Cades Cove Wedding – Nearby Attractions

Cades Cove in Smoky Mountains National Park

Cades Cove is a short drive into Smoky Mountains National Park from Pure Water Farm.  It is the most popular destination in the park. Settled first by the Cherokee, as early as 1740 traders from Europe were using the trails thought the cove. The Cades Cove Historical District is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The original settlements have been preserved for your enjoyment.

 

John Oliver Cabin in Cades Cove
John Oliver Cabin, constructed c. 1822-1823

 

Cades Code - -John Oliver Cabin
The John Oliver Cabin constructed 1822-1823

 

Gristmill at John Cable house
Gristmill at John Cable house

 

The pews in the Missionary Baptist Church
The pews in the Missionary Baptist Church

 

A great way to experience the beauty of Cades Cove is to rent a bicycle and spend the day seeing the old settlement via the 11 mile loop.  Bikes are ideal on Saturdays and Wednesdays when the main loop is closed to motorized traffic.

Cades Cove Bike Map
Cades Cove Bike Map

 

There are no wedding venues in Cades Cove, however Pure Water Farm will transport you back to the same era as the structures were built with the same construction techniques.
Contact us now to schedule a tour for your special day.

 


 

Smoky Mountain Webcams in the National Park


The US National Park Service provides two live webcams from notable vistas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Please click on each one to see the live view.

Purchase Knob Webcam

Located at high elevation on the eastern end on the park, the Purchase Knob webcam offers views to the northeast.

Purchase Knob Webcam - Smoky Mountain National Park
Archived image – click for live webcam

 

 


Look Rock Webcam

Located on the western edge of the park at mid elevation, this webcam offers views of Mount Le Conte, Clingmans Dome and Cades Cove.

Pure Water Farm is located just out of view on the left edge of the image below.

 Imagine your Smoky Mountain wedding in this natural setting.  Contact us today to schedule your tour.
Look Rock Webcam - Smoky Mountain National Park
Archived image – click for live webcam

 

Synchronous Fireflies in The Smoky Mountains

Something magical happens every year in the Smoky Mountains and at Pure Water Farm.. fireflies under the stars.

Fireflies in the Smoky Mountains

“Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of at least 19 species of fireflies that live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They are the only species in America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns.

Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) are beetles. They take from one to two years to mature from larvae, but will live as adults for only about 21 days. While in the larval stage, the insects feed on snails and smaller insects. Once they transform into their adult form, they do not eat.

Their light patterns are part of their mating display. Each species of firefly has a characteristic flash pattern that helps its male and female individuals recognize each other. Most species produce a greenish-yellow light; one species has a bluish light. The males fly and flash and the usually stationary females respond with a flash. Peak flashing for synchronous fireflies in the park is normally within a two-week period in late May to mid-June.

Synchronous fireflies produce light in their lanterns, the pale area of the abdomen visible on the underside of the insect above. The production of light by living organisms is called bioluminescence. Fireflies are a good example of an organism that bioluminesces, but there are others as well, such as certain species of fungus, fish, shrimp, jellyfish, plankton, glowworms, gnats, snails, and springtails.

Bioluminescence involves highly efficient chemical reactions that result in the release of particles of light with little or no emission of heat. Fireflies combine the chemical luciferin and oxygen with the enzyme luciferase in their lanterns (part of their abdomens) to make light. The light produced is referred to as a “cold” light, with nearly 100% of the energy given off as light. In contrast, the energy produced by an incandescent light bulb is approximately 10% light and 90% heat.

No one is sure why the fireflies flash synchronously. Competition between males may be one reason: they all want to be the first to flash. Or perhaps if the males all flash together they have a better chance of being noticed, and the females can make better comparisons.”

source: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/fireflies.htm

The synchronous mating event only occurs for 2 weeks every year in early June. However, you will see lightning bugs most summer nights at Pure Water Farm.  What could be more magical to end your ceremony evening than a night under the stars and fireflies?

Contact us now to schedule a tour of Pure Water Farm for your wedding or special event.