About Henry Whitehead Place
Most visitors slow down for the deer in the field and miss the farm buildings set back from the road. The Henry Whitehead Place is one of those, a log cabin with outbuildings standing just off the loop between Cable Mill and the Dan Lawson Place.
The place
Henry Whitehead built here in the 1890s, later than most of the cove's settlers, and farmed it into the early twentieth century. The cabin is joined by a corn crib and a barn. Because it went up so late, it is a view of the cove at its last stage, when the community was still thriving but the park was only a generation away. The buildings are modest and have not been dressed up, which is why it feels so unmediated.
Visiting
- Where: on the south side of the loop between Cable Mill and the Dan Lawson Place. Pull-offs are short and tight, so slow down and watch for the signs.
- Time to allow: 10 to 15 minutes.
- Hours: the loop is open sunrise to sunset; closed to cars on Wednesdays from May 6 to September 30, 2026.
- Parking: a parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes. Do not stop in the lane.
- Facilities: none. Restrooms are at Cable Mill.
Making the most of it
Late afternoon light hits the front of the cabin and the field, and wildlife is active at the same time. If the road ahead is jammed with cars watching a bear, this is a good place to wait with something to look at. The Dan Lawson Place and the Tipton Place are a few minutes ahead, each with more buildings.
Because this stop is small, it works as a short pause. Combine it with the walk to the Elijah Oliver Place earlier in the loop if you want a quieter hour. Allow two to four hours for the whole loop in fall.
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.
