The Ghost Town of the Ocoee River

Hey you guys, Chet the Dream Poet here. Come anchor down for another vlog today we explore the abandoned ghost town known as Caney Creek Village. Formed in the 1910s by the East Tennessee Power Company this town was a place where engineers and architects lived during the construction of the Ocoee dams. The town eventually dried up in the 1940s after TVA took over the Tennessee Power Company. Time to anchor down for another vlog!

[ryanwalden]

I subscribed, I live in nashvegas, yet my family is in the mountains, duck town, copperhill, Blue ridge, , and north Carolina. Great video, a lot of effort put forth for sure! Great job! These mountains are truly majestic!

[brucehayes]

Great video, all of my kin folk are there in Polk county and Bradley County, Tn, I grew up there, went to school in Cleveland, Tn.( Bradley co, turn). Live in Nashville and have for years and now after all this time am yearning to move back home as fast as possible. Have spent alot of time on and around the Ocoee. My grandfather Jim “easymoney” Bettis was on the civil defense and actually helped build the water flew atop the Mountain and around the Ocoee river. I look forward to more videos. Stories and rumors has it that there are catfish bigger than man at the bottom of the first dam. From where cars have driven off the curve there and had sank to the bottom.

[rlee]

I live in Cleveland and I love your videos bro

[christopherbivens]

I grew up in Polk co and had never heard the story of Caney Creek Village. Just recently I visited the area called McFarland, that's also now abandoned.

[almacollins]

So very interesting! I am reading Leave No Trace by Sara Driscoll which is about the Ocoee River Flume. I had to google the flume to find out what it actually looked like. I also found your video. Thank you! Awesome find!

[beckycalhoun]

My great grandfather, David Greenberry Merrell worked at Caney Creek. I remember stories my mom, dad & Aunts would tell me.

[apocyldoomer]

Outstanding historical record of a long gone Ghost town, just concrete foundations left. Fascinating.

[Angiefishing]

Awesome video, I have heard of this town but never knew how to reach it. I was so close as I have fished that area many times. Can't wait to check it out. Thank you 😊

[clwnbird]

Great video. Another interesting historical item from that area is the 'Dutch' village. I think it was somewhere over around Sylco--that may have been the name of it, not sure. But it was a utopian village that attempted to be isolated from the rest of the world, and was for a certain length of time. I think they may have had a vineyard. Some of the Polk County old-timers can tell you about it.

[Caringspirit]

Wow you're in my neck of the woods, very close to where I grew up, 54 years ago.. reliance TN

[evdallas]

Wow that's awesome never knew about that I used to raft down the river in the 80s it's a beautiful place

[apocyldoomer]

I also think about who was the last person to use the toilets in a abandoned Factory, the last person to use the diving board in a abandoned pool, etc, etc. What you said about those steps, how many families and people walked up and down them, that was a good observation, great minds think alike, we shall never know the numbers of footsteps on those steps! Fascinating!

[Ocoeeriversidefarm]

So interesting! Thank you! Any nuggets about Benton? That’s where we are, just North of there. The lower Ocoee borders are property. :-)

[jaya]

I guided and lived in Ocoee for a long time and there is all kinds of weird and cool and some just sad history around that area, between the copper mine and the logging it was basically a waste land in the 60’s, like total devastation you can find pictures of it … that’s why there are very few big old trees around ….its actually amazing it came back …. If you want some spooky history dive into the history of Reliece and the building of the dams /powerhouse, something like 30 odd unsolved missing people…

[tablature]

Really enjoyed this very much. Thank you
The pipes at the water treatment site, appear to be copper, which doesn't rust, but will attain a verdigris patina over time :
verdigris
vûr′dĭ-grēs″, -grĭs″, -grē″
noun
- A blue or green powder consisting of basic cupric acetate used as a paint pigment and fungicide.
- A green patina or crust of copper sulfate or copper chloride formed on copper, brass, and bronze exposed to air or seawater for long periods of time.

[PSteve]

Caney Creek--Big Creek Reservoir. There is still a concrete reservoir that supplied water for the boilers for the Copper Hill Steam Engines. Follow the old trail up Big Creek a couple of miles and you will come to a long narrow reservoir about 4 feet deep with a pipe leading down to the river. Down try to follow the creek bed itself it's too dangerous.

[mildredrharmon]

I have my mom and dads old pictures and I found a picture of a damn! I wonder if it could be

[tooge]

as I motorcycle east on 64, alongside the Ocoee River, there appears to be either a road or old train track to my right, up on the mountainside.
Does anyone know about this ?

[simonammons]

I'm sorry and I'm not trying to be mean but you need some help with your presentation. You are speaking in such a monotone rhythm I click off the video just to keep from falling asleep. I truly like your Post. You just need a little help presenting your information. I'm not trying to put you down . just a little constructive criticism I hope. I hope you receive it in the way I intended because I do like your subject matter of eastern Tennessee history. I love all history especially the people who search for truth and doesn't just buy in to the stories that are from a false narrative. Thank you