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Smoky Mountain Loop
The missing link 16 mile section of the Foothills Parkway is now open. This slightly changes our Smoky Mountain Loop Map, but it is for the good.
CLICK HERE for printable map
From Little River Road (TN 73) take Wear Gap Road north to Wear Valley, jog right on US321 for 1 mile and jump on the new section of the Foothills Parkway. This connnects to the older 17 mile section of the Foothills at Walland. Continue on the FHP to US129 and turn left for the Dragon. Be advised that there are no facilities (food, fuel, restrooms) on this 33 mile jaunt and the only access other than each end is midway at Walland.
The entire Smoky Mountain Loop is 143 miles and will take the entire day. Some of the highlights include the Tail of the Dragon, part of the Moonshiner 28, Fontana Dam, historic Bryson City, Cherokee, GSM elk herd and The Great Smoky Mountains with Newfound Gap, Clingman's Dome, and Gatlinburg.
There is too much to see and do in the area, we recommend extending your stay to 3 or 4 days.
Where to stay: Townsend TN, quiet and tourist oriented; Gatlinburg TN, family oriented fun, night life; Cherokee NC, native crafts and culture, casino; Bryson City NC, quaint tourist small town; Robbinsville /Fontana area, get plenty of rest for the next day. For more information on accommodations in this area visit:
- Accommodation near Tail of the Dragon: https://tailofthedragonresorts.com/region1/
- Accommodations near Bryson City and GSM: https://tailofthedragonresorts.com/region5/
- Accommodations near Maryville, Gatlinburg and GSM: https://tailofthedragonresorts.com/region2/
Cheoah Dam Celebrates 100 Years
Cheoah Dam Celebrates 100 Years
Among the many hydroelectric complexes in the western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee area is the Cheoah Dam. Completed in 1919 after three years of construction the 225-foot high, 750 foot wide dam was the tallest overflow dam in the world. The turbines at the time were the largest in the world. The structure spanned a narrow gorge of the Little Tennessee River and created the Cheoah Lake reservoir.
The dam was a private enterprise by the Tallassee Power Company. The nearby area was named for the TPC by taking the first two letters of each word to form Ta-po-co. The dam was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It actually gained fame in 1993 with scenes in the movie The Fugitive when Harrison Ford made a dramatic jump to escape the law. Annette Bening also used the dam in scenes from her 1999 movie In Dreams. The 1971 cult classic Two Lane Blacktop starring James Taylor used the dam as a backdrop in one scene.
Workers building the dam were housed in a construction camp located at the site of the present day Tapoco Lodge. The small development consisted of twenty-tree houses, a church, two schools, a playground and swimming pool. It was completely razed after completion of the dam. The current Tapoco Lodge was constructed there in the 1930s which is also listed on the Register of Historic Places.
Alcoa played a major role in production of aluminum for World War I and World War II. The process of making aluminum requires vast amounts of electricity which was the primary reason for hydroelectric facilities such as Cheoah Dam. Later dam projects by Cheoah Hydroelectric Development, a subsidiary of Alcoa Inc., included Calderwood, Santeetlah and Chilhowee. Fontana Dam was constructed by the United States Government. Today Alcoa Inc. employs more than 2,000 works at its Blount County, Tennessee plant.
Some of the photos shown were provided by Phillip Thomason of Thomason and Associates, Nashville, Tennessee. Photos were included in the firm's National Registry of Historic Places application for the Cheoah Dam, dated October 2003.
Free Shipping Week
The Tshirt shack is open for the 2019 season. And to get this season rolling, we are offering fee shipping at Tailofthedragonstore.com this week only. We've made it easy, no codes necessary !! Get your Dragon Gear now.
Road update for Moonshiner 28. New pavement from US 19/74 to Franklin. The potholes and heaves are gone.
Be sure to stop in and see our new MadMax cycle that Calestar caught in his tail over the winter.
Calestar captures MadMax cycle.
February 14, 2019
February 2019 -A new season is only a few weeks away.
This year we will be opening Friday March 1 as long as the weather holds out. Indications are for an early spring, so get your rides prepped for some action.
The Moonshiner 28 has new pavement from US 19/74 to Franklin. Many of the old heaves and potholes are no more.
We have a new addition to our Calestar Dragon exhibit. Seems he caught a MadMax intruder recently and has it wrapped-up in his mighty tail. Make your plans to see us at the Big Metal Dragon this year and see what’s new in our Tail of the Dragon T-shirt Shack.
Calestar captures MadMax cycle.
December 2018
The weather at the Tail of the Dragon has been cold, but has not dramatically affected the road itself. Be aware that the Dragon US129 stays open year round no matter what the weather is, but it can be dangerous if an ice or snow storm hits the area. Other area roads can be closed during severe weather. These include the Cherohala Skyway, US 441 Gatlinburg to Cherokee, the Foothills Parkway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. A section of the BRP is closed now north of Asheville.
Most area businesses and accommodations close for the winter. Check before heading this was.
November 29, 2018
The weather at the Tail of the Dragon has been cold, but has not dramatically affected the road itself. Be aware that the Dragon US129 stays open year round no matter what the weather is, but it can be dangerous if an ice or snow storm hits the area. Other area roads can be closed during severe weather. These include the Cherohala Skyway, US 441 Gatlinburg to Cherokee, the Foothills Parkway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. A section of the BRP is closed now north of Asheville.
Most area businesses and accommodations close for the winter. Check before heading this was.
November 11, 2018
A big thank you to all our veterans who proudly served our country. You are the best.
Tail of the Dragon
October 31, 2018
HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!!
The new section of the Foothills Parkway is scheduled to open on Saturday November 10, 2018. This new 16 mile addition creates a 33 mile scenic roadway from US 129 to Wears Valley near Pigeon Forge. Under construction since 1966 this roadway will have only two access points, one on US 321 west of Townsend at the northern end of the existing Foothills Parkway, and the other on US 321 in Wears Valley. Be advised that the Foothills Parkway will likely close during inclement weather.
Our Tail of the Dragon T-Shirt Shack plans to stay open through Sunday November 11 and possibly through Sunday November 18 weather permitting. We will reopen in March 2019. In the meantime you can order our merchandise on our on-line store.
October 9, 2018
This past week saw the first two deaths on the Dragon for 2018.
On Friday afternoon October 5th a 44 year-old Georgia man south bound went off the road at mile marker 5.5 and was pronounced dead at the scene. News media indicates that the death was a “medical emergency” and was not caused by the accident itself.
On Monday afternoon October 8th a 70 year old Tennessee man north bound crossed the center line at mile marker 7 and hit two oncoming cars. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Please use extreme caution when driving or riding on the Tail. We hate posting such news.
September 17, 2018
September 17, 2018 The Tail of the Dragon and all other area roads are in great condition as Hurricane Florence only left a little rain in our area. All of the worst weather was in eastern North Carolina. Some of the area roads were closed as a temporary precaution, but all are now open.
The weather will be changing over the next few weeks with temperatures moderating. It looks to be an early fall color event with peaks from mid-October to the end of the month.