News Release

Hensley Settlement by Eventide

Hensley Settlement

NPS Photo

News Release Date: September 24, 2018

Contact: Carol Borneman, [phone]

HENSLEY SETTLEMENT BY EVENTIDE

October 6 - Mountain Top Program at Dusk

As night falls upon Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, the remote Hensley Settlement atop Brush Mountain watches the sun set… and feels the darkness of an evening chill surround it. It is then, that fleeting images of the past can be imagined, and it seems, they saunter along the paths right in front of you.

On Saturday, October 6, join park rangers as they slip away into the dusky shadows for a glimpse of this abandoned mountain top farmstead and the Appalachian history it embraces.
Park Ranger Pam Eddy explains that this old abandoned village seems more like a dream than a reality. “These cabins and corncribs date from the early 20th century… but they look much like typical homes built along the American frontier centuries ago. This was a kind of edge-of-the-wilderness life that was lived here and the mood of this place hasn’t changed much in that respect.” Eddy further explains that as we wander along the fence lined paths during this event it will be as though we are looking through a window into the past. Scenes from long ago will be visible to the eye and will paint indelible memories of long ago upon our hearts and minds.

Visitors are invited to drive their personal 4-wheel drive vehicles up to Hensley Settlement via the Shillalah Creek Road on Saturday, October 6 for this magical sojourn at eventide. The Shillalah Creek Road will be open only to “up” traffic from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Rangers stress that no vehicles will be allowed to drive up the road after 5:30 p.m. The road will be open only to “down” traffic beginning at 7:00 p.m. All vehicles must depart the settlement by 8:00 p.m.

Vehicles must be four-wheel-drive to navigate the one lane gravel road to the mountaintop. Passengers are not allowed to ride in truck beds. ATVs are not permitted. $10.00 fee per vehicle must be paid beforehand at the Visitor Center. No tickets will be sold after 4:30 pm on October 6.

The Shillalah Creek Road is 30 minutes from the Visitor Center via roads where no gas is available. From the park visitor center, visitors should travel the Pinnacle Road to County Rd 988 (Sugar Run). Travel on Co Rd 988 for 3 miles. Visitors should then proceed east on Co Rd 217 approximately 4 miles to the Shillalah Creek Road. As the Shillalah Creek Road is a 30 minute drive from the visitor center, visitors must plan accordingly.
As nighttime temperatures on the mountain will be cool, rangers suggest that visitors wear warm clothing. Flashlights are also suggested.

In case of rain, the program will be cancelled. For more information on this or other ranger-guided programs, please call the park visitor center at [phone]. This program is made possible through generous from Eastern National and the Friends of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Eastern National supports the interpretive and educational mission of the National Park Service; learn more by visiting www.easternnational.org. For more information on the Friends of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and how to become involved, find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/friendsofcumberlandgap.