Feeling Great in Cherokee!
Cherokee, North Carolina is found on the southern border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s easily accessible from Gatlinburg, Tennessee via Highway 441 that travels through the National Park to Cherokee and the southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway. In North Carolina, Cherokee is near the towns of Maggie Valley, Bryson City, and Waynesville.
Cherokee is within the Qualla Boundary, a land trust set aside by the federal government, and is the headquarters of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians.
Things to do in Cherokee
- If trout fishing is your thing, Cherokee offers mile after mile of some of the finest trout fishing anywhere. Wondering why they are always biting so well? It’s because the streams are stocked regularly ensuring you a great chance to land a big one. Fishing licenses are required and may be obtained at North Carolina Fishing Licenses.
- Families love learning the cultural history of the Cherokee Nation and their contributions to our modern society. Pause by the bonfire and listen to the elders tell the oral history of their people. Find the rhythm of the drum and join the ceremonial dance of these native people while discovering a different way to view our world.
- Be sure to catch a performance of Unto these Hills, the colorful stage performance of a proud and noble people’s history.
Mingo Falls in Cherokee
- Probably one of the biggest draws is Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel. Here you will find all your entertainment needs wrapped up in a single package. They offer everything the serious player would expect plus lots of fun for any skill level. The casino brings in nearly eighty million dollars in revenue annually which has allowed the Cherokee to make significant improvements to the community.
History of the Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee have a proud and tragic history in this part of the Smokies. Once numbering nearly twenty thousand strong in the early 1800’s this middle settlement’s population is now significantly reduced. The historic range of the Cherokee once sprawled from northern Tennessee down into North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. After the bulk of population was forcibly removed to a reservation in Oklahoma in 1838 on “The Trail of Tears,” the remaining lands of the Eastern Band were reduced to 56,000 acres here.
For more information, call 1-800-438-1601 or visit VisitCherokeeNC.
