![]() After Holley's ownership, the resort changed hands several times in the 1980s, with no real success. He would also serve 16 months in federal prison after his conviction on bank fraud charges. However, by the late 1970s, Holley had claimed bankruptcy. Holley planned to use the resort as a private getaway for family and friends. Eugene Holley, a wealthy oil investor and former Georgia state senate majority leader. The first (and only) Viking Mountain resort ski season opened in February of 1972 despite the fact that by October of 1971, it was obvious that Kaehn was having financial difficulties just like his predecessors.īy 1973 the resort was sold again. He also built a number of small round cabins (they looked much like yurts) that he called "roundettes". He built a lodge known as Valhalla Inn which was well known for its fine food. Kaehn did much to improve the resort property. It was Kaehn who renamed the resort Viking Mountain. As a result, the resort was sold to an investor from Florida named Frank Kaehn. This lack of improvements to the access road doomed the resort.īy the end of 1968, Bald Mountain Inc. However, the expected upgrades to the road never happened. The group influenced the United States Forest Service to transfer maintenance of the access road (now known as Viking Mountain Road) to Greene County with the expectation that the county would improve the road. By 1968 the group had cut part of a ski trail and constructed a few chalets. It was on this date that landowner Walter Brannan sold his property on Camp Creek Bald to a group of local businessmen who had organized as Bald Mountain Inc. The history of the resort dates back to August 11, 1964. According to popular myth, in its heyday the resort hosted Elvis Presley, who flew into the site in a helicopter as a potential investor. The Viking Mountain Resort is legendary amongst local Greeneville citizenry. For directions to the trailheads of the trails that ascend to the summit of Camp Creek Bald, please see the routes pages. If you are traveling in a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle, you may find it possible to drive all the way to just below the summit. You can follow the rough dirt road to the summit of Camp Creek Bald on foot. If you are traveling in a low-clearance passenger vehicle, park in the gravel parking area at a three-way intersection at Jones Meadow. This road will start out as paved, then eventually turn to gravel, before becoming a paved road again near the summit of Camp Creek Bald at Jones Meadow. After 14.8 miles make another left onto Viking Mountain Road (also known as Upper Paint Creek Road). Make a left onto TN-70 and follow for 14.8 miles. From downtown Greeneville, Tennessee head southwest on S Main Street to Tennessee-70 (locally known as the Asheville Highway). The quickest way to access the summit of the mountain is via the Viking Mountain Road. ![]()
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