On this earth there is a place where darkness is just as vibrant as daylight. Where Ancient peaks, cloaked in blue haze, stand as a fortress in the heart of Appalachia, holding memories of a time before time.

By day, millions flock to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drawn to its breathtaking vistas. But when the sun dips below the ridgeline, and shadows stretch like long fingers across the valleys, a transformation takes hold. This is when the park truly awakens.

Trails once bustling with hikers become the domain of creatures that light up the forest floor. Towns once booming with life have been drowned and left to fill the lakes floor.

Join us as we venture off the beaten path, beyond the overlooks and gift shops. We'll  trace the footsteps of those who sought refuge in these mountains, discover pockets of life untouched for millennia, and confront mysteries that even science can't fully explain.  From the depths of an underwater graveyard to the eerie glow of fireflies pulsing in unison, the Smokies are about to reveal their secrets.

Sources:

The "Lost" Settlement of Proctor:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/proctor-lost-ghost-town-hazel-creek

The Greenbrier Lights:

https://smokymountains.com/park/blog/facts-bet-didnt-know-great-smoky-mountains

http://www.mysmokymountainvacation.com/facts.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Wzl4Nzat0&t=579

https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smoky-mountains/moonshiner-tunnels-under-smoky-mountains/

https://www.moonshineuniversity.com/media/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-moonshines-history

https://www.theappylodge.com/blog/history-of-moonshine-in-gatlinburg-and-smokies/

https://www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smoky-mountains/moonshiner-tunnels-under-smoky-mountains/#:~:text=Archeologists%20found%20that%20the%20walls,and%20warnings%20with%20one%20another.

https://appvoices.org/2023/08/03/bioluminescence-in-appalachia/