Have you experienced love in the Smokies?
To celebrate Valentine’s this year, Friends of the Smokies is compiling your love stories in Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Whether it be falling in love, getting engaged, getting married or a sweet memory in the Smokies, we want to hear from you!
Send us your story of love in the Smokies!
To share: email a short synopsis of your story and an image with the subject line “Smokies Love Story” to info@friendsofthesmokies.org.
Read Smokies Love Stories below!
Chandra and Lamar’s Smokies Love Story
I grew up camping every Summer in Elkmont. When I was a little girl my Dad would tell us stories of folklore and mountain magic as we walked up and down the trails looking at the old houses. We marveled at the magic of the fireflies as they synchronized among the trees. We would swim for hours in the ice cold creek. Elkmont has always been my favorite place in the world. As my now Husband and I were dating, I couldn’t wait to share my love of the mountains and this special place with him. We would drive up to Elkmont and explore the trails and all of the old homes. We would talk about the people who lived there for so many years and admire the strong foundations they left behind. Elkmont quickly became his favorite place too. On January 29th, 2017 this place became even more special for us. On that day Lamar proposed to me on the Troll Bridge. Mind you, he was not smooth. We walked through every house as he scoured for the “perfect spot” before we finally made our way to the lower trail and the Troll Bridge. The snow started to fall on that cold January day as my husband asked me to be his wife. We had the perfect moment together in the most perfect place. I didn’t think Elkmont could be more special to me than it was when I was a little girl. Now, when we drive through the Smokies and head to our favorite spot, our spot, my heart is filled with joy and warmth.
Linda and Bruce’s Smokies Love Story
Broke my heart to leave my mountains for the flatlands of Florida way back when. But it was there that God brought my sweetheart to me! We met May 25, 1978, and on September 1st, we were married. By the following May, Bruce brought me back to my beloved mountains, and I must say, that Florida man transplanted well into Tennessee soil! We’ve been hiking these mountains together ever since. Even when God called us to other places, our hearts remained in the Smokies. They are a part of who we are, who we are still becoming. God’s faithfulness to us is as steadfast as the mountains and his blessings as new as each sunrise over the peaks. It’s been a winding, unpredictable journey—some trails scary over steep terrain and others through woods of peace and wonder. All of it good. We are ever grateful to live where we can explore the beauty and wildness of the Smokies and meet others who love them almost as much as we do! Every step in the mountains is coming home.
Jenny and Chris’s Smokies Love Story
My husband and I got engaged at the Baptist church in Cades Cove. This is our favorite place and was the perfect place to start our love story. We have been visiting every year since. Been married 12 years now.
Jody and Mark’s Smokies Love Story
I met this incredible man who was working in Nashville and I was a student at UT. I saw on campus a flyer (way before social media, we were barely using email) about this magical event in the Smokies where the fireflies light up the night sky all at once. Mark came into town and I asked him if he wanted to go see Lightening Bugs mate with me. It was way before there was a lottery and we were in a field with just a handful of other people. It was indeed magical. A few years later we were living in Nashville. On a very rainy Sunday he asked if I wanted to go to the Smokies. I didn’t say no but was kind of confused why we would go on a Sunday in the rain….But then we pulled into Elkmont and I just knew. As we walked along the river it literally stopped raining. Mark got down on one knee and asked me to marry him in our very special spot at the Smokies. We have been married for 23 years and some of our best memories are in these amazing mountains!
Shane and Sam’s Smokies Love Story
When my wife and I first started hiking in the Smoky mountains I never knew the love of the mountains would make my love for her grow so much stronger.
Russ and Mary’s Smokies Love Story
I lived in the Knoxville area for almost 19 years before I moved to the Bay Area for a job offer. I was 33. I met Russ who is a native Californian. I took him to Knoxville to meet my family and friends and we planned a hike in Cades Cove. We stopped at Abram’s Falls, soaking are feet while sitting on a boulder. Russ stood up and knelt down (I was beginning to worry something was wrong!) when he opened up a ring box that he had in his pocket and asked me if I would do him the honor of spending the rest of my life with him. I screamed YES! We will be celebrating our 33rd Wedding Anniversary this June. I will always hold Cades Cove close to my heart.
Be a Smokies Valentine! Make a gift in honor of a loved one.