Touring the Land of the Sky

From its earliest days, tourists visited Haywood County despite the rough mountain roads and back-numbing carriage rides required to get there. It was not until the coming of the railroad in 1883, however, that tourism could really blossom.

Soon influential magazines were praising Haywood County for its beauty, fresh mountain air, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Boarding houses and inns sprang up to meet the demand with even regular family homes offering to host boarders. Some visitors chose to stay in large, luxurious hotels such as White Sulphur Springs, shown here, attracted by amenities such as indoor plumbing and electricity. Other visitors sought out more casual accommodations like farmhouses with extra bunks. The Moody dairy farm offered such accommodations: it doubled as a resort in the 1930s. And the Cataloochee Ranch offered not only beds but trout fishing, horse riding, and eventually skiing.

Tourism kept expanding with the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the 1930s and interstate highways in the 1950s. While the grand hotels had all burned or were demolished by that time, Haywood County still offered an array of attractions and accommodations.

Photograph courtesy of The Haywood County Library Digital Collection