{"id":3005,"date":"2026-07-08T17:06:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=3005"},"modified":"2026-07-08T17:06:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T17:06:34","slug":"beloved-gathering-space-being-torn-down-in-great-smoky-mountains-park-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=3005","title":{"rendered":"Beloved \u2018gathering space\u2019 being torn down in Great Smoky Mountains, park says"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most dramatic gathering places in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is being torn down due to safety concerns, according to the National Park Service.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=3003\">NC auditor reassigns Dallas Woodhouse after controversy over early voting plans<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GreatSmokyMountainsNPS\/posts\/pfbid02RhDNj8y8H8pvp9hUZLPKAWa8B5mFGr9aDpbVwGrD8xu5pHYHZQ7AhPJeMdyXvaBHl\" rel=\"Follow\" target=\"_blank\">LeConte Lodge Recreation Building<\/a>, built between the late 1960s and early 1970s, has served for more than 50 years as a gathering space and retreat for overnight guests from around the world,\u201d park officials said in a news release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cExposure to harsh weather at 6,500 feet elevation has caused significant deterioration to the building, beyond what can be rehabilitated. For the safety of visitors and employees, the structure will be removed and replaced later this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lecontelodge.com\/\" rel=\"Follow\" target=\"_blank\">LeConte Lodge<\/a> is a complex of cabins famous for being \u201cthe highest guest lodge in the eastern United States,\u201d officials say.<\/p>\n<p>The complex is situated on an open glade just below the summit of Mount LeConte, the third-highest peak in the park. It is on the Tennessee side of the 522,427-acre park, which straddles the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/grsm\/learn\/management\/statistics.htm\" rel=\"Follow\" target=\"_blank\">Tennessee-North Carolina<\/a> state line.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=3001\">Hispanic grocer in Charlotte to expand in community that lacks grocery stores<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are no roads that lead to the lodge,\u201d according to lodge officials. \u201cThere are five hiking trails that lead to the lodge, ranging in length from 5.0 miles up to 9.1 miles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Demolition crews and equipment are being airlifted to the site, and will start work on July 14, park officials said.<\/p>\n<p>Construction will continue through the summer, and the end result will be a structure that reflects \u201cthe same character and spirit as the beloved original, continuing its legacy as a central gathering place,\u201d park officials said.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=3000\">Looking for summer dining deals? Queen\u2019s Feast Charlotte restaurant week is back<\/a><\/p>\n<p>LeConte Lodge is about 200-miles northwest from uptown Charlotte.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rustic gathering place affiliated with LeConte Lodge is being torn down in Great Smoke Mountains National Park, officials say. It will be replaced.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3004,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Beloved \u2018gathering space\u2019 being torn down in Great Smoky Mountains, park says - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=3005\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beloved \u2018gathering space\u2019 being torn down in Great Smoky Mountains, park says - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rustic gathering place affiliated with LeConte Lodge is being torn down in Great Smoke Mountains National Park, officials say. 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