1967 Map of Cove Creek Gap

About this map

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Pisgah National Forest converge here along the Pigeon River. This 1960s landscape is defined by the sharp transition between protected wilderness and the engineering of Walters Lake, created by the Walters Dam. Evidence of early mountain life remains at high elevations, with small settlements like Ola and Cataloochee situated along the winding paths of the Asbury Trail. Local genealogy is deeply etched into the terrain, marked by family burial grounds such as Sutton Cem, Herrell Cem, and Hannah Cem. Near the confluence of Cataloochee Creek and Caldwell Fork, a Ranger Station and Palmer Chapel anchor the valley floor, while further east, an abandoned mine and the White Oak Community Center reflect the area's shifting industrial and social focus.