Kermit and His Bees

Kermit Caughron was the last resident of Cades Cove, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Upon his death, in 1999, his property reverted to the National Parks-Department of Interior and his surviving wife (seated on the porch of the original log cabin homestead) had to leave the Cove and establish a new home in a nearby town.

Their 1930's home was torn down because it did not fit the 1800's time period the National Park wishes to preserve in Cades Cove, but the cabin, barn, smoke house, and additional storage building still remain on the property for visitors to see.

Kermit and his family farmed the land, raised cattle, and tended bee hives often selling honey to those who drove past their home and wished to make a purchase or stop to chat.