I grew up visiting Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains in the 1980’s and 1990’s. I have so many fond memories of camping in the campground and then either biking the cove or riding in the back of my dad’s small Nissan pickup. Of course as a kid you were excited about the deer, and ever hopeful of seeing a bear, but I also loved seeing the old cabins and churches along the loop trail.
I always love the Missionary Baptist Church, I honestly don’t remember why I was drawn to it. I think that back then it may have been that it was the third one on the loop road and may not have been as busy as the first two! Whatever it was I still love it to this day.
Recently I made a trip to the Cove to photograph with some film. I don’t go into Cades Cove hardly anymore because it’s so busy. I honestly prefer to explore areas that are less crowded and popular, but I really wanted to photograph some of the churches on film. It wasn’t as busy as usual, but by the time I hit the midway section of the loop, traffic was backed up to the exit. I didn’t stop at anymore spots because I had another appointment to get to.
If you don’t care about traffic or time, it’s definitely a nice drive, but in the Smokies there are some places that you may find a little less crowded like the Historic Nature Motor Trail in Gatlinburg, TN.
Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Kodak Tri X Film - Documenting America with TRD Photography