An UNDERWATER GHOST TOWN?! Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Oh, it's creepy all right. There's actually 4 towns that were intentionally flooded and buried at the bottom of North Carolina's largest lake. And the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will take you right over the top of them. It's the Nantahala Gorge Excursion to be more specific, and it's a passenger train based out of Bryson City, NC. My Dad and I enjoyed this adventure not too long ago, and thought we would share it with you. All aboard!
I explore, review and rate bike trails on this channel...and hopefully find a little joy in the journey. Thanks for watching!
#JoyfulTrails

[@joyfultrails]

I forgot to identify the song this time...my bad! It's called "Light Song" by an artist named Andrew Word.

[@michellechin24]

Scott, your dad is adorable. So sweet!

[@joyfultrails]

But...is he, really? Are you sure?! I'm kidding... thanks for the kind words.🙂

[@gmaneis]

@@joyfultrails🤣😂

[@jamesneff5067]

You are so blessed to be able to do these trips with your Dad! ❤

[@gmaneis]

Great fun! Thanks for taking us along on the ride and sharing some of the history. Good to see a father and son having such a good time together.

[@joyfultrails]

You are most welcome!

[@user-km7qs2wn1s]

Love it!

[@wightwater5656]

Thank you.

[@pedrofernandez8729]

Lost my Pop at age 3, you are so very fortunate. I so enjoy watching your interactions.

[@robertganther3695]

Got to love a train ride! Nice meeting your Dad, enjoy your time together, My dad left this earth in 2013, I do miss my fishing partner.

[@thomasmurphy391]

On my trips through the area, I never was through Bryson at a convenient time to take the train. On the other hand I enjoyed my trip to the NOC because I enjoyed going through the outfitters store, and watching the paddlers get through the rapids.

[@joyfultrails]

There’s a lot to do in the area, that’s for sure…

[@billysbikesbrews7183]

Very Entertaining.. It’s not far from Charlotte.. I like to take my wife there.. great history 🙂.. I was in Franklin, NC love the small towns.. Road Trip 🚐😎

[@joyfultrails]

Yep. Nice to have a place nearby where you can still take a ride on a steam locomotive!

[@carrollleopard1961]

Enjoyed the video. Did you drive the “Road to Nowhere” in Bryson City? Another of our government’s fiasco’s. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@joyfultrails]

No! When we were there, I saw signs to the Road to Nowhere...but did not yet know the story. I wish now we'd have gone. Although Dad would probably not be up for trekking thru the tunnel just to see...nothing... lol

[@avanteadventures]

We took that train ride last September and really enjoyed it. Love the update and new information and of course always love seeing your Dad in the videos with you. Hope he enjoyed those beaver “nuts” (lol)! On another note, would you mind sharing what brand of mics you’re wearing at your dad‘s place? Really good sound and we’ve been looking for a pair. Great video as always! Thank you.

[@joyfultrails]

Yes, those are part of a little set called the DJI Mic. It’s two lapel mics that come in a recharging case. As long as you plug the case in every now and then the mics will be charging whenever you put them back in the case. And there’s a base unit or transmitter that plugs into your phone or camera. Last I checked it was about $450 or so for the set. But just type in ‘DJI Mic’ online and you’ll be able to find them.

[@avanteadventures]

@@joyfultrails thank you for the prompt reply. We bought a camera like yours. Will that mic work with it? Thank you.

[@joyfultrails]

@@avanteadventures you mean an Insta 360? I do not know if it will work with an Insta 360 camera… I always use it with my iPhone.

[@avanteadventures]

Yes, Insta360 X3. Ours is the X3 model. I’m still trying to figure out what mics to pair up to it. I mean, I know it has a mic built in but looking for mics to pick up both of us on occasions. We also have the Insta360 Go3. And yes, I use my cell phone as well. Just trying to find something that will work with everything. Thanks for your time.

[@alannebel2720]

sorry asked the question before you finished :)

[@andytripp8069]

My wife and I just did this trip March 15th. Throughly enjoyed it. I think we had the same meal. 😊. When did you do this - looks like maybe last summer as the water looks way up.

[@joyfultrails]

Yes, it was actually June of 2023. You are correct!

[@alannebel2720]

Beautiful. How long is the train ride, that you had time for a meal?

[@dianelowman1772]

So, we are FINALLY going to N Augusta, SC to ride the trail seen on one of your videos. Suppose to go last weekend but it was way too windy. But, enough about the, WE HAVE A TRAIL TO RIDE (GESTERING ARM AS I SAY THAT!). HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY!!!!

[@joyfultrails]

YES!!! I'm excited for you. That is a very relaxing trail, but with some interesting features. Don't miss the spur that takes you down by the river. And the Brick Pond Park!

[@dianelowman1772]

@@joyfultrails OK. I preface this comment by stating that this story has a happy ending...well kind of! My husband & I went to ride the N Aug Greeneway Friday. (1) we could not for the life of us find the directions on our GPS from Greenwood (2) started going down the road as we knew we were going somewhat in the right direction (3) stopped to try yet again to put in our GPS when a dump truck pulled up next to us and said we were dragging one of our bikes (4) checked and sure enough my husband's BRAND NEW TREK VERVE was mutilated (5) I cried (6) went back home & got his other bike (7) finally found the trail and started at the big rec ctr towards the convenience store (8) drove back to our truck to get water & a frisbee golf young man walked in front of my husband causing him to fall off his bike. (9) we realized that this probably is not a good day to continue riding so we went home!

[@dianelowman1772]

@@joyfultrails Happy Easter! So, we went to the N Aug Greeneway today AGAIN and rode the whole thing! It was amazing and very peaceful as your stated. I did adhere to the 1 earbud (2 drink minimum) but quite honestly was the only one that did of all the riders who had head phones, ear buds, etc. One of our favorite trails now! Thanks for sharing!

[@Woody.D828]

Just a kind FYI. Cherokee lines...yes many families in the South have stories of the Cherokee connection (my family too). Until the "removal" early settlers intermarried with the natives of NC, SC, TN, GA and beyond. So some of the connection is real, but genetics aside...an enrolled member has traceable family members in a particular census record living in WNC before 1924. -- If you are from the EBCI tribe the reference of "past family being Cherokee" is sort of an insult. -- they feel like those who married and moved away from their mountain home abandoned their "roots". They are prideful People living in a Sovereign Nation in the 21st Century...and that's a fact.