Far away from all the daily hassles of traffic, taxes and tedious routine lies a rugged,
untamed wilderness that stubbornly resists all threats to its primeval guard.
It’s a sacred retreat hiding in the serenity of the ancient Cumberland Mountains.
Ridge upon ridge tumbles down long twisting paths until converging upon rivers,
streams and moss-covered creeks that flow deep into the dark hollows
and pristine channels of beautiful Norris Lake.
It’s Picturesque Tranquility at its absolute finest!

Vast Lands full of Buffalo, Bear and Deer
The wide-open, glorious abundance of The Norris Highlands was a beckoning call to the Longhunters of yore. Trail-blazers like Daniel Boone and Henry Skaggs, frustrated by the overly-restrictive impositions of colonial life, were lured ‘over the mountains’ by the promise of new adventures. Arising from the inspiration and curiosity of a yet unexplored and undefiled creation, they were instilled with a powerful hope for a better life- to pursue their American Dream- just beyond the shadow of the great Blue Ridge Mountains. Now...the perpetual frontier of The Norris Highlands... is calling YOU- touching the vestiges of your wild heart through the veiled mists of ~Time, Promise & Legend.

The Norris Highlands is a 2,400 sq. mile area of incomparable beauty and natural wonder located in NE Tennessee. Breathtaking rock cliffs, cascading waterfalls, exotic wildlife and a rich, unspoiled diversity of plants, flowers and trees- that rival any in the world- all majestically combine here, like a carefully knitted tapestry, to create a truly unique paradise of ecological discovery waiting just for you! Nature trails that will excite the senses and enliven the spirit crisscross rocky ridges, traversing deep gorges and gentle springs, wandering endlessly through the mountain accents of Tennessee’s heather and thistle.

“SCOTS WHA HAE!” No One Provokes Me With Impunity -- (the motto of Scotland)
Culturally, the Norris Highlands is dramatized by the heroic, freedom-loving heritage of the fiercely-independent and proud...Scots-Irish. The Scots-Irish of early America brought with them a unique and un-wavering devotion to Independence. Their undying, rugged spirit pervaded their Highland Culture and uniquely motivated them to stoke the fires of liberty and defiance which would ensure the great success of America’s Revolution! George Washington famously remarked, “if defeated everywhere else, I will take my stand for liberty among the Scots-Irish!” A British officer noted, “call this war by whatever name you may...it is nothing more or less than a Scots-Irish, Presbyterian Rebellion!”

The history and heritage of the Norris Highlands...
A love for religious freedom- stemming from the Calvinistic reforms of the beloved Scottish Kirk- played a huge role in molding the determined-nature of the Scots-Irish. It produced within them a resolute & confident character that was unyielding in every point of its conviction and course. From the land of William Wallace to the “bravehearts” of Cumberland Gap’s “Wilderness Road”...from Davy Crockett and Sam Houston to the musical exploits of Roy Acuff and Howard Armstrong- these bold, restless, and innovative souls left an indelible mark upon the Highland Trail they so courageously blazed.

Much of today’s American culture and music can be traced back to the Celtic traditions initially imported by these lively and spirited Scots-Irish. Mountain clogging, Irish jigs & reels, flamboyant storytelling and that “high lonesome sound” of the Scottish ballads-- all have their well-nurtured place in the hills of the Norris Highlands.

Heritage Tourism has no limit with the assets available within the Norris Highlands region. Following is just a small compilation of notable items to build a campaign upon.

Landmark movements of migration, liberation and pioneer progress ushered forth from the Norris Highlands throughout its long history. The Longhunters were the first Norris Highland pioneers. Their travels would keep them away for months at a time-- thus, “long” hunting. They would leave the safety of the eastern settlements for the chance to find “big game,” romantic adventure and more “elbow room” in the hinterlands of Tanasi/Tennessee (the meeting of waters) and Kaintuck/Kentucky (the dark and bloody ground). Deerskins were their primary game and they found plenty here in the land the Shawnee called “Wasioto,” which means Deer Valley. A good season’s haul would bring around $1,000 in the markets back east, (a terrific income for those days),but it was the glowing reports of fertile valleys, tall timber and limitless opportunity that spurred the interest of more “Overmountain” families.

Heroes from the Watauga Association (the first independent, democratically-elected government in America) and King’s Mountain (the battle that “turned the tide” in the Revolutionary War) migrated west to the Powell and Clinch River valleys shortly after the war seeking the promise of prosperity and the hope of favorable fortunes. Awaiting the settlers were a few hostile Cherokee and Shawnee Indians along with a strange & mysterious race known as the Melungeons- who were remnants of the abandoned 16th century Spanish-American colonies- largely of Portuguese and Mediterranean descent.

Grantsborough, modeled after the city of Philadelphia, was founded by General Washington’s aide-de-camp Maj. James Grant in 1798 as the first town in the new state of Tennessee. In 1806, the county of Campbell was chartered, named for a local Militia-Commander and staunch supporter of the “Lost State of Franklin” Col. Arthur “Longjaw” Campbell- a descendant of the auld Scottish Clan of Highland Campbells.

Hugh Montgomery- a Scots-Irish descendant of Ulster Plantation-founder Laird Hugh Montgomery- settled in the Norris Highlands granting land for the central town of Jacksborough- named in honor of another Scots-Irishman of the frontier: Andrew Jackson. Col. Lemuel Montgomery, son of Hugh, was the first casualty in Old Hickory’s “Battle of Horeshoe Bend” that took place during a campaign against the Creek Indians in the War of 1812. His memory and sacrifice was honored by the creation of Montgomery County in Alabama. A bronze statue of Lemuel stands today at the Montgomery County courthouse.

Another 70 volunteers from the Norris Highlands fought in the War of 1812-commanded by Scots-Irish officers: Samuel Wear and Robert Doak. Shortly thereafter, hundreds of treasure-seekers flooded the Norris Highlands looking for the fabled “Lost Silver Mine” of Jonathan Swift. To this day, dreams of untold riches hiding somewhere in the crevices of “High Cliff” stir the imagination and alert the avarice of countless investigators who think they’ve finally found that one, all-important, missing clue. Also during this era, flatboats full of timber, produce and other cargo were floated down the rivers to build cities like Chattanooga and Nashville, and to turn profits for the traders in the markets of New Orleans. Riverboat Pirates who hijacked these enterprises, like Capt. Samuel Mason, reportedly had hideouts in the coves and ‘hollers’ of the upper Norris Highlands.

The Civil War period witnessed such strong, pro-Union sympathies among these old patriot families that it inspired one county’s new name (Union) and another county’s secession from Tennessee (Scott). Lincoln’s respect for the loyal mountaineers resulted in the foundation of Lincoln Memorial University and a museum featuring one of the finest Lincoln collections in the world. Both are within a mile of the Civil War fortress overlooking Cumberland Gap known as “the Gibraltar of the South.

“Harvey LaFollette, a distant relative of Lincoln’s, brought industrial development and railroads to the area. Extracting coal and iron from Big Creek Gap he built a boom town that he called, “the Pittsburgh of the South!” British author

Thomas Hughes founded the experimental, Utopian community of Rugby for Great Britain’s “second sons” just above the rim of the Big South Fork River Gorge.

Evangelist Billy Sunday’s music minister, Homer Rodeheaver, grew-up in Jellico listening to the black, railroad workers’ songs which prompted him to pursue a career in music that made him the most successful recorder of gospel music in the acoustical era. Grace Moore, who was inspired by Rodeheaver, crafted a phenomenally-successful career in both Opera and Film.

Coal mining emerged as the single most important economic development for countless mountain communities throughout the Highlands. Lake City’s “Coal Creek War” and the “Fraterville Mine Disaster,” as well as later events such as the Yablonski Assassination and Strip Mining, reflected the great social upheavals and hard times so frequently associated with the mining industry.

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author James Agee, known for his literary master-piece “A Death in the Family” came from a French Huguenot family whose roots run deep in Grantsborough and LaFollette. .

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) started their first of 49 dams here in 1933, as part of a comprehensive network of hydro-electric plants that were engineered to control flooding through-out the South and to provide electrical power for the first time to millions of people.

On July 6, 1944, the second worst stateside military disaster of WWII took place- “The Jellico Train Wreck.” One thousand new army recruits were headed south on the L&N when the train derailed killing 34 and injuring 75.

The “Secret City” of Oak Ridge sprung-up, almost overnight, to develop the first atomic bomb that secured the Allied victory in WWII- bringing to a close the bloodiest conflict in all of human history.

In the autumn of 1956, the “Clinton 12” bravely marched down the hill to the Clinton High School to become the first blacks in the South to successfully integrate with white students.

John Rice Irwin founded the widely-acclaimed and much-visited Museum of Appalachia in Norris to honor the pioneer ancestors who first settled here.

Carl W. Stiner, of La Follette, rose to the Army rank of four-star General becoming the Commander in Chief of U.S. Special Operations, helping to capture the terrorists of the Achille Lauro, assisting in the Panama invasion that captured Manuel Noriega, and commanding all special operations during 1991’s Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.

For these, and many other reasons, Jeff Biggers, author of “The United States of Appalachia” calls this region, “the burning ground of America’s crossroads.” Come and discover for yourself why the impassioned mysteries of America’s first Wild West continue to inspire the wanderlust of those-- we might call-- Today’s Longhunters!

“Gi’e me a spark O’ Nature’s fire that’s a’ the learning I desire.”-Robert Burns
(Coonskin Cap not required)
The Norris Highlands is an Auld Acquaintance that should not be Forgot!