If you click the link it takes you right to that trip report.
I wrote about it from a historic perspective. It has been one of the BEST READ blogs I've ever written.
It was very popular then and continues to be appealing. I said in that article I wanted to visit the place during Halloween to attend the Scream Chamber Haunted Attraction. Well, I finally got my wish!
It was awesome. I realized after this visit that 1. This is one of the best haunted attractions anywhere. 2. I need to visit again during daylight hours and go on one of the historic tours.
Some of the reasons the Cleage house is so perfect for a haunted attraction? Some folks say it truly is haunted. It is associated with two murders that for sure happened and one that was rumored.
Samuel Cleage was in a disagreement with a Mr. Griffith and was stabbed and lingered and eventually died. His murderer fled the area and no justice was ever meted out for that heinous crime.
During the Civil War food shortages were everywhere. A slave woman at the Cleage mansion had fixed a pan of cornbread which was all the food they had left to eat. A Union soldier broke in and tried to raid the house for food and riches. Seeing that all they had was a pan of cornbread he spit in it.
The slave woman was so incensed she split his head wide open with a meat cleaver. Sounds like to me he got what he had coming to him.
The rumor was passed around that a Nanny in the Cleage house murdered one of the infants in her charge, but I think that was unsubstantiated. They said she went mad and killed the infant.
If ever a place was to be haunted this would be ripe for it. Lots of innocent blood shed and no justice.
I will have to go back and visit for the historical tour. Will also try to revisit the cemetery and Mouse Creek Farm. The haunted house tour doesn't allow ANY photos or videos inside for good reasons.
It would slow down the line of visitors coming through because of all the dawdling to take photos or shoot video.
It could potentially ruin it for the folks who come along afterwards.
It is impractical because of the lighting and the tight quarters.
They don't want you carrying anything larger than a fanny pack. No loose items. Keep your phone in your pocket or put away at all times or they will escort you out.
I took what photos and video I could outdoors before we entered. I complied 100% with the rules as did my grandson. I found out you have to pay $10 extra per person if you want the actors to touch you.
We didn't want that so I certainly wasn't going to PAY to be grabbed. The rules said not to touch the actors or you'd be escorted out. I didn't touch a one of them. I didn't pay extra, but I sure got touched A LOT! I think it irritated them that I was laughing, saying "Oh kewl!" and stuff like that. I was calm. Not screaming. I was leading my group and totally together. Ah well, you can't scare them all.
You get some who are old nurses who have heads filled with images of blood, guts and gore already.
We're used to violent, unpredictable, crazy patients. It is hard to scare my type when I've spent so many decades remaining calm in the face of whatever. LMBO!
It is very well done. They put a lot of effort into it. The special effects were amazing. I loved it.
My favorite part was the special effects that made it look for the world like you were wading right through neon green swamp water up to your waist! You couldn't see your own feet. It was thrilling,
My least favorite part was the tight squeeze part where you are compressed between some kind of inflatable device and have to blindly work your way through it. You can't see a thing. It is pitch black.
I highly recommend it. I wish I'd done it sooner. I will definitely go back again.
It is fun having new experiences and this was 180 degrees removed from my usual activities. I hate zombie movies, slasher films, and all those scary movies. That's what makes it miraculous that I wanted to go and actually enjoyed it!
Above: ghoulish nurse covered in blood and gore
Below: the undertaker making his rounds
Below: the occupant of the casket has gotten out and is trying to escape!
Below: They have escape room games and axe throwing and a concession stand.
Below: The hearse and the casket. They give hearse rides if you pay extra for one.
Sister Bad Habit the skeletal nun. We encountered her several times throughout. Scary is right!
Above: the Cleage house and the stage. They have areas set up to take photos. They had great music. They had a 3D light show that I was amazed by! They also had many bonfires lit in 55 gallon barrels around the place. It is a neat effect and would have been helpful if the evening got chilly. I wore shorts and a t- shirt and never got cold.
Below are a couple videos:
The first one is the main area and Elvira singing "Two Big Pumpkins"
and down here is the light show and the music from The Nightmare Before Christmas "Oogie Boogie's Song".
I try to be a good playmate to my grandchildren. We play all kinds of things. We play restaurant.
We play Bluey with the toy Bluey house, camper, and SUV. We play "Bus Driver" with the playset outside. We color. We read books. We play magnet blocks. My granddaughter Mia hadn't quite turned four yet when this latest infraction on my part took place. I bought a new doctor kit and a new cash register for them to play with. Mia has one of those "Our Generation" dolls. She loves that doll baby. Dollbaby has an icecream truck with all the trappings. We play with that thing frequently.
Below: Mia's Our Generation doll
Below: The ice cream truck that goes with the doll. The picnic basket on top has tiny pretend popsicles and icecreams in it.
Today Mia decided to play doctor. I figured I was the victim as the patient. I reckoned wrong.
Above: The toy doctor kit
Below: Mia's lap top computer for taking her diagnostic notes and recording vital signs.
She was going to see her doll baby as the patient. I had to play the part of the doll. Dr. Mia got the stethoscope, thermometer, otoscope out. She listened to Dollbaby's heart, lungs, abdomen. She took her temperature. She looked in her throat and ears. She felt of doll's belly. She then got the toy laptop computer out to take digital notes the way a real doctor does. She proceeded to say to Dollbaby: "Now, I know you ate some broccoli earlier today. What else did you eat?" I had to think fast and I am usually trying to slip something funny in there. Dollbaby replied "Well, after the broccoli, I had a tube of toothpaste, some candy, some french fries, and some cookies." Mia records all this and turns to Dollbaby aka ME to say "I think you have gas". You need to go home and lay down to rest.
I made the doll dutifully agree and lay down across my lap. Dollbaby lay there a few minutes and I made her turn over on her side and raise her leg. Dollbaby ripped a big fart!
About that time brother Gabriel came walking in. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mia duck down behind the arm of the sofa. Before I could say or do anything further Gabe asked "What is the matter with you? What has you upset?" The response came "I"M MAD!!" "Mad at who?" I asked.
"Mad at YOU! You won't play right! Don't you EVER do that again!" and she stomped off to the bedroom. Usually she does that to get her mind off whatever irritated her.
Gabe turned to me with eyes big as saucers. He didn't know what I'd done to provoke her.
I apologized and promised I'd never do it again. Later that evening when Jared and Lydia came to pick them up after work I told Lydia what went on. We made sure Mia was outside and out of earshot with her Daddy when I related the story. Gabe, me and Lydia all lost it and just died laughing.
Five days went past and Mia came back over one afternoon. The dollbaby and doctor kit were lying there right where she left them. I realized by the look on her face I was still not out of the dog house. I also thought better of having left the evidence out as a potential reminder. She cut her eyes at me and drew her frowns down. I sheepishly looked at her and said "Did Nanny not play right and ended up making you mad?" "Yes!" she answered. I went on to say "I'm real sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought it would be funny. Dollbaby had gas and you fixed her! She farted and was relieved!" I could see her expression soften and then she laughed with me. It was funny she agreed, but don't ever do that again! I told her I'd mind my manners. I was reminded by family to be sure to document these funny little incidents for posterity.
Saturday Oct. 5, 2024 my son-in-law Adam Lindsey turned 43 years old and my granddaughter Mia turned four! We had their birthday party together at Crystal and Adam's home in Walland.
It was great fun. Cousins and friends playing ball, riding ATVs, hide and seek, and having a great time. It was a house full for sure! We were to leave the next day to go on Fall Break Camping Trip! Attending were:
Grandmother Ruth Lindsey
Crystal, Adam, Michael and Tessa Lindsey
Jared, Lydia, Gabe and Mia Koogler
Kenny & Dana Koogler
Papa Mike and Grandma Renaee Lindsey
Jason and Heather Ledbetter
Courtney, Shannon and Olivia Icenhower
Mamaw Texine-Renae's mom
Richard, Morgan and Andie Pearl Armstrong
I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.
We had supper which was Tex Mex night with Tacos, Taco Salad, Chicken Fajitas, and fresh fruit.
Adam and Mia had a strawberry birthday cake!
They opened presents and liked the things they got.
It was fun and the fellowship was a true blessing. It felt great to know the the Armstrong's were visiting for a week and going on Fall Break with us!
above: Texine, Mike and Renaee on the back porch
Above: Mia and the birthday cake
Above: Left to right Morgan, Adam, Richard, Crystal and Grandmother
Above: Getting ready to open presents in the living room
Above: Adam wearing his Buc-ees hoodie from the Armstrongs.
Below: opening gifts Morgan, Jared, Tessa, Gabe, Mia and Lydia
Above: Gabe Tessa and Mia
Below: Mia on the Paw Patrol couch we got her. I disposed of the old one because it was so nasty dirt. She noticed it was gone and thus I had to replace it.
It was a fun evening. I can't believe this baby is already four!
Here is a video of singing Happy Birthday
Below: Jason
Below: Adam hugs Andie for the cool hoodie
Below: the beautiful Andie Pearl
Above: Papa Mike, Lydia and Jared
Above: Adam opening gifts
Above: Jared checks out the new kids couch for Mia.
Above: Crystal on the couch, Michael and Adam
Above: Back yard full of SXSs and four wheelers
Above: Tessa, Mia, Andie and Jared
Above: Lydia and Renaee
Above: Jared gets ready to ride Michael's four wheeler
Every time Kenny and I get out on the canoe two things happen: 1. I am waiting for him to swamp us into whatever body of water we happen to be navigating. 2. The conversation turns to "we should buy a bigger, more stable boat". A recent trip on Calderwood Lake had resulted in one of these bouts. We were discussing it more seriously this time. Which would be better a john boat or a pontoon boat?
Last weekend, Kenny, Gary and Kash headed up to Norris Lake and returned home with a nice, new to us, pontoon boat. It is very attractive, far more stable, and no doubt we and our family and friends will enjoy it.
Below: I'm in the bed and Dolly the cat is laying on me purring. She knows when I am sick and tries to fix me. Both my cats think putting their booty hole up close to my nose will remedy any problem.
above: the magic butthole.
We are learning about pontoon boat ownership. We are also learning that we need to keep the canoe for there are places a pontoon boat will not be appropriate on the water. The canoe still has its uses in smaller streams. I spent Thursday and Friday in bed sick with flu like symptoms after having oral surgery on Tuesday. Saturday dawned and my symptoms were gone. Friday was the day Hurricane Helene
blew through from Gulf of Mexico hitting the Big Bend region of Florida making landfall near the Steinhatchee River area.
It devastated the coast where it hit. It flooded Atlanta for the first time ever. It blew through our area and all we got was enough rain to raise the rivers and water table back to normal and relieve our drought. East of us along the border of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina the scene was apocalyptic. Walters Dam, the Nolichucky River dam, Lake Norman dam all breached. Cocke County Tennessee, Erwin in Unicoi County, Watauga North Carolina, and Asheville all took the brunt of the eastward edge of Helene. Highways 26, I-40, SR 107, Highway 64, were some of the major arteries along the road system that were damaged to the point of shut down. The village of Chimney Rock, North Carolina was obliterated. The Lake Lure dam came close to failing. The Flowering Bridge was damaged. The road was destroyed.
It felt like a real strange form of synchronicity that I was so terribly ill and down in the bed. Ibuprofen, tylenol and cold medicines were not really relieving my symptoms. Meanwhile Helene was barreling toward land. About the time the storm passed in nature I finally woke up to a pain free morning with the illness gone.
Saturday was a slow start for me and Kenny. We'd not made any plans because of my illness as well as the weather. Finally I told him I thought it was a damn shame we had this boat, but it was just sitting up there in the back yard un-used. He set about getting us ready to go. I packed our gear and picnic lunch. Around 11 am we set off toward the lake for the maiden voyage of this craft which as yet is un-named.
Above: pontoon boat in the back yard. Just sitting there.
All the recent rain would surely have gotten our area waterfalls flowing once more. We would head to Chilhowee Lake and check out five waterfalls that are "paddle to landforms". It would be the day to start learning about our pontoon boat as well as discovering more things about Chilhowee Lake. It is the closest lake to us. We can reach it by heading down Foothills Parkway and there we are!
Above: new boat drivers seat.
The drive on Foothills Parkway is always pretty. Fall colors are just beginning to show up high and on the shores of the lake. The traffic today on the parkway was light. We saw several other vehicles and their rigs at the boat ramp on Chilhowee, but it was not crowded. It was time for me to learn about how this boat has to be tied down and loaded and unloaded. The launch went without a hitch. It was very exciting. I had entered the waterfall GPS coordinates into the handheld unit and we took off down the lake to hunt waterfalls.
Below: the truck backing the pontoon into the lake
We went down as far as the McMurray Cemetery on the southern shore of the lake. The dam was in sight. We pulled into the cove where Turkey Pen Creek flows into the lake. It would be possible to walk the stream less than 0.20 miles up to Turkey Pen Cascade. It doesn't make sense to do so since the waterfall is visible from Mt. Pleasant Road. You can take out at a campsite by the shore, walk over to Mt. Pleasant Road and walk the road 0.40 miles out to the falls with far more ease than bushwhacking up the creek will allow.
Below: my ever present Oowala water bottle.. a gift from my daughter Crystal and granddaughter Tessa
We found what I initially thought was Bolden Knight Falls, but that one wasn't flowing at all. The first cascade we found was Chilhowee Cascade. It was lovely and flowing fairly. It drops right into the lake. The water here was jade green and calm. The surrounding trees were beginning to have that yellow tint of the first part of Autumn. The banks were covered in reindeer moss in pale celery green and pin cushion moss in emerald green. It was a pretty sight. Chilhowee is a particularly pretty lake.
Above: Close look at Chilhowee Cascade
Below: a look at Chilhowee Cascade from further back that shows the water of the lake.
Below: the banks of the lake are rocky and in this spot there is reindeer lichen and pin cushion moss.
Below is a short video clip of Chilhowee Cascade by itself.
After we checked out Chilhowee Cascade we turned and headed down the lake eastward to hunt some additional waterfalls. We ran upon a very pretty cove with a nice campsite. I'd never noticed this spot before! Below is a photo of this spot. A great crane flew up from the trees and glided away on quiet wings. We saw a tiny baby duck who was black as soot. He'd dive down every little bit to "hide" from us.
Below is a panoramic view of the lake from this pretty cove.
Below: You can really see some changing of the leaf color in this spot. Oranges, rust, reds, bronze, and yellows are coming!
We continued down the lake toward the east looking for Lawson Hollow Falls. We were able to see it from highway 129 back in March. We figured after all this rain it would be easy to find and roaring.
We were wrong! We found it to be barely flowing. You could hear the stream, but no water was making it into the lake. We'll have to try that again.
We headed on toward Miry Branch Falls. It is a pretty spot across from Tabcat Bridge and boat ramp. There is a dirt track that runs from the lake shore all the way up to Mt Pleasant Road. It is gated on the road end of it. The lake end is down by waters edge. We had visited this spot a couple times before. Last visit was during a thunder storm while paddling kayaks. We arrived at this cove to find another couple had already got there ahead of us and were behaving in a territorial fashion. We left them to the place. Today we saw no one here. I donned my water shoes and prepared to wade over to shore. Kenny got out wearing his crocs and anchored us. The stream was flowing well and it was easy to see and hear that the cascade was worth a visit today.
Below: the view once we anchored and started up Miry Branch. Pretty stream. There is a dirt road that runs beside it up from the lake shore.
Below is an image of the Cal Topo map that shows the blue tear drop as Miry Branch Cascade. You can see the Little Tennessee River aka Chilhowee Lake.... and the dashed black line on the right of the stream headed southeast is the dirt road.
Below: another view of Miry Branch as we work our way upstream
Below : a view of the foggy forest canopy above this stream!
Below: Miry Branch Cascade waypoints for the falls are 35.522700,-84.010940
Below: the side of the cascade with Kenny in it for scale.
We climbed out and as soon as we stepped into the lake waters which were about 18 inches high we stepped into squishy mud and silt on the bottom. I headed toward what I could see was a sandy, rocky base for the stream and soon the squishing stopped. You never know how deep you're going to sink into that muck. The forest was turning a sallow color and leaves were falling. The air above the stream was foggy in the tree canopy.
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We walked up the stream side and enjoyed the spectacle of the cascade. It was as pretty as I remembered. Again, the stream was not flowing as well as I'd hoped after all that rain. It was still worth a visit though. I'm just glad our drought conditions are passed.
I want to walk all the way up that old road sometime because I believe there are at least a few nice cascades up Carringer Branch. We didn't go too far upstream having been here before.
Plus at this point we had one more waterfall.. Nighway Branch we wanted to find. It was 0.30 miles further down the lake on the same side. We also wanted to motor on down to where we could SEE the power station at the hydroelectric tunnel. I don't think you can proceed further up the lake. For one thing the river becomes rocky and shallow. I think there may be some type of barrier as well.
Above and below: some smaller slides and cascades on Miry Branch
Above: blurry photo of some type goldenrod About all that was blooming
Below: a raised fire pit or cairn.
We climbed the bank and got onto the old dirt road to come back down to the shore.
Getting back in the boat wasn't bad. More walking in muck, but it was quickly over. I sat on the side of the boat and swished my feet around to rinse them off. Once we were back on board it was nice to sit down. I got a drink of water and was looking forward to heading to find Nighway Branch Cascade.
Kenny fired the motor up, but it would not trim. Meaning it wouldn't go back DOWN into the water where it would do us any good. He cut the engine. He fiddled and fiddled with it. Removed the engine cover. Tried all kinds of manuevers to lower it. I was having flash backs to paddling a pontoon boat across Center Hill lake with folding chairs and swimming to push it back across. I walked to the front and raised the seat and started getting oars out. The engine still refused to lower into the water.
Finally we were left with no alternative, but to paddle. Thankfully we had some nice long oars.
We had to first get the boat turned in the right direction. Kenny tried, but failed. I got him out of the way and pushed on the lake bottom until she began to turn outward. We were at last heading toward the road and the far shore. I was relieved I could see the Tabcat Bridge in the distance. Cars were streaming by every little bit. We knew if we could get over there we could pull it ashore, anchor it off, and probably get a lift back to the truck. We had a little less than a mile to paddle across.
We sat down on either side of the front of the boat and paddled. It slowly gained forward momentum and the Tabcat Bridge began to grow larger. We had resigned ourselves to this mode of transport.
It was aggravating, but funny too. We laughed and cut up. About halfway across to the bridge we heard a high pitched whine as the engine lowering mechanism engaged! It lowered itself into the water. Kenny jumped up and unplugged it so it wouldn't raise up again. I couldn't believe it. I'd been doing a piece of praying and the Good Lord heard! We were tickled to be able to use motorized travel again.
We put the idea of finding Nighway Branch Cascade on the back burner and got out of there while the getting was good! A few minutes later on the ride back to the ramp I looked at Kenny and laughed telling him I knew he was a shit magnet. He was the cause of the failure! He laughed at the joke.
He was a good sport. We made it back unharmed. I had sent a text message despite not having a phone signal. I also put a Facebook post out just in case. Once we got back I sent a second text to Adam, our son in law saying not to worry we were off the lake and fine. I was almost back to Walland when the phone rang and it was my bestie Sharon. She got the Facebook message and was checking on us! Love her heart. She was relieved when she learned we were safe. I was then able to take the post down.
Kenny learned a lesson and so did I. Raising the motor up too high can cause it to get hung in the up position. It is always good to keep a long handled screw driver along to reach in and engage the manual lowering device. He put one on the boat and tested it to see that it worked. He also set about doing some maintenance on the boat.
My friend John Quillen has a canoe that is an old school aluminum Grumman brand. He has a real dry sense of humor and named it the Steenhatchie after the river his mountain climbing partner Brian fishes in. It is located in Florida in the Big Bend region... right where Hurricane Helene hit. He and his buddies have turned the odd word "steinhatchie" into something that to them means the same thing as FUBARD (fouled up beyond all repair) I texted him to let him know what happened to us on our maiden voyage. I told him it was funny that we got steenhatchied. I said I needed to pick a name for the new boat. Contrary Bastage was one choice. Foo Bar was another. He was tickled and told me to feel free to use "Steenhatchie" if I wished since it behaved like that!
Below is a photo from John's blog that shows the USS Steenhatchie.
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