The brochure highlights the four major towns in Cocke County and details some of the more notable landmarks and historically significant areas of Cocke County - many of which are included in the National Register of Historic Properties. The brochure will lead you to Parrottsville, the third oldest town in Tennessee. Highlighted by the Swaggerty Fort (as illustrated on the brochure cover at left), Parrottsville boasts several period-styled houses and churches dating to the mid-1850s that are listed in the National Register. Swaggerty Fort was built during the spring of 1787 for protection from hostile Indians, and is one of only two original blockhouses remaining in Tennessee.
Following the map to historic Del Rio you will find many interesting stops including the Grace Moore birthplace along with the Christy Mission and Boarding House, made popular by the book and subsequent movie. On the way to Del Rio, you may choose to pass through the Cherokee National Forest where you will find many stops for scenic views and points for reflection of a time gone past. In the Cosby area, you will find antique shops, mountain collectibles, and arts and crafts galore. A trip to Cosby would not be complete without a stop at Carver's Apple Orchard for a glass of homemade apple cider. The Cosby entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a perfect place for a peaceful picnic or a short stroll on an informative, self-guided nature trail. While you are in the Cosby area, be sure to stop by the Cosby Information Center for a copy of this brochure and even more information regarding historic and culture-rich destinations in Cocke County. As mentioned earlier, the Heritage Tour brochure highlights the ten properties in Cocke County that are listed with the National Register of Historic Properties:
Not listed in the Heritage Guide, but certainly an important part of our community is The HARTFORD area. Hartford is home to some of the finest white-water outfitters in the ENTIRE SMOKIES! Just get off Interstate I-40 at exit 447, visit some of the shops/services and accommodations. Twelve different outfitters offer the finest trip on the Pigeon River.These companies are dedicated to providing a quality whitewater experience with lots of fun and professional service. You will find guides that enjoy what they do and look forward to sharing their enthusiasm, knowledge and love of the river with you. These companies are listed on Places to Play. Cocke County offers many other attractions as well. You may browse the list below, or click a link to jump to the category that interests you most.
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Cocke County is an area rich in tradition and history, and yet offers a place for business and industry. We work hard to preserve our heritage and the natural beauty on the mountains and yet offer our children an excellent education, and our citizens good jobs and comfortable homes. Because of all this, we are a popular destination for retirees who want the conveniences of modern life and the unspoiled beauty of the mountains.
When you visit Cocke County, you must pick up your complimentary copy of the Smoky Mountain Heritage Tour Brochure. Made possible through the cooperative efforts of The Newport/Cocke County Tourism Council Heritage Committee and the sponsorship of local businesses, you can leisurely enjoy a self-guided auto tour to the area's past - on your own time, at your own pace.
In Newport, the brochure will give an overview of the once bustling commercial and transportation center, originally named "Clifton" for the sharp cliffs towering over the Pigeon River. The arrival of the railroad and location of the depot in 1867 shows reason for the location of the county seat that became the "New Port" on the river. As the town began to develop on both sides of the railroad between the hills and the river, you will notice the subsequent growth patterns as people made their day-to-day living. The map will show the locations of churches, cemeteries, the post office, the mill, the school, and the cafes and dry good stores that people knew so well and depended on so much.