Within a walking distance, is the historical town where soldiers fought during the Civil War in 1863. It has another historical significance, when Daniel Boone and his team crossed the mountains of Cumberland Gap, taking a shortcut to Tennessee from North Carolina, in 1767.
When you visit, you will find restaurants as well as antiquity, art, and other stores there, as well as age-old buildings, that further amplify its association with history.
Cumberland Gap: A natural passage through the Mountains where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee most scenically meet.
Discovery: Cumberland Gap was explored by Dr. Thomas Walker in 1750. He initially named it Cave Gap, which he later changed to Cumberland Gap. Later, during the Civil War, Daniel Boone blazed the way through the gap into Kentucky, further enhancing its significance. There were several skirmishes during the war, but no battles occurred in the area.
Named After: William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland. Augustus famously put down Jacobite Uprising in 1746 at the Battle of Culloden. Many locals prefer the scenic features of this area to not be associated with Cumberland, because of his ruthless acts during the battle; rather, call them by the Native American term, Ouasioto.
Interesting fact: Cumberland Gap is the only town whose post office has been in three different states: Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Cumberland Gap is natural passage through the Mountains where Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee most scenically meet. It is a major tourist attraction for its beauty and history.
• Explore The Famous Cap Gave
• Ascend the Tri-State Peak
• Comfortably Enjoy Picturesque Views at Our Hotel
Discovery: Cumberland Gap was explored by Dr. Thomas Walker in 1750. He initially named it Cave Gap, which he later changed to Cumberland Gap. Later, during the Civil War in 1863, Daniel Boone blazed the way through the gap into Kentucky, further enhancing its significance.
Cumberland Gap Inn’s History: Located in a historically significant area, our hotel also possesses a remarkable past. The old hotel was located in the area that currently serves as a parking location for our guests. In 1800, the old hotel experienced a massive fire, and it was gutted to the ground.
The hotel re-emerged in its current location when an investor built it in 1974. Cumberland Gap Inn still preserves the history of the old hotel by keeping the original furniture and chandeliers intact.
Interesting Fact: Cumberland Gap Hotel became famous for a ghost-sighting in Room #213, when a film crew accidentally captured the footage. You can easily find the spooky incident’s video on Youtube.
When Thomas Walker historically traversed the Gap, he observed water springing from a cave, which he correctly predicted to be sufficient to turn a mill. In 1819, a charcoal blast furnace was built on the stream below the Gap Cave, using sandstone blocks, while fire bricks were used to line the inside. Newlee Iron Furnace was used to smelt tons of iron throughout the 1800s.
The furnace used to consume 625 bushels of charcoal and 1500+ lbs. of limestone every day to produce around three tons of iron daily. This iron was sold to local blacksmiths, and also shipped as ingots or “pigs” to Chattanooga, TN.
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) borders Cumberland National Historical Park and is only 1.5 miles away from the hotel.
It is true. Middlesboro, Kentucky is a city built inside a meteorite crater. And you can clearly see the shallow ground of the Cumberland Gap while entering the town. This beautiful historical city is at a 2.5-mile distance from our hotel, connected through the longest tunnel between Kentucky and Tennessee.
The area is home to several wild animals including bears. Although there have been frequent bear sightings, the area is considered absolutely safe for locals and visitors. You can find a herd of deer almost every night in Cumberland Gap.
