The first thing you’ll think when you drive into the Smoky Mountains is “Wow”. But drive further in and you’ll find Maggie Valley where you’ll also find views that will last a lifetime.
You might have heard of Maggie Valley as the home of the Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park or as the location of the Cataloochee Ski Area.
The amusement park may have been closed since 2002 but you can still tour it and be amazed!
The Wildlife
But if you’re looking to experience the wildlife in the Smoky Mountains then Maggie Valley is the place to be. The first thing you’ll need is a good quality motel in Maggie Valley. This is the place you can unwind when not watching wildlife. You’ll be able to enjoy the pool, try some fishing or simply relax with some of the best sunsets in the world. You can even bring your own pets!
Once settled in you’ll be ready to keep your eyes open for these wild animals:
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White Tailed Deer
These are the natives to this area and there are several herds roaming free. You should be able to spot and even get fairly close to one feeding in one of the many open meadows.
It might surprise you to know that deer can eat poison ivy, although it’s not their favorite plant!
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Bears
Unsurprisingly the mountains and Maggie Valley have plenty of bears. In fact, it is estimated there are 2 bears in every 2 square mile area of these mountains!
You should never feed the bears as this will encourage them to come into human habitation areas. It is also important to note that they are generally shy creatures and will leave the area rather than fight. But, if you stumble across one with cubs nearby they will be very aggressive and unpredictable.
It is best to always give them plenty of space.
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Salamander
There are 5 different types of salamander in the Mountains and all of them can be found in Maggie Valley. The Lungless salamander is the most common but you’ll also find giant salamanders, southern two lined salamanders, the red cheeked salamander and even the pygmy salamander.
It’s heaven for those of you who love reptiles.
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Elk
At one point there were nearly no elk left in the world. Fortunately through some carefully nurturing they have returned and there are now at least 100 elk roaming through the mountains. They might not be the easiest to spot but they are worth looking for.
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Fish
Unsurprisingly there are hundreds of different species of fish in these mountains. The fact that there is in excess of 700 miles of streams and rivers make this possible! You’ll find yellow fin madtom, spotfin chub and Smoky Madtom; and that’s just a few of the massive selection available!
To finish off there are hosts of wild birds which can be seen with the naked eye or close up with a good pair of binoculars.
But the rarest of all is the mountain lion; very few people have seen one but they are there, enjoying their own slice of heaven.
Maggie valley offers something for everyone, no matter what you’re interested in. Book your motel now and start making memories that will last a lifetime!
