Why The Smoky Mountains Are Known For Their Pancakes

If it seems like there's a pancake house on every block, you're right.

“Wow, is that another pancake house?”

Each time new friends or family would come to visit me in my Smoky Mountain home, it wasn’t long before I’d hear this query. Their eyes would widen at the endless opportunities to eat pancakes along a short drive through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, or Gatlinburg. The first time I visited the Tennessee side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I had a similar reaction. We’re not talking two or three pancake houses competing for the town’s best hotcake—we’re talking restaurants flipping flapjacks well into the afternoon on practically every other block.

So, how did this tasty obsession take foot in the Smokies? I turned to some of the area’s pancake experts to learn more. Plus, if you’re wondering where to start, you’ll find details below on four pancake houses to try on your next visit.

The History of Pancakes in the Smokies

“The Great Smoky Mountain area was once a hub for the logging industry in the early 1900s,” said Ashley Box, director of marketing at Apple Valley Mountain Village & Cafe. “Pancakes were a popular option because they could feed masses of laborers a hot and satisfying breakfast in a speedy manner.”

During this time, Little River Railroad Company built a line between Elkmont, Tennessee—a key area in the Smokies for timber harvesting—and the sawmill in nearby Townsend, where Apple Valley Cafe operates today. That railroad eventually extended to Knoxville, and Elkmont became a popular mountain destination for families looking to escape the city’s summer heat. By 1934, fans of the Smoky Mountains rejoiced at the shift from logging to preservation and recreation, as the U.S. Congress chartered Great Smoky Mountains National Park—formally dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940.

“After the logging was stopped and the national park was founded, there was a shift to support tourism,” said Box. “By then, the affinity in the surrounding areas for pancakes had been planted and continued to increase in popularity. Instead of feeding laborers, locals began serving the visitors!”

With more than 13 million visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2023, the region welcomes many individuals and families looking to eat before their day’s adventures. Pancakes continue to be a quick, affordable, and delicious option for starting the morning. Plus, as Amanda Barnes, director of sales and marketing for Collier Restaurant Group—which runs Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin—explained, visitors get to taste a bit of history as they dine.

“As a family-owned-and-operated restaurant group, Flapjack’s prides itself in made-from-scratch recipes that have been passed down through generations,” said Barnes. “The Collier family originated from the Greenbriar area of the Great Smoky Mountains and have been known for their hospitality for over 50 years.”

While excellent food and service is paramount for many of the region’s pancake houses, spots like Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin also leverage their hotcakes for the community’s greater good, continuing to shape Smokies history through the breakfast food favorite. “We host monthly pancake suppers that partner with local organizations for fundraising and community awareness,” said Barnes.

What Sets Smoky Mountain Pancakes Apart

While there’s some historical context to why hotcakes made their way to the Smokies, pancakes certainly aren’t unique to these Tennessee mountain towns. So, what is it about a pancake breakfast in the Smokies that feels so treasured and unique? The answer might lie in their inordinate prevalence and the comfort that can provide.

“I think what makes a fluffy stack in the Smokies special is the warm hospitality and genuine excitement around them,”said Tina Graves, general manager at Apple Valley Cafe. “Around here, they are served piping hot with a smile and a ‘welcome-to-town’ attitude that makes you feel right at home before you even take the first bite. They’re a familiar dish in an unfamiliar place, and they’ll likely stir up some fond memories!”

Another theory is that—let’s be honest—pancakes are ultimately a socially acceptable way of having cake for breakfast. Visitors to the Smokies are enjoying holidays away from their day-to-day life and want to treat themselves to a little culinary decadence.

“I like to believe that people just love to indulge while they are on vacation and pancakes are the perfect way to do this!” said Barnes. “Toppings from chocolate chips and strawberries to bananas and peanut butter—pancakes are an expression of creativity. You can do just about anything to them!”

Regardless of individual motivations for seeking pancakes during trips to the Smokies, the sheer volume of pancake house options makes the meal a must-do. You’ll be hard-pressed to not feel a hint of magic pairing syrup-laden buttermilk flapjacks with a rolling, blue-green Smoky Mountain view.

4 Pancake Spots to Try on Your Next Smokies Visit

Each town tucked around the base of the Smoky Mountains is ripe with pancake houses. While there are many great options to sample, here are four to get you started depending on which town you’re exploring for the day.

Apple Valley Cafe in Townsend

Apple Valley Mountain Village & Cafe is located in Townsend, Tennessee—lovingly referred to as the “peaceful side” of the Smokies. It’s also close to popular park locations like Cades Cove, an 11-mile loop road rich with wildlife and mountain valley scenery.

“Apple Valley Cafe was built in 1992 as part of the Apple Valley Mountain Village,” said Mark Oldham, owner of the local business. “Since it’s only about four miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the original mission was simple: Offer an excellent meal to not only the residents and workers of Townsend, but also the visitors coming to and from the national park—fueling their adventures and replenishing them after a long day of work or play.” When visiting the cafe, order the generously portioned Papa Bear Pancakes.

Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin in Pigeon Forge

The first Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin opened in the Smokies in 2001. “Our founder, Brent Collier, set his mind to creating recipes and an atmosphere that made everyone feel like they were sitting in grandma’s kitchen!” said Barnes.

The business, now led by third generation owners, Lori Collier and Elise Collier Massey, has grown to seven locations—six in East Tennessee and one in the Grand Strand area of South Carolina. If you’re staying in Pigeon Forge, you’ll find one of the restaurants conveniently located on the main parkway across from the popular free-entry amusement park and shopping district, The Island. The pancake house serves a variety of fun hotcake options, including special treats like flapjack fritters—deep-fried balls of pancake batter rolled in cinnamon-sugar and served with vanilla icing for dipping—and hotcakes shaped like happy Smoky Mountain bears for the kiddos. For those with a gluten allergy, Barnes proudly exclaimed, “We have the best gluten-free pancakes in the Smokies!”

Five Oaks Farm Kitchen in Sevierville

Five Oaks Farm Kitchen in Sevierville, Tennessee, harkens back to the 1920s when Dr. John and Blanche Ogle raised four children and regularly hosted guests in their Sevier County farmhouse. The restaurant offers what it calls Blanche’s Thick “Ring-Baked” Griddle Cakes. While you can order a stack of two or three of them, bear in mind that each of these pancakes is more like eating three pancakes in one. Five Oaks Farm Kitchen’s griddle cakes are about an inch thick with a well in the center that holds a hefty scoop of real sweet cream butter. They’re dense and delicious, combining the savoriness of milk and butter with the sweetness of warm maple syrup and sugared batter. You can opt for toppings like a warm cinnamon roll swirl, bananas and brown sugar, or fresh strawberries.

The restaurant can get busy during breakfast hours. Visit its website on your way there to place your party’s name on its virtual waitlist to be seated faster upon arrival.

Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg

The Pancake Pantry opened in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in 1960 as the state’s first pancake specialty restaurant. Frequent Smokies vacationers, Jim and June Gerdig, along with their 8-month-old and 3-year-old sons, moved from Indiana to the Smoky Mountain town to open the business. Today, the Pancake Pantry is a tradition for many travelers given its quick, friendly service and some of the area’s tastiest hotcakes.

Try the restaurant’s famous old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes, which are light, tender, and magnificently buttery. Other unique Southern favorites are the cornmeal pancakes and the Smoky Mountain buckwheat cakes. You’ll find the Pancake Pantry on the main parkway through downtown Gatlinburg in a quaint, brick-lined shopping nook called The Village, which houses 27 boutiques and eateries.

Whether spending a day riding all the Smoky Mountain alpine coasters you can, checking out the area’s Dolly-inspired sights, or taking a hike to see the national park’s wildflowers, plan to fuel up with a classic Smokies pancake breakfast.

If, after your first hotcake, you really want to lean into the region’s pancake madness, consider planning your next Smokies visit for late February to celebrate the annual Gatlinburg Pancake Week.

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Read the original article on Southern Living.