The Woody Family House | Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina | Built c. 1880s
Along a magical path through the forest, the trail to the Steve Woody House follows the curves of Little Cataloochee Creek, crossing its clear waters three times before arriving at a weathered farmhouse tucked deep in the trees. It’s a peaceful walk—quiet except for birdsong and the soft rush of the creek- and at its end stands a house that has witnessed more than a century of Appalachian life.
The story of the Woody family in Cataloochee begins in 1866, when they first settled in this remote valley after the Civil War. But their stay was brief. When Steve Woody was still a young boy, the family moved to Madison County, North Carolina, for a few years. After his mother passed away, Steve’s father hitched their old wagon once more and brought his five small children back across the mountains to Cataloochee, this time, for good.
They packed what little they owned: a few quilts, some food, and the tools they’d need to camp along the way. Steve later recalled that journey:
“It was a bad trip, there wasn’t much of a road to follow in those days. We camped in the wagon along the way and fixed our food whenever we stopped.”…