Cherokee, NC
Cherokee is located in Swain County. The Cherokee Indians were the first to experience the beauty of the mountians, flowing waters, and clear blue sky in what they refered to as "Land of the Blue Smoke, " or Smoky Mountians as we call them today. Cherokee offers many activities such as the museums, amusement parks, casino, hiking, scenic drives, shopping, and some of the best trout fishing in the Eastern United States.
No one knows for sure how long the Cherokee have lived in Western North Carolina. Artifacts that have been found indicate people lived here more than 11,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, and ancient Cherokee tales describe hunts of the mastodon that once foraged here. The Cherokees in Western North Carolina today are the descendants from those Cherokees who were able to hold on to land they owned, or hid out in the hills, or were able to return. Today, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians is a sovereign nation of 100 square miles.
Things to Do:
Harrah's Cherokee Casino
777 Casino Drive
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-7777
www.harrahscherokee.com
Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama
US Hwy 441 North
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-2111
www.cherokee-nc.com
Outdoor drama presenting the history of the Cherokee Indians since 1950 in beautiful mountainside theatre. Mid June thru late August.
Santa's Land
Hwy 19 North Soco Rd
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-9191
Oconaluftee Indian Village
US Hwy 441 North
Cherokee, NC 28719
866-554-4557
Mingo Falls
Located on the Cherokee Indian Resvoir
180 feet ascade
0.25 mile hike
Moderate difficulty
Directions: From the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, proceed south on Newfound Gap Rd. approx. 1 mile. Take a left onto Big Cove Rd. and proceed approx. 5 miles to the Big Cove Campground on the right. Turn and proceed across the bridge and park in the designted parking area.
Cataloochee Ski Resort
Located in Maggie Valley, NC Cataloochee offers some really good snow skiing and snow tubing. Make sure you check this out next time your in the area. Before you visit make sure you check ski conditions, visit www.cataloochee.com .
Calendar of Events:
3/27/2010 - Ramp IT UP! Feastival
Location: Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds, Cherokee,NC
Description: This festival highlights two of our mountain delicacies: trout and pungent, wild onion/garlic-like ramps. Held in conjunction with trout season opening on the Qualla Boundary, the festival includes music, our fourth-annual horseshoe competition, a barbecue cookoff, and a trout and ramp feast for all.
Contact: 800-438-1601
3/27/2010 - Cherokee KOA Fishing Tournament
Location: Cherokee KOA Campground
Hours: 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Gayle Dutcher or Mark Jones 828-497-2511
4/2/2010 - 4/3/2010 - “PEANUTS™ Easter Beagle”
Location: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Hours: Train departs at 10:30 AM
Description: Passengers will join Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown and our Easter Bunnies for old fashioned Easter fun during the 1 hour layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Festivities include an Easter egg hunt with special prizes, egg decorating, storytelling, coloring sheets, temporary tattoos, snacks with Snoopy and more. There will also be plenty of opportunities for pictures, so do not forget your camera!
Costs: Advance tickets are required, as seating is limited. Adult tickets are $49.00 and children two and up are $29.00. Limited Crown Coach upgrades are available. Admission to the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum is included with ticket purchase.
Contact: For reservations 1-800-872-4681
4/10/2010 - Spring Bass Classic Tournament
Location: Fontana Village Resort Marina,Fontana,NC 28733
Description: Get ready to launch the boat. The bass are hungry. Join other anglers and spectators for this Bass Classic on 30 mile long Fontana Lake along the southern shores of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Contact: 800-849-2258
4/17/2010 - 4/18/2010 - NOC Dagger/Freestyle Shootout & Demo Days
Location: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Description:In 2010 the Shootout is one of the first events in the National Freestyle Points Series, promising even more big-air tricks on the Nantahala wave. Join us for paddling's opening weekend! All 60+ boats in NOC's demo fleet will be available for free test-paddling on the Nantahala River. Paddlers can also practice up in the pool, as well as in free creeking and playboating clinics.
Contact: For more information call 888-905-7238.
5/6/2010 - Cherokee Visitor Appreciation Day
Location: Cherokee, NC Welcome Center
Description: The Cherokee Welcome Center hosts a day of music, craft and art vendors and concessions. A way for Cherokee to say "thanks" to visitors to the area.
Contact: For more information call 800-438-1601.
5/14/2010 - 5/16/2010 - Cruise the Smokies- Spring Cherokee Rod Run
Location: Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds
Description: The Rod Run features more than 500 classic and customized automobiles built before 1972. The mountains and miles of surrounding roads, including the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, make for good driving and amazing views. Plus, the many attractions at Cherokee make the Rod Run fun for the entire family. Registered vehicles are eligible for cash-prize drawings.
Contact: For more information call Janice Wildcat 828-497-8122
5/28/2010 - 5/29/2010 - Swain County Heritage Festival
Location: Swain County Heritage Festival Riverfront Park Byrson City,NC
Description: Friday night entertainment is loaded with local talent featuring an emphasis on old-time gospel. Saturday entertainment is as varied as the region, ranging from a highlands pipe and drum corps to classic country and bluegrass. In addition to music, the festival offers local arts and crafts, food, games for the kids and fun for the whole family.
Contact: For more information call 800-867-9246
6/19/2010 - Old Mill 1886 Craft Festival
Location: The mill is located at 3082 U.S. 441 a mile south of Cherokee,NC.
When: Saturday June 19th from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Description: Artists from all over the Southeast will gather to demonstrate and sell their hand crafted works. Artists will include, Cherokee stone carver, wood carvers, gourd artists, blacksmith, jewelry designers, Appalachian crafters and authors.
Contact: For more information call 828-497-6536.
10/9/2010 - Fall Harvest Craft Festival
Location: The mill is located at 3082 U.S. 441 a mile south of Cherokee,NC.
When: Saturday October 9th from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Description: Artists from all over the Southeast will gather to demonstrate and sell their hand crafted works. Artists will include, Cherokee stone carver, wood carvers, gourd artists, blacksmith, jewelry designers, Appalachian crafters and authors.
Contact: For more information call 828-497-6536.
12/31/2010 - New Year's Eve Fireworks
Location: Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds in Cherokee, NC 28719
When: Friday December 31st
Contact: For more information call Janice Wildcatt at 828-497-8122
This space is available..contact info@blueridgemountainchamber.com for more information.
Real Estate Information:
This space is available...contact info@blueridgemountainchamber.com for more information.
No one knows for sure how long the Cherokee have lived in Western North Carolina. Artifacts that have been found indicate people lived here more than 11,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, and ancient Cherokee tales describe hunts of the mastodon that once foraged here. The Cherokees in Western North Carolina today are the descendants from those Cherokees who were able to hold on to land they owned, or hid out in the hills, or were able to return. Today, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians is a sovereign nation of 100 square miles.
Things to Do:
Harrah's Cherokee Casino
777 Casino Drive
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-7777
www.harrahscherokee.com
Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama
US Hwy 441 North
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-2111
www.cherokee-nc.com
Outdoor drama presenting the history of the Cherokee Indians since 1950 in beautiful mountainside theatre. Mid June thru late August.
Santa's Land
Hwy 19 North Soco Rd
Cherokee, NC 28719
828-497-9191
Oconaluftee Indian Village
US Hwy 441 North
Cherokee, NC 28719
866-554-4557
Mingo Falls
Located on the Cherokee Indian Resvoir
180 feet ascade
0.25 mile hike
Moderate difficulty
Directions: From the Oconaluftee Visitors Center, proceed south on Newfound Gap Rd. approx. 1 mile. Take a left onto Big Cove Rd. and proceed approx. 5 miles to the Big Cove Campground on the right. Turn and proceed across the bridge and park in the designted parking area.
Cataloochee Ski Resort
Located in Maggie Valley, NC Cataloochee offers some really good snow skiing and snow tubing. Make sure you check this out next time your in the area. Before you visit make sure you check ski conditions, visit www.cataloochee.com .
Calendar of Events:
3/27/2010 - Ramp IT UP! Feastival
Location: Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds, Cherokee,NC
Description: This festival highlights two of our mountain delicacies: trout and pungent, wild onion/garlic-like ramps. Held in conjunction with trout season opening on the Qualla Boundary, the festival includes music, our fourth-annual horseshoe competition, a barbecue cookoff, and a trout and ramp feast for all.
Contact: 800-438-1601
3/27/2010 - Cherokee KOA Fishing Tournament
Location: Cherokee KOA Campground
Hours: 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact: Gayle Dutcher or Mark Jones 828-497-2511
4/2/2010 - 4/3/2010 - “PEANUTS™ Easter Beagle”
Location: Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Hours: Train departs at 10:30 AM
Description: Passengers will join Snoopy, Lucy, Charlie Brown and our Easter Bunnies for old fashioned Easter fun during the 1 hour layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Festivities include an Easter egg hunt with special prizes, egg decorating, storytelling, coloring sheets, temporary tattoos, snacks with Snoopy and more. There will also be plenty of opportunities for pictures, so do not forget your camera!
Costs: Advance tickets are required, as seating is limited. Adult tickets are $49.00 and children two and up are $29.00. Limited Crown Coach upgrades are available. Admission to the Smoky Mountain Trains Museum is included with ticket purchase.
Contact: For reservations 1-800-872-4681
4/10/2010 - Spring Bass Classic Tournament
Location: Fontana Village Resort Marina,Fontana,NC 28733
Description: Get ready to launch the boat. The bass are hungry. Join other anglers and spectators for this Bass Classic on 30 mile long Fontana Lake along the southern shores of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Contact: 800-849-2258
4/17/2010 - 4/18/2010 - NOC Dagger/Freestyle Shootout & Demo Days
Location: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Description:In 2010 the Shootout is one of the first events in the National Freestyle Points Series, promising even more big-air tricks on the Nantahala wave. Join us for paddling's opening weekend! All 60+ boats in NOC's demo fleet will be available for free test-paddling on the Nantahala River. Paddlers can also practice up in the pool, as well as in free creeking and playboating clinics.
Contact: For more information call 888-905-7238.
5/6/2010 - Cherokee Visitor Appreciation Day
Location: Cherokee, NC Welcome Center
Description: The Cherokee Welcome Center hosts a day of music, craft and art vendors and concessions. A way for Cherokee to say "thanks" to visitors to the area.
Contact: For more information call 800-438-1601.
5/14/2010 - 5/16/2010 - Cruise the Smokies- Spring Cherokee Rod Run
Location: Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds
Description: The Rod Run features more than 500 classic and customized automobiles built before 1972. The mountains and miles of surrounding roads, including the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, make for good driving and amazing views. Plus, the many attractions at Cherokee make the Rod Run fun for the entire family. Registered vehicles are eligible for cash-prize drawings.
Contact: For more information call Janice Wildcat 828-497-8122
5/28/2010 - 5/29/2010 - Swain County Heritage Festival
Location: Swain County Heritage Festival Riverfront Park Byrson City,NC
Description: Friday night entertainment is loaded with local talent featuring an emphasis on old-time gospel. Saturday entertainment is as varied as the region, ranging from a highlands pipe and drum corps to classic country and bluegrass. In addition to music, the festival offers local arts and crafts, food, games for the kids and fun for the whole family.
Contact: For more information call 800-867-9246
6/19/2010 - Old Mill 1886 Craft Festival
Location: The mill is located at 3082 U.S. 441 a mile south of Cherokee,NC.
When: Saturday June 19th from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Description: Artists from all over the Southeast will gather to demonstrate and sell their hand crafted works. Artists will include, Cherokee stone carver, wood carvers, gourd artists, blacksmith, jewelry designers, Appalachian crafters and authors.
Contact: For more information call 828-497-6536.
10/9/2010 - Fall Harvest Craft Festival
Location: The mill is located at 3082 U.S. 441 a mile south of Cherokee,NC.
When: Saturday October 9th from 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM.
Description: Artists from all over the Southeast will gather to demonstrate and sell their hand crafted works. Artists will include, Cherokee stone carver, wood carvers, gourd artists, blacksmith, jewelry designers, Appalachian crafters and authors.
Contact: For more information call 828-497-6536.
12/31/2010 - New Year's Eve Fireworks
Location: Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds in Cherokee, NC 28719
When: Friday December 31st
Contact: For more information call Janice Wildcatt at 828-497-8122
Favorite Area Restaurants:
This space available..contact info@blueridgemountainchamber.com for more information.
This space is available..contact info@blueridgemountainchamber.com for more information.
Real Estate Information:
This space is available...contact info@blueridgemountainchamber.com for more information.