Beloved ‘gathering space’ being torn down in Great Smoky Mountains, park says

One of the most dramatic gathering places in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is being torn down due to safety concerns, according to the National Park Service.

“The LeConte Lodge Recreation Building, built between the late 1960s and early 1970s, has served for more than 50 years as a gathering space and retreat for overnight guests from around the world,” park officials said in a news release.

“Exposure to harsh weather at 6,500 feet elevation has caused significant deterioration to the building, beyond what can be rehabilitated. For the safety of visitors and employees, the structure will be removed and replaced later this year.”

LeConte Lodge is a complex of cabins famous for being “the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States,” officials say.

The complex is situated on an open glade just below the summit of Mount LeConte, the third-highest peak in the park. It is on the Tennessee side of the 522,427-acre park, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina state line.

“There are no roads that lead to the lodge,” according to lodge officials. “There are five hiking trails that lead to the lodge, ranging in length from 5.0 miles up to 9.1 miles.”

Demolition crews and equipment are being airlifted to the site, and will start work on July 14, park officials said.

Construction will continue through the summer, and the end result will be a structure that reflects “the same character and spirit as the beloved original, continuing its legacy as a central gathering place,” park officials said.

LeConte Lodge is about 200-miles northwest from uptown Charlotte.