Don’t Miss the “Behind the Scenes Tour” with Mike Meldrum
Who would know more about Cades Cove than a retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranger? Here is an opportunity to go behind the scenes with expert Mike Meldrum. You will not want to miss this amazing tour. In this week’s blog, we will tell you what you can expect in this Cades Cove tour.
Visitors will also have the chance to hear about Joe Gregory’s thriving business.
Back in the day, Joe used to charge visitors 50 cents to explore the cave. Earlier, it was used by Native Americans and Americans alike for various purposes. Aside from reported Civilian Conservation Corps moonshine parties and dances, the cave also hosted a government fallout shelter during the Cold War.
Guests will also be able to learn about the hidden history of the Primitive Baptist Church and more.
LOCATION: Departs at 9:30 a.m. from the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee
TOUR LENGTH: Approximately 7 hours (length can fluctuate depending on vehicle traffic in Cades Cove)
TOUR DATES: Tours with Mike Meldrum have limited availability so hurry and make reservations now. See below for specifics.
Thursday, October 3rd
Saturday, October 12th – Only 3 Seats Remain
Thursday October 24th
Saturday, October 26th – Sold Out
Cades Cove is teeming with wildlife. It’s not unusual to see white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, foxes, turkey or other animals while on tour. While it’s best not to approach or disturb the wildlife you see, they make for a great photo opportunity.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: The tour will not involve hiking or very much walking, but visitors should be advised the tour does make frequent stops at several sites. Attendees will be entering and exiting the tour vehicles multiple times, and there are also some areas of uneven surfaces. Attendees will also have to climb a few steps to enter buildings in the cove.
WHAT TO WEAR: In addition to wearing (or bringing) sunscreen, it’s best to dress comfortably. Due to the nature of the tour, we recommend you wear comfortable shoes, so you’ll be able to enjoy the stops along the way comfortably. Also, because the tour will continue rain or shine, we suggest you bring a rain jacket, just in case.
WHAT TO BRING: Feel free to bring a camera along for the many photo opportunities you’ll see along the tour. You’re also welcome to bring along non-alcoholic drinks — we recommend plenty of water — or snacks but be aware restroom facilities are limited in the Cove. A restroom break will be available halfway through the tour at Cable Mill. You can also bring along binoculars, a notebook or related items to make the most of your experience. We do suggest having a backpack handy for these items, though, to make exiting the vehicles as simple as possible.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Tours with Mike Meldrum are limited to 17 guests per tour. Click here or call us at 865-448-8838 to make your reservation.
WEATHER POLICY: We reserve the right to cancel or reroute tours up until the last minute due to weather, safety, mechanical failure or other uncontrollable circumstances. In this case we will try to reschedule, give rainchecks, agree on another more accessible destination, or, if necessary, give a full refund. We also wait until the last minute to make these calls. We do not speculate on forecasts.
CANCELLATION POLICY: In order to cancel or reschedule a reservation without fees and penalties, call us no less than one week in advance. Refunds will not be given for any change made with less than a week’s notice.
Don’t miss out on this great tour! With only a couple more dates left, make your reservations now with Cades Cove Heritage Tours. No matter if you are a regular or a first-time visitor, Cades Cove Heritage Tours will allow you to experience the Smokies as never before. Let us share this beautiful place with your family and friends.
About Your Guide
With nearly 20 years of service in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, retired ranger Mike Meldrum is what you might call an expert on the Smokies. A tour with Mike will take visitors to exclusive locations in the Cove, including the CCC Camp, the World War II Memorial Tree, Cable’s Lodge, Gregory’s Cave, and more.Visitors will also have the chance to hear about Joe Gregory’s thriving business.
Back in the day, Joe used to charge visitors 50 cents to explore the cave. Earlier, it was used by Native Americans and Americans alike for various purposes. Aside from reported Civilian Conservation Corps moonshine parties and dances, the cave also hosted a government fallout shelter during the Cold War.
Guests will also be able to learn about the hidden history of the Primitive Baptist Church and more.
Tour Details
COST: $65 per person with box lunch included — choice of ham, turkey or salad (reservations required)LOCATION: Departs at 9:30 a.m. from the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee
TOUR LENGTH: Approximately 7 hours (length can fluctuate depending on vehicle traffic in Cades Cove)
TOUR DATES: Tours with Mike Meldrum have limited availability so hurry and make reservations now. See below for specifics.
Thursday, October 3rd
Saturday, October 12th – Only 3 Seats Remain
Thursday October 24th
Saturday, October 26th – Sold Out
Bring Your Camera
The wildflowers of Cades Cove draw visitors each year. Whether it’s mountain laurel, rhododendron, flame azaleas or another type of flora, the Cove is unmatched in its beauty.Cades Cove is teeming with wildlife. It’s not unusual to see white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, foxes, turkey or other animals while on tour. While it’s best not to approach or disturb the wildlife you see, they make for a great photo opportunity.
What You Need to Know!
ACTIVITY RATING: easy, moderate, challenging, demandingACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: The tour will not involve hiking or very much walking, but visitors should be advised the tour does make frequent stops at several sites. Attendees will be entering and exiting the tour vehicles multiple times, and there are also some areas of uneven surfaces. Attendees will also have to climb a few steps to enter buildings in the cove.
WHAT TO WEAR: In addition to wearing (or bringing) sunscreen, it’s best to dress comfortably. Due to the nature of the tour, we recommend you wear comfortable shoes, so you’ll be able to enjoy the stops along the way comfortably. Also, because the tour will continue rain or shine, we suggest you bring a rain jacket, just in case.
WHAT TO BRING: Feel free to bring a camera along for the many photo opportunities you’ll see along the tour. You’re also welcome to bring along non-alcoholic drinks — we recommend plenty of water — or snacks but be aware restroom facilities are limited in the Cove. A restroom break will be available halfway through the tour at Cable Mill. You can also bring along binoculars, a notebook or related items to make the most of your experience. We do suggest having a backpack handy for these items, though, to make exiting the vehicles as simple as possible.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT: Tours with Mike Meldrum are limited to 17 guests per tour. Click here or call us at 865-448-8838 to make your reservation.
WEATHER POLICY: We reserve the right to cancel or reroute tours up until the last minute due to weather, safety, mechanical failure or other uncontrollable circumstances. In this case we will try to reschedule, give rainchecks, agree on another more accessible destination, or, if necessary, give a full refund. We also wait until the last minute to make these calls. We do not speculate on forecasts.
CANCELLATION POLICY: In order to cancel or reschedule a reservation without fees and penalties, call us no less than one week in advance. Refunds will not be given for any change made with less than a week’s notice.
Don’t miss out on this great tour! With only a couple more dates left, make your reservations now with Cades Cove Heritage Tours. No matter if you are a regular or a first-time visitor, Cades Cove Heritage Tours will allow you to experience the Smokies as never before. Let us share this beautiful place with your family and friends.
CADES COVE HERITAGE TOURS
865-448-8838
P.O. Box 268
Townsend, TN 37882-0268
info@cadescoveheritagetours.org
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