Explore Scenic Eastern Tennessee Along the Cherohala Skyway
Thirty years and $100 million in the making, the two-lane Cherohala Skyway linking Tellico Plains in eastern Tennessee to Robinsville, NC, was opened in 1996. Nicknamed ‘Tail of the Dragon’, this 40-mile plus stretch of twisting two-lane roadway offers views just as spectacular as the better known Blue Ridge Parkway, and is one of America’s 96 National Scenic Byways and one of the top tourist attractions in Knoxville TN. The name “Cherohala” is taken from the two national forests the Skyway crosses – Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee and Nantahala National Forest in The Smokies. The area is the perfect place for retirees who are motorcyclists or outdoor enthusiasts who plan on relocating to Tennessee.
The meandering wilderness drive ascends from 900 feet above sea level at the Tellico River in eastern Tennessee through amazing vistas to almost 5,400 feet ASL at the Santeetlah overlook on the North Carolina side. Side trails for hiking, biking, birdwatching, campgrounds, and picnic areas are scattered all along the Skyway, and the route has become increasingly popular with road rally and motor cycle devotees in recent years. The Tellico River near the western starting point has some of the best trout fishing around, and also provides canoe and kayak adventures.
A Visitor Center on Hwy 165 at in Tellico Plains offers plenty of maps and trail information before you set off. Here are a few stops to make along the Cherohala Skyway as you explore the natural wonders of eastern Tennessee.
The Charles Hall Museum, next to the Visitor Center, is dedicated to local history and includes a large display of historical photos. Peruse a collection of over 200 guns, a telephone collection, coin collection, local antiques and more collections.
Bald River Falls cascade 100 feet crashing onto the rocks below, and you can view the majestic display from your vehicle on Forest Service Road 210, 4.5 miles off the Skyway (TN Highway 165). Continue a little further on 210 to the trout hatchery and Pheasant Fields Rearing Pools.
Indian Boundary Campground located just off the Skyway on Forest Road 345 is open April through October. It has 100 campsites, day-use picnicking, swimming, and biking. Call 877-444-6777 for reservations.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is a living memorial to the poet best remembered for his poem “Trees.” This 3,800-acre piece of virgin forest has the largest stand of old growth trees in the eastern United States. The forest was dedicated in 1935, 18 years after Kilmer was killed in action in France during WWI. A two-mile trail winds through the forest where nature lovers can enjoy the sights, smells and tranquility of this eastern Tennessee wilderness.
The Cherohala Skyway is just one of the great tourist attractions in Knoxville TN. Boomers from all walks of life relocating to Tennessee continue to be drawn to the surrounding communities like Tellico Village as they seek happy places to live and quality-of-life residences for the Golden Years in The Smokies.
KNOXVILLE OFFERS EXCITEMENT AND FUN
For those who still want to be in the thick of it without living at a hectic pace, Knoxville has all the urban amenities of a much larger town, without the high costs of living. Forbes Magazine ranked Knoxville in the Top 5 of America's Most Affordable Cities in 2014. Nestled in the Appalachian Valley, this dog-friendly college town is nicknamed the Lakeway to The Smokies. Surrounded by natural beauty, Knoxville wears a system of rivers, streams and lakes like a necklace. Tellico Lake, Fort Loudon Lake and Norris Lake provide plenty of fresh water fishing and boating. Golf is another highly popular recreational sport in the area, with dozens of public and semi-private courses sprinkled throughout Knoxville and surrounding suburbs, as well as many beautiful private golf communities.
Knoxville attracts travelers with landmarks such as Turkey Creek – a vast shopping, entertainment and hotel complex with over 200 top stores, shops and restaurants – as well as one of the top tourist attractions in Knoxville TN, the 26-story bronze glass Sunsphere in downtown, the theme structure for the 1982 World’s Fair. The University of Tennessee provides Knoxville residents with plenty of opportunities for cultural events and excitement, particularly during football season. The population of this eastern Tennessee community is highly educated and as a result there is a vibrant arts and culture scene. The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville employs hundreds of scientists and Ph.D.s bringing smart residents to Knoxville. From the ballet, symphony, opera and theatre companies to year-round indoor and outdoor arts and music festivals there are always exciting things happening. The Knoxville Museum of Art is a premier visual arts facility with rotating exhibits, live musical performances and educational classes. The Art Gallery Market on Gay Street showcases original art and crafts from more than 60 local artists. Historic museums in Knoxville include the Blount Mansion, Frank H. McClung Museum and Civil War Trails Markers.
KNOXVILLE REAL ESTATE
The average price of Knoxville real estate varies by neighborhood because the city is so large. Generally speaking, home prices average in the $140K range. Places to live include the fast growing area of West Knoxville adjacent to Turkey Creek, historic Holston Hills in East Knoxville and charming Maryville to the south. The Greater Knoxville area includes Knox, Anderson, Blount, Loudon and Union Counties. If you’re planning on relocating to Tennessee, there are a number of neighborhoods of interest in the Greater Knoxville area. The most popular suburbs to find Knoxville real estate include:
HOLSTON HILLS: Dating back to the early 1920s, east Knoxville neighborhoods and golf course communities feature historic stone architecture and estate homes seated on gentle rolling hills canopied by majestic trees. The lots are larger and many have stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Holston Hills average home prices range in the low $200s.
MARYVILLE: Just south of the McGhee-Tyson airport, Maryville is in close proximity to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the main entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The A&E Television Channel named Maryville one of the Top 10 Cities To Have it All. Both young families and retiring Baby Boomer’s find Maryville an affordable place to live. Maryville average older home prices range in the low $100s where newer homes average in the $200s.
OAK RIDGE: North Knoxville is a region known for innovation and rocket scientists, literally. Oak Ridge is where the 1942 Manhattan Project was developed and is home of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Newer neighborhoods and master planned communities featuring a bohemian architecture continue to be developed. Oak Ridge home prices average in the high $200s.
FARRAGUT: As Knoxville continues to expand further west, newer master planned communities with California-style homes can be found in Farragut, along with Tennessee’s best shopping area –Turkey Creek. Estate homes on larger lots offer a spacious feel to West Knoxville neighborhoods. Farragut home prices average in the low $400s.
OLD NORTH KNOXVILLE: Downtown Knoxville is where you’ll find older small homes in close to the University of Tennessee and along the Tennessee River. Architecture styles include Victorian cottages, Tudor bungalows and one-level ranch style homes. Homes here can be found under $100K.
Boomers also appreciate the temperate climate, with four seasons and relatively mild winters and summers in the mid-70s. Another plus is plenty of opportunity for volunteerism and life-long learning. The Knoxville Museum of Art offers classes in painting, drawing, knitting and mixed media. For the more ambitious, the Knoxville Ballet School offers adult basic ballet classes on Thursday nights or outdoor enthusiasts can sign up for the Smoky Mountain Field School, part of the University of Tennessee. The Smoky Mountain Field School provides high quality outdoor hikes and workshops for folks who want to learn more about The Smokies. The University of Tennessee’s Seniors for Creative Learning (SCL) provides classes and social events to mature adults over age 55, courses in wellness, history, the arts and technology. Top-rated hospital facilities (Parkwest Medical Center, University of Tennessee Medical Center and Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, to name a few) round out the appeal of Knoxville, TN.
HAPPIEST PLACE TO LIVE - TELLICO VILLAGE ON TELLICO LAKE
In 1979, the 15,860-acre Tellico Lake was created. The lake is part of the Tennessee River and, with 373 miles of shoreline, Tellico Lake is one of the most beautiful Tennessee lakes and a great place to find lakefront real estate. The Smokies views and cool clean waters from the mountain of North Carolina make Tellico Lake one of the prettiest bodies of water in eastern Tennessee. The Tellico Lake waterway connects via the Little Tennessee River to Fort Loudon Lake, a 14,600-acre lake and state recreation area.
Here on the western shore of Tellico Lake you'll find charming waterfront retirement communities, beautiful lakefront real estate and the best lake homes in the gently rolling foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Tellico Village is the most popular master planned community in the area, and is not age restricted. Recreation revolves around the lake with boating, fishing and even swimming during the warmer summer months. Golf is the other big draw. Loudon County is home to eight championship golf courses – public, semi-private and private. Riverview Golf Course is the best public golf course in Loudon. The Lenoir City swimming pool is open to the public during the summer months. The Loudon Parks and Recreation Department offers wellness classes, hiking and walking clubs, softball, golf and bowling leagues and social cookouts for mature adults.
Not that Tellico Village residents need to venture out of the community for recreation. Amenities include three 18-hole championship golf courses and three golf clubhouses with dining, a lakefront yacht clubhouse with dining, a 26,000 square foot Wellness Center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, 10 tennis courts, eight Pickleball courts, children’s playgrounds, gymnasium, a full service marina with boat slips, community parks and a new library. Despite the incredible amenities, there are no expensive golf club memberships – it’s “pay as you play” at Tellico Village, with a round of golf averaging $33 including cart fees, and club membership for the Village Recreational Centers are very affordable – less than $500 per year for a family membership. There are over 60 social clubs catering to interests of all sort, and plenty of opportunities for developing warm and lasting friendships at Tellico Village. In 2014, Tellico Village was honored with a Bliss Award for Happiest Community of the Year.
Tellico Village is near Knoxville, TN, with its award winning medical facilities, shopping, dining, cultural and fine arts venues, and lifelong learning opportunities at the University of Tennessee. Fall Creek Falls State Park and Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the most visited Tennessee state parks, are also close by.
This eastern Tennessee planned community offers lakefront and golf course homes of all sizes and styles. Named in Cherokee tradition, there are eight neighborhoods that make up Tellico Village: Chatuga, Chota, Coyatee, Kahite, Mialaquo, Tanasi, Tommotley and Toqua. Rolling hills, scented forests and curbed streets ending in cul-de-sacs reflect the small town charm and a peaceful lifestyle. Boating, fitness and golf are recurring recreational themes in the community of over 7,000 residents. Lake Tellico has been named one of the Best Places in the U.S. for Boating by Boating Life Magazine and you won’t find a better place for golf or lake front living than in the 5,000-acre Tellico Village community.
When you travel to eastern Tennessee to ride the Cherohala Skyway, why not preview life in a waterfront community or vibrant Knoxville? Call Tellico Village at 888.287.0676 to access their welcoming Discovery Package.
