Houses
A 1957 Log Cabin with Original Pine Paneling and a Wood-Burning Fireplace by the Creek in Townsend, TN — $275,000
Some cabins just feel like the Smokies, and 322 Black Mash Hollow Road in Townsend, Tennessee, is one of them. Built in 1957 of log and frame, this little creekside retreat still has its original pine paneling, beautiful pine floors and a cozy wood-burning fireplace. It sits on 1.42 wooded acres with creek frontage, extra decks and patios, and it has been updated where it counts with a new metal roof, updated HVAC and newer windows. The one-bedroom, one-bath cabin has 624 square feet of living space and is listed at $275,000.
A Creekside Retreat on 1.42 Wooded Acres
The creek sets the mood here. The property fronts a creek, and the 1.42-acre lot rolls through the woods, with tree views in every direction. Several decks and patios give you places to sit out by the water, whether you’re having coffee in the morning or reading in the shade on a summer afternoon.
Parking is off-street in a designated spot on the main level, so you won’t have to climb to get from the car to the door. The setting is quiet and private but only minutes from the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If a creekside setting is what draws you in, you may also like this secluded Tennessee paradise with waterfalls, a creek and a private pond, or this handyman special with a creek on over 5 acres in Tennessee.
Original Pine Paneling, Pine Floors and a Wood-Burning Fireplace
Inside, the cabin keeps its 1950s mountain character. Original pine paneling lines the walls, and pine hardwood floors run through much of the home, with carpet in places. The wood-burning fireplace is the heart of the living space and the natural spot to gather on cool evenings.
Original log character like this is getting harder to find. For comparison, take a look at this log cabin retreat with year-round mountain views in Franklin, NC and this log cabin on 2.71 acres in Georgia.
The layout is simple and cozy, with one bedroom, one full bath, and a kitchen with a range and refrigerator. Practical updates have been made without losing the character. A new metal roof, updated HVAC and newer windows mean fewer big projects for the next owner. Below the main floor, an unfinished walk-out basement offers storage or room to expand.
At 624 square feet, this cabin is exactly the same size as this 1992 log cabin on 109 acres in West Virginia, proof that a small footprint can still feel like plenty of home.
The Practical Details
- Heating & cooling: Updated central electric heat and central air, plus the wood-burning fireplace.
- Water & sewer: Public water and a septic tank. Plan for a standard septic inspection.
- Appliances included: Range and refrigerator. No dishwasher, washer or dryer is listed.
- Updates: New metal roof, updated HVAC system and updated windows, according to the listing.
- Basement: Unfinished, with walk-out access.
- Construction: Built in 1957 of log and frame.
- Disclosures: No foreclosure, as-is or special conditions are listed. HOA and financing terms are not listed.
Comparing small mountain cabins? This mountain cabin on 2.37 acres in Fancy Gap, Virginia is listed at $289,900, and this secluded West Virginia cabin retreat with a creek offers a similar wooded setting.
The Numbers
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Price | $275,000 |
| Location | 322 Black Mash Hollow Rd, Townsend, TN 37882 |
| Home Size | 624 sqft (plus unfinished walk-out basement) |
| Bedrooms/Bathrooms | 1 bedroom / 1 full bathroom |
| Lot Size | 1.42 acres (wooded, rolling, creek frontage) |
| Year Built | 1957 |
| Price per sqft | $441 |
| Water/Sewer | Public water / Septic tank |
| Taxes | $885 per year (tax assessed value $222,700) |
| Condition/Special Conditions | Updated roof, HVAC and windows; no special conditions listed |
| HOA | Not listed |
Built the very same year as this cabin, this circa 1957 fisherman’s cottage in Virginia is another mid-century waterside find, and this 1920 mountain cottage on 2 acres in Virginia shows how much charm older mountain homes can hold.
Why Townsend, Tennessee
Townsend sits in Tuckaleechee Cove, a name that comes from the Cherokee Tikwalitsi, whose original meaning is unknown. An 1843 account spelled it “Tuck-a-lucky.” People have lived here for thousands of years. Archaeological finds in the cove date back to about 2000 B.C., and by around 1200 A.D. its residents had built a fortified village near the cove’s northern entrance. The Cherokee arrived around 1600 and built villages along the Little River.
The town owes its name to timber. In 1901, Pennsylvania businessman Colonel Wilson B. Townsend and his partners bought nearly 100,000 acres of forest along the Little River and chartered the Little River Lumber Company. Over 38 years, the company built about 150 miles of railroad to haul logs out of the mountains, and the town that grew around its mill was named for him. In 1926, the company sold 76,507 acres to help create Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on the condition that it could keep logging for 15 more years. The last logs came out in 1939.
Today, Townsend calls itself the “Peaceful Side of the Smokies.” The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum, the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and Tuckaleechee Caverns tell the area’s story, and Cades Cove is just up the road. A 1950s log cabin by a creek is about as Townsend as it gets.
Want more room in the same corner of the Smokies? Next door in Maryville, this 4-bed home on 10.14 unrestricted acres is worth a look.
Interested in touring 322 Black Mash Hollow Rd or want more details on the Townsend, TN area? Reach out to the listing agent >> ZILLOW.
