s Historic Preservation Crew. In addition, the flagstone walkways at Newfound Gap will be undergoing sequenced closures to facilitate needed masonry work.

The Joe Queen House in Oconaluftee, NC has been closed to the public since Tuesday, May 27 in order to replace the roof over the historic kitchen. Scaffolding, as well as a temporary fence in a 20-foot perimeter, has been erected to allow the park’s preservation crew to safely complete the necessary repairs. The house is scheduled to reopen to visitors on Saturday, June 7.

The Hiram Caldwell House in Cataloochee, NC will be closed to the public from Monday, June 9 until Friday, July 18 to conduct repairs and repaint the exterior. Scaffolding will be erected around the structure for the duration of the project to allow park staff to perform work on the foundation, windows, porches, soffits, ceilings and floors. Due to the extensive nature of the repairs and hazards of personal injury, public access will be prohibited. Signs and barricades at the foot bridge will be installed, as well as temporary fencing in a 20-foot perimeter around the area. The house is scheduled to reopen for visitation on Friday, July 18.

The Noah Bud Ogle Cabin on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will be closed to the public from Monday, July 21 until Friday, August 15 to replace the wood shake roof. The cabin will be accessible to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, but temporary fencing will be in place during the week to ensure visitor and staff safety. The parking area which serves the cabin will be open continually, but three spaces will be reserved Monday through Thursday for use by Preservation staff. The cabin will be reopened for normal visitation on Saturday, August 16.

The walkways around the parking lot and Rockefeller monument at Newfound Gap will be undergoing partial closures from Monday, August 4 until Tuesday, September 30 to allow the preservation crew to reset and re-grout the flagstone walks. Park staff will place signs and barricades around the affected areas as the work progresses, removing them once the walkways are safe for visitor traffic. Work will be conducted Monday through Thursday during normal business hours. Access to the monument and comfort stations will remain open.



Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies