Whether visiting or relocating, these Great Smoky Mountains have been welcoming folks just like you for more than two hundred years. Now Cocke County, Tennessee, is even more attractive for more than just the temperate climate, low cost of living and laid back Southern life style. Isn't that appealing to you? There's not much changed lately. There's always a helping hand when you need one, or ten. And churches are filled on Sundays. But they always are. Doesn't that have great value to you? Warm sunny days and cool nights bring a gentle winter season. A little snow but not much. The smell of oak logs burning in your fireplace tickles your nose and the pale glow of your neighbor's porch light down the road tells you they're home. You're glad you're at home in Cocke County and the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

Isn't it about time you took a good look at what Time Magazine pronounced as one of seven areas in America to visit? Or to relocate? You'll spend weekends in the Great Smoky Mountains high atop an Appalachian peak, nestled in a deep "holler" or along one of the hundreds of fish-filled streams and creeks in the county. Wait till you smell the forest in the morning. Talk about relaxing!

Our Communities

Bybee is one of those unique sleepy small towns well known for friendly residents, beautiful rolling-hill farmland, and the corner grocery store and Bybee has two. If you like country cooking or some of the finest international cuisine, Bybee has two restaurants definitely worth a visit. The town has a long history including historic Bybee Methodist Church off Highway 160. Slow down and take in the countryside and stop to ask about horseback riding, stables, crafts stores, Bybee's exotic animal farm off Briar Thicket Road, and other things that make Bybee unlike any other community.

Cosby is nestled in a valley and is home to arts and crafts shops, realty offices, quilt shops, quaint restaurants, dulcimer shops, and friendly Smoky Mountain folks. Visit the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center On Cosby where Highways 321 and 32 join. Enroute to Gatlinburg stop in for driving directions and to see local products. Cosby is well known as the Moonshine Capital of the World and the movie Thunder Road (1958) is the story of what was once a wild and wide open Tennessee tradition. Moonshining was, in fact, the income producer for many families here and many of the locals can tell you what it was like to "run shine" to Knoxville and Asheville, North Carolina. Cosby Campground is also the Cocke County entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Camp here to escape the crowds. It's beautiful.

Del Rio is the jewel of Cocke County. It’s home to many old time mountain families and its hollers are flowing with clear water streams. Appalachian bluegrass music is right at home here and if you're a banjo picker...you'll be at home too. Del Rio is the last "settlement" before the North Carolina line, just a hop-skip up the road. You'll travel Highway 25/70 which, before the construction of Interstate 40, was the main road between Newport and Asheville, North Carolina. It's also home of "Christy"...the story of a North Carolina girl who came to teach mountain children nearly one hundred years ago. She has been the star of a Broadway musical, a movie and television series. Christy Mission, her home, is located just outside Del Rio and makes an important family stop to learn about the folks who call the Smoky Mountains their home.

Hartford is best known as the gateway to Tennessee on Interstate 40 from Asheville, North Carolina. You'll find Tennessee log cabins tucked against the steep sided mountains, winding mountain roads that never end, and Cocke County’s fastest growing "industry", white water rafting on the Pigeon River. Hold on to your hat...it's a wild ride down the raging river and your professional guides will do their best to keep dry. There are a dozen outfitters at Hartford who offers river trips and a lot of happy smiles for everyone who has made "the trip".

Newport is the seat of Cocke County and a quiet southern town. You'll find shopping, hiking, scenic wilderness, fine dining and a very low cost of living. Broadway, Newport's downtown, is narrow and you'll want to watch the single traffic signals above the intersections, but the folks are friendly and want to meet you. The Pigeon River runs through downtown Newport. The City Park, Cocke County Museum, and the Community Center are popular family destinations. You'll find hotel/motel accommodations, camping areas, churches, restaurants, service stations, County and City government and your Chamber of Commerce in Newport all waiting to make your stop in Cocke County pleasant and enjoyable. From here you'll travel all of East Tennessee. In fact 75 percent of the nation's population is within a days‘ drive of Newport.

Parrottsville, named after one of the early founders-Parrott- is an incorporated township located along Highway 321 between Newport and Greeneville. The land features rolling hills and to the east the vista of the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. This rural community settled in the late 18th century by Germans lays claim to being the third oldest community in Tennessee. The traditional farming includes dairy, beef cattle, tobacco, and grains. Also of interest are many historical homes and churches including century old Salem Lutheran just north of Parrottsville. A unique geological feature nearby is the Natural Bridge. Also of interest are many historical homes and churches including century old Salem Lutheran just north of Parrottsville. A unique geological feature nearby is the Natural Bridge.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Cocke County is one of three Tennessee counties and three North Carolina counties with acreage encompassed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited park in the United States. During the 1920s and 1930s, hundreds of Cosby residents gave up their homes and moved elsewhere as acreage for what would become GSMNP was acquired.

Among the park entrances is one in Cosby, which leads to a popular campground and picnic area. Leading from the campground are numerous hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty The campground has 165 sites, three of which accommodate up to 20 people each. Sixteen sites are designated for RV’s. No reservations are required, but there is a camping fee. An amphitheater serves as an entertainment center for various gatherings, such as the annual Cosby in the Park celebration each May. Visitors enjoy wildflower pilgrimages, bird-watching, hiking, photography, fishing, and other activities. Horseback riding is popular. Occasionally black bears can be seen, and visitors are warned not to approach them or feed them.

Some of the hiking trails include the Appalachian Trail, Snake Den Ridge, Low Gap, Hen Wallow Falls, Mount Cammerer, and Sutton’s Ridge. The Cosby entrance to the Park is not as developed as those in other counties, a fact which increases its enchantment for visitors.

Newport Parks & Recreation

With a constant finger on the pulse of the community, the Newport Parks & Recreation Department continues to provide an ever-increasing valuable service to Newport, Cocke Countians and visitors. The department continues to expand on a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy.

The city recreation department is responsible for the maintenance of several parks and playgrounds in Newport. Included are Newport City Park, Filbert Street Park, White Oak Park, Pet Milk Park, the Presbyterian Church Memorial Park, Eva Babb Sexton Memorial Park, and the Newport Grammar School Sports Complex. The football field at City Park is one of the locations where the Newport Little League football program plays its games. The program is for the Grasscutter, Super Grasscutter, and Pee Wee age groups. Also, major league, junior league, and senior league baseball games take place at City Park. Plus, several district and state tournaments are held at the tradition-rich Newport City Park baseball field. Play a game of tennis on the City Park tennis courts. The park offers the use of two pavilions, with grills available. There is a walking track, a swimming pool with pavilion, basketball court, playground, toddler playground, with sand box, a volleyball court, and concessions.

The pool opens during the summer months. Lifeguards are on duty at all times during operating hours. .

In addition, the Newport Parks and Recreation Department provides a large number of activities at the Newport Community Center. There is an Olympic-size heated indoor swimming pool, with lockers and shower facilities on the premises. The center also hosts meets of the Cocke County/Cosby High School swim team and the Newport/Cocke County Rapids swim team. Also at Newport Community Center, those interested can find a wellness room with total body elliptical cross-trainers, treadmills, bicycles, stair climbers and free weights, and a racquetball court. The gymnasium serves as site for the Recreation Basketball Other offerings include a game room, as well as the opportunity to take swimming lessons, or participate in bridge. There are gymnastics and dance instructors, step-aerobics, and yoga options as well.

Cocke County Recreation Department

The Cocke County Recreation Department is not only on the move, it continues to show steady growth in the number of local youth and adults who take advantage of the department’s valuable service. The facility includes: a gymnasium, and a small children’s playground to the rear of the building. At the main office location, there are two fields, one for baseball, and the other for softball.

Newport Speedway

It is lightning fast, and race fans who take in the action every Saturday night at Newport Speedway would readily agree. The 4/10-mile asphalt speed plant sees a late model turn a lap under 10 seconds. Add upwards of 30 cars in a feature and you’ve got short track racing at its best. Newport Speedway is the only asphalt track left in East Tennessee. Its tracks like this that provide a breeding ground for future NASCAR drivers and many have made a stop here.

Golf Courses

Smoky Mountain Golf and Country Club is located at 1220 Golf Course Road, Newport, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, and offers players a challenging round of golf with beautiful, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Smoky is one of the oldest and best golf courses in East Tennessee. Smoky Mountain celebrated its’ 50th anniversary in 2007. It is also home to the Cocke County High School and state champion Newport Grammar Middle School golf teams. The front nine is relatively open and affords the golfer with ample fairways to hit the long ball, while the back nine is somewhat narrow and requires a more delicate and controlled shot selection with control and distance rewarding above average players. The golf course has Bermuda fairways and bent grass greens with substantial undulation. Two of the holes, numbers 10 and 17, are rated by area golfers as two of the most difficult in East Tennessee. Amenities: Pro Shop, driving range, putting green, full-service restaurant, lounge, and swimming pool.

Baneberry Golf and Resort is located at 704 Harrison Ferry Road in Baneberry just across the Cocke County Line in Jefferson County off Highway 25E. An outstanding layout featuring gently rolling land, lakes, streams, and bunkers will challenge golfers of all abilities. Baneberry has twice been the home of the $75,000 Baneberry Classic that is held by the T. C. Jordan Tour (now the NGA Hooters Tour). Amenities include two putting greens, a chipping green, tennis courts, a large swimming pool, a boat ramp into Douglas Lake, and a club house with a pro shop, restaurant, lounge, and a spacious deck overlooking the front nine. Baneberry also offers two bedroom villas or large efficiency rooms. All have fully equipped kitchens.

Newport Theatre Guild

Organized in 1988, the Newport Theatre Guild promotes professional quality theatre and stage productions for area audiences. The guild grew out of the Newport Business Women’s production of the Broadway hit Oklahoma! in 1988. Several residents recognized the need for a local theatrical group and organized the guild. They immediately went into rehearsal for Arsenic and Old Lace.

Jerry Maloy directed the guild’s first effort, and the late Bob Mooty then guided the members through several highly successful productions. Over the years, the guild has brought numerous high quality shows to the Newport stage including such musicals as The Sound of Music, Carousel, Guys, and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, and A Christmas Carol and such stage productions as On Golden Pond, Rumors, Steel Magnolias, and Come Back to the Five & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. During 2007-2008, the guild reached new heights of success with their highly praised premier production of Wilma Dykeman’s novel, The Tall Woman and the beautifully produced musical My Fair Lady.

Festivals are abundant in Cocke County

Activities at the various festivals include music, crafts, old-time demonstrations, cooking, and beauty pageants.

The fall festival season kicks off with Del Rio Days at the end of September. It includes live demonstrations such as making molasses as well as entertainment. Children enjoy activities such as riding around in a horse-drawn wagon. Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Newport Harvest Street Festival during the first weekend of October. Held in downtown Newport, the Newport Harvest Street Festival has two days of entertainment and vendors along a three-block area on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month. The festival provides top-notch entertainers and a variety of vendors offering food, crafts, and merchandise.

There are also educational displays and demonstrations. Each year something new and different seems to be added. The month’s next festival is Parrottsville Heritage Days, which is celebrated at Parrott-Larue-Myers Park in Parrottsville. It is held the second Saturday of October. The Parrottsville festival has kicked off on Friday evening with a Chili Cook-Off at the park pavilion. Heritage Days features a variety of entertainment, arts and crafts, and a variety of foods.

The On Cosby Festival, which is held at On Cosby Visitors Center begins on the third Friday of October and ends on Sunday evening. The festival includes the outdoor drama, “On Cosby”, other entertainment, and arts and crafts exhibits. Cosby Ruritan Club’s Ramp Festival, which is held on Kineauvista Hill in Cosby is the longest continual festival in the State. The festival, held the first Sunday in May, is dedicated to the ramp, which is a wild onion that grows abundantly in the local mountain areas.