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History of Jack Huff's and Mt. LeConte Lodge
In 1903, Estel Carl (Jack) Huff, was born into one of the pioneering families of Gatlinburg and one of the first families to welcome guests to the Great Smoky Mountains. His father Andrew Huff, built the Mountain View Hotel, one of the finest establishments of its kind and host to many celebrities of the day. Over the years, guests witnessed the transition of Gatlinburg from a sleepy mountain town to a robust sophisticated gateway to the Smokies. As charming as Gatlinburg was, the mountains that surrounded it entranced Jack. His infatuation grew to a passion to live in a place where heavens and earth kissed. In 1926, Jack continued his family's hospitality tradition by building a lodge on top of Mt. LeConte, a 6593 peak that even today is accessible only by foot and animal carrier. After leaving their mountain home, the family chose one of the most pristine, sought after areas in town to build Jack Huff's Motor Lodge in 1959. Today Cookie and her husband, Bruce Bowling, operate Jack Huff's Motor Lodge. Jack's Mt. LeConte Legacy also lives on today. The lodge, under the National Park Services auspices, continues to host up to 50 guests each night in its rustic cabins. In 1990, one of Jack's grandsons proposed by the lodge, and in 1996, a second grandson proposed to his intended at Myrtle Point. The Huff charm and the mountain magic worked; both ladies said yes! Jack Huff's Motor Lodge - Post Office Box 865 - 204 Cherokee Orchard Road |
