Girl Scout Island – One of Many Great Smoky Mountains’ Treasures

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park attracts more visitors each year than any other national park in the USA. However, few people know that a group of determined Girl Scouts once saved an island in what is now the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. In the 1930s, Camp Margaret Townsend sat along the Middle Prong of the Little River. Here, girls swam, camped, and lounged on their favorite spot, an enormous boulder at the tip of an island known as Girl Scout Rock.

Today, Girl Scout Island is part of the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Catey McClary, CEO and president of Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont (GSMIT), shared this heart-warming story during my recent visit. She led us on a short hike past the dormitories and kitchen of the camp to a beautiful, secluded spot between a small, quiet creek and the rushing Middle Prong of the Little River. “This was their camp,” said McClary. “They had campfires here and used this area for many different reasons. It was a very special place to them.” When the Smokies became the Great Smoky Mountains in the 1930s, the Girl Scouts had already been here for a while.

The Girl Scouts Encounter a Lumber Company

Much of this land was originally owned by a lumber company with the right to continue logging for years, even after the area became a national park. “Back in the 30s, we had both Girl Scouts here along with the lumber company workers trying to get the logs back down to town,” explained McClary.

At the end of the island stands a big rock where the Girl Scouts used to lie out in the sunshine. “It was a favorite spot of theirs,” shared McClary. “One day, they came down here, and there were holes drilled into the rocks.” The girls realized the lumber company planned to blast their rock to make it easier to access the trees they intended to cut down for lumber.

The girls were not going to let that happen. They staged a round‑the‑clock sit‑in, refusing to leave. The loggers tried for three days, then gave up and let the girls keep their rock.

“Without that rock, much of this island would have been eroded just due to the seasonal waters,” said McClary. “This island exists because those Girl Scouts made it their mission to protect this island. We call it Girl Scout Island on their behalf.”

Today, you can visit Tremont and hike to the island. If you want a deeper experience, register for the camp or day programs. There are family, adult, and children’s programs, including photography, birding, plants, and many others.

Tremont’s History

Tremont’s history reaches beyond Girl Scout Island. This was the land of the Cherokee before President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act. In 1859, Will and Nancy Walker became the first European settlers, and the area was named Walker Valley.

In 1924, the Little River Lumber Company, founded by Colonel Wilson B. Townsend, laid a railway and began logging. The following year, Margaret Townsend Girl Scout Camp opened. It operated until 1959.

Tremont, a logging town, was founded in 1926. The national park was established in 1934 and dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938. Tremont underwent several programs and renovations. In 1986, it became the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and continues to work with the National Park System to educate people about the park.

Cades Cove

Discover one of the best-preserved glimpses of early Appalachian life within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Cades Cove, the most visited spot in the park. From Oliver’s Cabin—one of the oldest cabins in the Smokies—to Carter Shields Cabin, the last pre-park homestead, history abounds.

The Visitor Center is the heart of Cades Cove, and along with the bookstore and free information, it includes the Cable Mill, a working mill open from mid-April through October, with a costumed ranger on hand to explain how it works. Here you can still buy grains ground between ancient stones.

You’ll find the Cantilever Barn here. Its design, in which the upper story is larger than its base, allowed animals that were normally outside to gain shelter from the weather. As you drive along the scenic Loop Road, watch for deer, wild turkeys, and maybe a black bear.

If you visit the cove near the end of September when neighboring Townsend is holding its Townsend Fall Heritage Festival & Old Timers Day, you’ll find folks dressed in period costume roaming around.

Things to do in Townsend

Located just four miles away, Townsend, TN, is the nearest town to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Tremont Institute. Its history merges with Tremont. A place that tells that history is the Little River Railroad & Lumber Company Museum, telling of Townsend’s deep roots in logging and rail history. A couple of my favorites are the Shay Engine No. 2147 and the little black steam engine.

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, shares the story of early Appalachian life in the mountains. Be sure to visit the building housing the moonshine still.

Townsend is big on festivals. Visit in early May to catch the Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Festival. In November, the big festival is Grits and Grain.

Dining in Townsend

Townsend features plenty of good places to eat. For an adult-friendly lunch, Company Distilling Whiskey, founded by the 2017 Master Distiller of the Year, Jeff Arnett, offers tasty Tennessee spirits and a small lunch menu.

For a true mountain dining experience, head to Dancing Bear Appalachian Bistro. Executive Chef Jeff Carter, named one of Cityview Magazine’s Top Chefs 2025, serves genuine farm‑to‑table dishes with excellent service. Breathtaking mountain views, an outdoor firepit, and live music create an easygoing Appalachian vibe.

Place to Stay

Little Arrow Outdoor Resort provides a perfect home base. The resort offers choices from glamping tents, tiny homes, and an RV park. Amenities include a pool, hot tub, coffee lounge, and all modern conveniences. The resort sits next to the Little River with access to launch kayaks, canoes, and tubes. The resort features two beach access points for entering the water and is a popular spot for fishing, tubing, and paddling.

 

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