Spence Cabin

Spence Cabin is an ideal place for a small family gathering or reunion away from the hustle and bustle of nearby towns, and an excellent location for a meeting or training session for a small group, 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 sits within the Elkmont Historic District, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The cabin has four small meeting rooms ranging from 118 to 165 square feet, plus one larger room of 432 square feet with a gas fireplace. Rooms have between two and six electric outlets. A warming kitchen holds a refrigerator and microwave oven; no cook stove is available, but 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 the gas fireplace. Two bathrooms are available, one of which is accessible, and most of the cabin is accessible with the exception of the riverside patio. A 192-square-foot screened porch faces the Little River, as does a nice stone patio, and a smaller patio sits on the river bank. Parking for nine cars is about 100 yards from the cabin, with two more spaces at the cabin. Furnishings are limited to 40 folding chairs, four 6-foot round tables, eight 2.5-by-6 foot rectangular tables and six rocking chairs, and guests may set them up in any configuration that suits their needs. Guests may also wish to bring a portable gas barbecue grill, slow cookers and lawn chairs. 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. The historic district sits in a relatively flat and narrow valley at the confluence of Jakes Creek and the Little River, in a montane alluvial forest occurring primarily within the floodplains of the Little River and its tributary, Bearwallow Creek. Steep ridges surround the valley: Sugarland Mountain to the east, Meigs Mountain to the west, Blanket Mountain to the south and Cove Mountain to the north.