Cumberland Gap

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by JMT

I agree. It's refreshing to go to places like La Follette and Cumberland Gap and see that small-town Tennessee is still alive and well. And beautiful, too!


Hey LauraC, you are our resident professional photographer, so I can't wait to see the pics you're going to take when you head up to Cumberland Gap! I bet in October it should be really beautiful.

I'm not even close to being a pro. I've only taken photos as a hobby since last Fall. I don't even have an SLR camera. The good thing is a pro is leading our trip so somebody will take good photos.

[Mary_Moon]

What great pictures! We have family just past the tunnels in Middlesboro, KY and we often stop in Cumberland Gap just to walk around and peek into some of the antique shops there. Did you find the old iron furnace? I took my kids to see it this past March and we hiked a bit on the trail that runs past it. Beautiful scenery!

My oldest brother graduated from LMU, too. They have a wonderful collection of Civil War photographs and relics in the museum that's open to the public.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by Mary_Moon

What great pictures! We have family just past the tunnels in Middlesboro, KY and we often stop in Cumberland Gap just to walk around and peek into some of the antique shops there. Did you find the old iron furnace? I took my kids to see it this past March and we hiked a bit on the trail that runs past it. Beautiful scenery!

My oldest brother graduated from LMU, too. They have a wonderful collection of Civil War photographs and relics in the museum that's open to the public.

I've been to Middlesboro and it is a nice area, too. I wish I had time to go there during my visit yesterday, I would've taken some pics and posted them for our friends in the Kentucky forum. If I remember correctly, Middlesboro has a neat downtown area and some nice in-town neighborhoods with great old houses.

It sounds like I need to go back to Cumberland Gap and go through the Lincoln museum at LMU. And I saw signs for the Iron Furnace but I didn't have time to go exploring, unfortunately. That's all such a beautiful and historic area, I definitely want to go back and stay longer and see those things you recommended. Thanks!

[jguillot]

JMT,

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to seeing Cumberland Gap and many other beautiful places in Tennessee.

[Mary_Moon]

Originally Posted by JMT

I've been to Middlesboro and it is a nice area, too. I wish I had time to go there during my visit yesterday, I would've taken some pics and posted them for our friends in the Kentucky forum. If I remember correctly, Middlesboro has a neat downtown area and some nice in-town neighborhoods with great old houses.

It sounds like I need to go back to Cumberland Gap and go through the Lincoln museum at LMU. And I saw signs for the Iron Furnace but I didn't have time to go exploring, unfortunately. That's all such a beautiful and historic area, I definitely want to go back and stay longer and see those things you recommended. Thanks!

When you go back, be sure visit the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park just past the tunnels and follow the signs to take a drive up to the Pinnacle Overlook. You have to drive up the mountain and it can be very steep, but the view from the top is magnificent! You can look down over the mountain and houses the tunnels and see the entire town of Cumberland Gap. Breathtaking! I'm totally scared of heights so the drive there and back was harrowing, but it was worth it.

Also, you're not too far from a wonderful Virginia State Park - The Wilderness Road State Park, actually, a few miles down the road from Cumberland Gap with a great short movie and lots of information about how the trail through the gap was started. I'm a history buff so this kind of stuff just fascinates me!

One other tidbit about LMU; the site was originally the location of a 700 room hotel called The Four Seasons Hotel.

Wilderness Road State Park

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum

[jchometeam]

I second the Pinnacle overlook! The drive up there will scare anyone but its amazing. And you must go to Webbs Country Kitchen in Cumberland Gap, great food and amazing service.

Cumberland Gap is an amazing place (its my home town), I just wish there were a few jobs there because all the young people who arent teachers or doctors must move to a larger city.

Dont think the area doesnt hhave its share of small town politics however. Claiborne County has had terrible luck and alot of bad publicity over its past few sheriffs (one simply quit showing up for work and disappeared for over a year leaving us with nobody to run the jail, and his predecessor is accused of child rape).

And if LMU catches on fire there is a big problem because the Harrogate volunteer fire dept. walked off the job a few months ago in protest of the Harrogate mayor. So there is essentially no fire protection for the area. I cant imagine what that is going to do to property insurance rates!

So no place is "perfect small town America". But overall its a great place with wonderful scenery and the nicest folks you will ever meet!

[NealPT]

Originally Posted by JMT

I've been to Middlesboro and it is a nice area, too. I wish I had time to go there during my visit yesterday, I would've taken some pics and posted them for our friends in the Kentucky forum. If I remember correctly, Middlesboro has a neat downtown area and some nice in-town neighborhoods with great old houses.

It sounds like I need to go back to Cumberland Gap and go through the Lincoln museum at LMU. And I saw signs for the Iron Furnace but I didn't have time to go exploring, unfortunately. That's all such a beautiful and historic area, I definitely want to go back and stay longer and see those things you recommended. Thanks!

I grew up in the Cumberland Gap area. My brother worked over 30 years at that post office that you took a picture of. I went to LMU for a couple years. I have to drive through the campus to visit my mom & dad's grave. Here are some pictures from the pinnacle if anyone is interested.

[Kim918]

Hi JMT,

Beautiful pictures. Makes me wish I lived in that area. Just looking at the pictures is relaxing. Such amazing scenery. Maybe one day I will get to retire to beautiful views like that right in my own back yard.

[BST]

Great place to nose around. I recommend a drive through the tunnel and up to the pinnacle overlooking the gap. There are also the remains of an old cold-blast iron furnace at the base of the mountain in the town of Cumberland Gap. Thanks for the post. It brings back fond memories.

[SmokyMtnGal]

It's been years since I have been there. Thanks for this thread.