About Beech Grove School
Cataloochee was once the largest settlement in what is now the park, with more than a thousand people in the early 1900s, and Beech Grove School shows how it taught its children.
The school
The one-room building dates to 1901. Students of all ages sat in a single room with one teacher, in a school term that fit around planting and harvest. The structure is plain, with windows to let in light. Look at the room itself, because the size alone tells you how many children shared it.
Getting there
Cataloochee is on the North Carolina side, off Cove Creek Road. The NPS says to take I-40 exit 20, go 0.2 miles on Route 276, turn right onto Cove Creek Road, and follow the signs 11 miles into the valley. Expect about 15 minutes on gravel: the NPS describes it as a winding road with steep drop-offs and no guardrails, narrow enough that you may need to back up for oncoming traffic. RVs are not a good idea.
- Time: allow 45 minutes from Maggie Valley.
- Facilities: limited; the campground and ranger station are in the valley.
- No fees or reservations: there is no timed entry for Cataloochee.
- Road: Cataloochee Road is open year-round, weather permitting; see the seasonal roads page.
In the valley
The school is a few minutes from Palmer Chapel and the Caldwell House, and the elk meadows are nearby. Keep at least 50 yards from the elk. If you are driving from Asheville, remember I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge is still down to one lane in each direction after Hurricane Helene. Also check the park conditions page, since several Cataloochee-area trails remain closed after the storm.
Good to know
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
