Cancel

Open app

Search

Fontana Dam Photos

Recommended Reviews - Fontana Dam

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Jeffrey F.

We found this little hidden area on our way to the dragons tail in the smoky mountains. The dam is beautiful and quite scenic. The visitor center was closed due to COVID-19 and we took a drive down the Dragon's tale. If you are in North Carolina on the western side of the state it's not too far from Bryson city which has excellent tubing and white water rafting. It's a beautiful place to visit and it was very quiet. Most of the stuff was closed due to COVID-19 including the gas station and gifts and souvenir store near the Indian reservation.

Mike W.

If you're ever lucky enough to be out this way, stopping here is a must. History, nature, and no cell service. Just what everyone needs sometimes. There's even a trailhead to get on the Appalachian trail.

Terence S.

Awesome views, friendly folks, and TVA has lots of literature out to help you understand how the dam was built, and about its impacts on the area. Be warned, this is definitely out of the way, and the roads to get out here involve country switchbacks and steep angles. The breathtaking views are worth it!

View of Little Tennessee River from visitor's center
Dalton W.

Beautiful place, definitely worth checking out if you have the time. There are plenty of parking spaces and viewpoints to look at the River valley and Fontana lake. Unfortunately, the visitors center and gift shop were closed while we were there.

Elizabeth R.

I loved visiting this impressive dam! Attraction: This is the tallest dam in the Eastern United States. It is impressive, to say the least. The Appalachian Trail crosses right over the top of it. Visitor center: They have ample parking, a little gift shop, a platform for better views of the dam and gorgeous surrounding mountains. Ample parking. Clean bathrooms (once side even has full showers!). No cell service, FYI!

Susanne B.

Impressive Dam, tallest dam in the TVA system. Large parking lot, small visitor center that was closed due to Covid. However, plenty of information panels outside on the history of the dam and the Tennessee Valley Authority and interestingly the Appalachian trail that passes over this dam. You can also drive across the dam right in your car. We visited on a Sunday in July and the place was absolutely deserted. We were the only people there, it felt almost eerie. So quiet! I would definitely recommend.

See all

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jessica E.
20
86
178

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Fontana Dam

Review Highlights - Fontana Dam

Visitor center: They have ample parking, a little gift shop, a platform for better views of the dam and gorgeous surrounding mountains.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Revolutionary War Graveyard - Revolutionary War Graveyard, Dandridge

Revolutionary War Graveyard

5.0(2 reviews)
45.2 mi

There's a very helpful brochure at the entrance and if they're out of stock, I've added a picture…read more The brochure tells the story of this cemetery that dates back to 1785 when the oldest church in the county was organized by Scots-Irish in a log building that stood at the north side of the graveyard called Francis Dean's or Robert Henderson's Lower Meeting House. Dean owned the land and Henderson was the first pastor of the church. The brochure continues, "When the church was founded in 1785, Dandridge was just a small western outpost nestled along the French Broad River in Caswell County, State of Franklin, where most people were living in scattered log cabins. The ace of cession by North Carolina paved the way for the formation of the State of Franklin which almost became the nation's 14th state and survived for four years under its own government even though North Carolina would never officially recognize the Franklinites." It was peaceful and interesting and quite historic. If you're heading to Dandridge, stop in and visit the final resting place of these pioneers. [Review 20105 overall - 461 in Tennessee - 1081 of 2023.]

So old. Yeah, this is pretty neat. Dating back to around 1785, interred here are the graves of…read moreRevolutionary War veterans and early citizens of Dandridge. The are only a handful of headstones and they are all unmarked and weathered - in a really cool historic way. There are several stone benches and the grounds are well maintained. The local attendant at the visitor center told me much more oral history; apparently you may never guess it by the size of this little hill mound but approximately 200 unknown graves lie underneath. Oh my.

Photos
Revolutionary War Graveyard - Revolutionary War Graveyard, Dandridge

Revolutionary War Graveyard, Dandridge

Revolutionary War Graveyard - Revolutionary War Graveyard, Dandridge

Revolutionary War Graveyard, Dandridge

Revolutionary War Graveyard

See all

Elkmont Ghost Town - Elkmont Club Cabin #7A - Levi Trentham

Elkmont Ghost Town

4.5(2 reviews)
19.2 mi

Thanks to Google Maps (and my thorough trip itinerary planning), I had discovered the historic…read more(once a) "ghost town" of Elkmont. For America's most visited national park, it can be difficult to escape the crowds within the Great Smoky Mountains--yet Elkmont is one place to do just that! This Little River Valley was once home to a pioneer Appalachian community, a logging town, and later a resort community. To this day, old relics and abandoned buildings from the past remain--awaiting to be explored. The area was settled in the 1840s as the town of Little River when a logging company was formed. A railroad was later constructed to transport timber for the Little River Lumber Company. This eventually allowed the wealthy from Knoxville to visit what eventually became a resort town. When the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was was established in 1934, residents were given the option to sell their homes at full price and relocate, or sell to the National Park Service (NPS) for a discounted price allowing them to live there until they become deceased. By 1992, most of the homes remained vacant or with expired leases leading 70+ historic buildings into a state of deterioration. Thankfully the NPS decided to renovate and preserve 19 buildings in Elkmont for public visitation. You can now find the Elkmont Historic District with cabins along Jakes Creek Road that were completed around 1997. They attempted to keep the buildings in the closest original condition--even their exterior paint colors! Each cabin has information about the tenants and any unique features. Unfortunately, the cabins cannot be brought up to code for renting or staying inside. However, the largest lodge known as the Appalachian Club is available as an event venue. Continue to explore the Old Elkmont Cemetery up a rocky road near the beginning of Elkmont Road, or choose to hike the Jakes Creek or Little River Trails where you will venture past less discovered old chimneys, walls and tractors that still remain. Directions: Coming from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge or Cherokee, turn to go west on Fighting Creek Gap Road toward Cade's Cove (turn off near the Sugarlands Visitor Center). After the Laurel Falls trailhead, watch for signs to Elkmont Campground. Follow Elkmont Road all the way til it becomes a loop drive at Jakes Creek Trail Trailhead.

Pretty neat location. Reminded us of a place back home that is still a resort for the wealthy…read more Warning to others who visit, make sure to stop at Sugarlands Visitor Center and get your park tag before going. We were hoping to hike more of the area but didn't know we needed a park tag for our vehicle

Photos
Elkmont Ghost Town - The Old Elkmont Cemetery signage

The Old Elkmont Cemetery signage

Elkmont Ghost Town - Appalachian Clubhouse

Appalachian Clubhouse

Elkmont Ghost Town - Elkmont Historic District Cabins along Jakes Creek Road

See all

Elkmont Historic District Cabins along Jakes Creek Road

Blount Historic Tour Swinging Bridge

Blount Historic Tour Swinging Bridge

5.0(2 reviews)
16.6 mi

I'm always all in when it comes to historic bridges especially when I can experience them first…read morehand and if I can walk across them then that's gets it to a entirely different level. I actually found this foot bridge by happenstance, I was driving down the highway and saw it connecting the two sides of the river, which is the intended purpose. Getting to this little gems is quite tricky and as you approach it on the residential side of the river you may be a little hesitant to pull into the narrow lane that sits between two homes but trust me the neighbors know what they have on the backside of their riverfront property - one friendly owner was outside and invited me in to check it out. These bridges are so cool but they were simply constructed to provide a solution which was "to get to the other side" I'm sure there is some correlation to "why did the chicken cross the road" but I'm not certain. The water below was running at a good pace and is very shallow you definitely wouldn't want to jump from or fall from this bridge the rocks would break you fall immediately after the splash. You could probably see everything you want to see here in about 10 minutes I stayed about 20 minutes - besides the bridge being super cool and the fact that it is historic there is more to it, the "love lock" phenomenon which symbolizes "unbreakable love" has attached itself to the structure. The love padlock phenomenon is like a weird alien growth that just won't die so think about this before placing your lock...

A little awkward to find but so beautiful!! It's lovely and well worth the hunt. Lots of fun. We…read morealso saw turtles near the creek below

Photos
Blount Historic Tour Swinging Bridge
Blount Historic Tour Swinging Bridge
Blount Historic Tour Swinging Bridge

See all

Fontana Dam - landmarks - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...