Elizabethton, TN Summary

Elizabethton is located not far from the Cherokee National Forest, nestled at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northeastern Tennessee. It is the perfect place for visitors wishing to soak up some of Tennessee’s rural beauty. One of the loveliest features of the town is the Doe River Covered Bridge, a 134-footwide clapboard bridge built in 1882, which stands at the edge of the business district.

Elizabethton has a population of 13,000 people and was settled as Fort Watauga in 1769, at the Sycamore Shoals river crossing. Living beyond colonial protection, the settlers negotiated a land deal with the Cherokee in 1775, the largest exchange of land at that time.

The Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, on West Elk Avenue, features a replica of the old fort used by the Overmountain Men at the Battle of King’s Mountain in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. Also located in the area is the oldest frame house in the state. The John and Landon Carter Museum, on Broad Street, dates back to 1775 and features Revolutionary-period furnishings.

Close to Elizabethton is a series of hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, a 2,100-mile trek that follows the ranges to Maine. The scenic trail starts near Watauga Lake, on Roan Mountain, 15 miles from town.

It features numerous cabins and camping grounds along the way.

Other stunning vistas are provided along the Laurel Fork Falls trail, together with Blue Hole Falls, 10 miles north of town off Hwy 91.

One of the most popular events in Elizabethton is the Slagle’s Pasture Bluegrass Festival, which is held over several days in June and features Appalachia’s premier bluegrass musicians.

Johnson City is serviced by buses and is about 45 miles west of Elizabethton. The Tri Cities Regional Airport is to the north of Elizabethton, between Johnson City and Kingsport.