Cosby is without question the best kept secret in the Smoky Mountains.
Nestled between the shadows of the Pigeon River Gorge and against a backdrop
of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cosby is home to the second largest
campground and trailhead in the National Park. From Cosby, the National Park
Headquarters is a quick backdoor into Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina.
You can avoid traffic congestion and see East Tennessee's vivid unspoiled beauty
of the mountains, rivers, and forest via the Wilton Springs Road route
(I-40, Exit 440). It takes you through the heart of the Cosby Community. Cosby and
the three bubbling mountain creeks of the same name (Upper, Middle, and Lower Cosby
Creeks) take their names from Dr. James Cozby, one of the first settlers of the area.
The Cosby community is just a dot on the map so don't look for a town of any consequence.
There's a U.S. Post Office and just a few other buildings that actually mark the
town's map location. However, Cosby is a community that has many treasures to offer
if you are willing to slow down and do a little prospecting.
The Appalachian crafts are abundant in the Cosby area. You can seek out quilt
makers and artists alike. It is work that would delight
the palette of anyone's eyes.
By 1960 there were as many as 200 stills operating in Cosby. Moonshiners and their souped-up cars carried this fiery liquid into urban areas. This small community is where that road began. Although there are occasional rumors of someone firin' up a still, the "Glory Days" of the "Moonshine Capital" of the World are now a memory.
Cosby and the surrounding area is a fantastic place for families, groups,
couples or individuals to experience fun in the great outdoors. Explore hiking,
horseback riding, fishing, white-water rafting, local arts and crafts,
skiing/snowboarding, plenty of shops, attractions and dining establishments, all for you to enjoy.
