White Oak Flats Cemetery

One of Tennessee's oldest cemeteries, established in 1830 as Gatlinburg's original burial ground. Voices and figures have been reported among the old weathered stones.

Established in 1830, White Oak Flats Cemetery is one of the oldest burial grounds in Tennessee and served as the primary cemetery for Gatlinburg's earliest settlers. The cemetery sits on a small hill in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, surrounded by the tourist district -- a jarring juxtaposition of the modern and the ancient. Many of the headstones are so weathered they're no longer legible, and several unmarked graves dot the hillside.

Visitors have reported hearing whispered voices near the older graves, especially after dark. Figures in pioneer-era clothing have been seen walking between the headstones. Photography taken at the cemetery frequently captures light anomalies and mists. Local ghost tour guides consider it one of the most reliably active sites in the Smoky Mountains.