Campground Details - SPENCE CABIN, TN - ReserveAmerica

Overview

Spence Cabin is an ideal place to hold a small family gathering or family reunion away from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns. It is also an excellent location for a meeting or training session for a small group of people, or for a small wedding or reception. The outdoor patios are great places to relax and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Great Smoky Mountains.

The cabin is situated within the Elkmont Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Natural Features:

The Elkmont Historic District sits in a relatively flat and narrow valley at the confluence of Jakes Creek and the Little River. It encompasses a tract in a montane alluvial forest, which occurs primarily within the floodplains of the Little River and its tributary, Bearwallow Creek.

The valley is surrounded by steep ridges, including Sugarland Mountain to the east, Meigs Mountain to the west, Blanket Mountain to the south and Cove Mountain to the north.

Recreation:

There are numerous hiking trails within or near Elkmont, including the Little River, Jakes Creek and Laurel Falls Trails. The lower section of the Little River Trail is an old roadbed and relatively easy to hike. The Laurel Falls Trail is paved and accessible.

The self-guided Elkmont Nature Trail is nearby. The most unique feature of the area is the Elkmont Historic District with a number of cabins still standing.

Fishing is popular both above and below Elkmont.

Facilities:

The cabin has four small meeting rooms ranging in size from 118 to 165 square feet. One larger room is 432 square feet, and has a gas fireplace. The rooms have between two and six electric outlets. There is also a warming kitchen, which contains a refrigerator and microwave oven. No cook stove is available, but electrical outlets can be used for warming devices such as slow cookers. The lighting is consistent with the historic use of the cabin and is rather dim.

The building has no heat or air conditioning, but it does have ceiling fans in the main room and screened porch, as well as a gas fireplace in the main room.

Most of the cabin is accessible, with the exception of the riverside patio. Two bathrooms are available, one of which is accessible. A 192 square foot screened outdoor porch faces the Little River, as does a nice stone patio. A smaller patio is located on the bank of the Little River. Parking for nine cars is located about 100 yards from the cabin, with an additional two spaces located at the cabin.

Furnishings are limited to 40 folding chairs, four 6-foot diameter round tables, eight 2.5-by-6 foot rectangular tables and six rocking chairs. Guests may set up the furniture in any configuration that will suit their needs. Guests may also wish to bring additional items such as a portable gas barbecue grill, slow cookers and lawn chairs.

Activities and Amenities

Within Facility
Accessible Flush Toilets Accessible Parking Accessible Trails Appalachian Clubhouse Day Use Area Electricity Fishing Flush Toilets Hiking Historic Sites	Hot Water Interpretive Trails Meeting Room Microwave Parking Area Propane Fireplace Refrigerator River Access Table & Chairs Trails
Within 10 Miles
Cell phone service

Know Before You Go

The cabin is available for for daily use from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. between April 1 and November 15; a reservation is required and can be made up to a year in advance.
If you would like to look at the cabin before renting it, please call the phone number at the bottom of the Facility Details page.
The fee is $150 for a weekday (Mon - Thurs) and $200 for a weekend day (Fri - Sun.); a $400 damage deposit is also charged but will be refunded if the facility is left in good condition
Reservations made more than 30 days in advance require a 25-percent partial payment with the remainder due 30 days out
Check-in time is 10 a.m. Guests must check in and out with park staff
Portable heating devices, electric or otherwise, are prohibited.
Alcohol is permitted in the cabin and on the patios, consistent with state law and park regulations
Decorations are permitted, provided they do not harm the structure (e.g. no staples or nails).
Candles and other open flames are prohibited; Sterno canisters are okay for food warmers
Smoking is prohibited in all federal buildings
Cell phones do not work in the Elkmont area; the nearest coverage is about 3 miles away at Maloney Point
Weddings and wedding receptions require a separate permit in addition to the cabin reservation; check the park website for more information
Clean-up is the responsibility of the guest and furnishings must be returned to their storage location
Learn more about Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Getting There:

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
35.65333, -83.5775
35°39'12"N, 83°34'39"W

Spence Cabin is located near Elkmont Campground. Drive south from Gatlinburg, TN on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) for 1.7 miles and turn right onto Little River Road toward Cades Cove. Proceed 5 miles to Elkmont Campground road and turn left. Go 1.4 miles and turn left just before the campground office (sign says Elkmont Nature Trail 0.3, Little River Trail 0.6 and Jakes Creek Trail). After crossing the bridge, take the second left into the parking lot. Parking for Spence Cabin will be on your right as you make the loop through the parking lot. (The nearest street address is 500 Elkmont Road, Gatlinburg, TN.)