The Noah “Bud” Ogle Farm in Gatlinburg, also known as “Ogle Place,” is a historic location maintained by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977, it is a wonderful place to visit to get a true sense of what life was like for the early settlers of the area. The location consists of Ogle’s farmhouse, barn and tub mill.
Noah Ogle was a descendant of the very first Euro-American settlers in the Gatlinburg area, the William Ogle family. The Ogle family quickly spread throughout the area. Noah Ogle founded his farm in 1883. The land itself was not ideal for farming, but Ogle successfully grew corn and apple trees. The farm originally covered more than 400 acres, but his stake shrank as he subdivided the land among his children. His remaining 150 acres now comprise the Ogle Place historic district.
The cabin on the property is the type described as a “saddlebag” cabin. These types of cabins basically consisted of two separate cabin structures united by a single chimney in the middle. This type of cabin was actually unusual in the Southern United States, where dual cabins typically had a chimney on each side. The Ogle cabin also has a covered porch that spans both sides.
Today you can take a three-quarter mile hike through the Ogle Farm that takes about a half-hour. You have a chance to step inside both the cabin and the barn, as well as check out the cornfields and the mill, which is still operational. The hike takes you through the forest and back in time, and can be accomplished with minimal effort, especially compared to the more challenging trails in the Smoky Mountains.
There are numerous other historic locations spread around the national park, but Ogle Place is conveniently located very near downtown Gatlinburg, thus making it a quick and easy visit for Gatlinburg visitors.
