If you close your eyes...

Posted by Jen (Alpharetta, United States) on 18 April 2007 in Architecture.

...you can imagine this fireplace with a roaring fire. You find yourself a comfy chair, put your feet up, relax and warm yourself up after a beautiful hike in the Great Smoky Mountains.

This is one of the few things left of the Wonderland Hotel in the Great Smoky Mountains. While I was there taking pictures an older gentleman was there too...we started to talk and he told me how he has pictures of what the hotel used to be...how he spent time at the hotel and the back cabins as a child. He was there when they dismantled the hotel and he tried to get a piece of the orignal wood so he could make a picture frame for his photo. They wouldn't let him have any...he told me he should have just taken it anyway, but he was trying to be respectful. On this ocassion he had decided to get a brick or two from the fireplace...legal or not, he wanted his memory. I don't blame him a bit!!

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Comments (22)

Sujit from Hyderabad, India

Great picture and a touching story too.

18 Apr 2007 5:29am

Art Monkey from Salt Spring Island, Canada

It looks so lonely :(

18 Apr 2007 5:36am

@Art Monkey: It was very sad when I walked up the stairs. The one thing I don't get is why they left it??? the rest of the building was gone.

Behrooz from Tehran, Iran

Great tones, Jen! And what a nice and touching story behind it.

18 Apr 2007 5:59am

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Cool story. It must have been a grand hotel to have such a fireplace. Well done!

18 Apr 2007 10:41am

@Craiger: It wasn't one of those fancy ones...it was just a very nice place to stay. The fireplace was in the lobby, and it sure warmed you up on a chilly October evening.
Thanks for the visit!!

Yukie from Kyoto, Japan

love this dilapidated fireplace. and thank for sharing your shot and a nice story.

18 Apr 2007 11:04am

@Yukie: Thanks Yukie!

treeeeesh from Melbourne, Australia

yes! the first thing i thought of when i saw that was a fire place. love the contrast of red and green.

sorry havent been commenting, been busy!

18 Apr 2007 12:54pm

@treeeeesh: Thanks...and don't worry about it, been busy myself too!

Tempting Lisa from Canberra, Australia

I felt the sadness when looking at this photo and reading the story. This photo really captured that feeling, Jen. Well done! :-)

18 Apr 2007 1:40pm

@Tempting Lisa: The guy seemed pretty sad about the whole thing too...thank you!

Anne from White Rock, Canada

Now that's a fireplace! And, the ashes in it aren't even cold yet! Lovely photo Jen with lots of detail in the fireplace itself. My first thought was "Why did they leave the fireplace standing" then I noticed you had made this comment too. Its a nice story - but he can't make a frame out of bricks - too bad! Like the colours and great detail in the fireplace :-)

18 Apr 2007 1:42pm

@Anne: No he can't make a frame out of the bricks, but I guess he just wanted something. (shhh, I took a small brick myself, I may try to do something with a shadow box).

amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada

Wonderful story to go with a terrific shot! Very well done, Jen. ;-)

18 Apr 2007 2:15pm

@amy: As always THANK YOU!!!
I always look forward to your comments!! : D

Laurie from New Jersey, United States

Standing tall and proud even though the rest is gone. Wonderful moving image for me. I always get drawn to abandoned and decaying structures. Like you I imagine what it was like to be there when it was still sound.

18 Apr 2007 2:43pm

@Laurie: I spent two nights there 16 years ago...it was such a nice, warm and cozy place. It's a shame they can't figure out what they are going to do with the property and some of the outbuildings & cabins still left standing and abandoned.

Dornbrau from Colorado Springs, United States

Very nostalgic shot. How cool that you encountered that gentleman during your visit. It always makes a picture so much more meaningful when you have a personal story to go with it.

18 Apr 2007 2:49pm

@Dornbrau: I just love talking to other people who can provide their own history/memories for a place...I had my short visit there 16 years ago when it was still standing, but he had childhood and adult memories.

Kheoh Yee Wei from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

A sad photo,glad that you captured this and tell us a story about it ! ;)

18 Apr 2007 4:11pm

@Kheoh Yee Wei: Glad I could share it!

Rahul from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Great story with great shot, you did well to capture this. This picture truly shows the sands of time... and tells the universal truth - "Nothing is permanent, except change". :-) But then, we are all humans and we always attach ourselves to the good time, the granduer and splendor. Its always good to remind ourselves the clock is ticking and what's today might be no more tomorrow. :)

And what remains with us is - only memories......

18 Apr 2007 5:19pm

@Rahul: Very well said Rahul!

Reza from Montreal, Canada

Nice shot Jen. and a touching story.

18 Apr 2007 5:56pm

@Reza: Thank you!

bronzebilly u.k. from cardiff, United Kingdom

hey ho Jen--great capture as usual--ace story(he said wiping up the tears)--well done--billy

18 Apr 2007 10:26pm

@bronzebilly u.k.: Oh my Billy, do you need a tissue? : )
Thank you so much!!

Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia

Well taken and written. I've always found it ironic that the last thing standing after fires is the fireplace.

18 Apr 2007 10:39pm

@Chris Sullivan: You are so right Chris!!!
Thanks!

bronzebilly u.k. from cardiff, United Kingdom

hey ho Jen if you've missed me--I've been having a bit of bovva with my I.S.P. but everything seems o.k. now--thanx again--billy

18 Apr 2007 10:54pm

Stu from Kyoto, Japan

a slightly sad but great shot jen. love the colours.

19 Apr 2007 12:36am

Nick Passantino from Bronx, United States

Nice shot.. with an interesting story.

19 Apr 2007 4:51am

DTW from Orlando, United States

Nice shot. Who owns all that now?

19 Apr 2007 12:06pm

@DTW: I do believe the National Park Service does...I am trying to dig up more info.

Evie from Fairfax, Virginia, United States

Beautiful tones and color. This photo stimulates the imagination, just as you've suggested.

19 Apr 2007 12:58pm

@Evie: Thanks Evie!

Mike Cash from Kiryu, Japan

I get the same sort of feelings expressed by others above, but it also reminds me of a story told to me by a young man I drove trucks with in Tennessee. He was a volunteer fireman in his very small hometown, which had no full-time fire department. One day he bitterly related to me the tale of the smart-mouthed detective on the local police department. The detective always went to each fire and was very familiar with the limited effectiveness of the volunteer force. He earned their everlasting scorn after one particular fire when he said, "Well....I'll say one thing for the XXXX Volunteer Fire Department. You boys ain't never lost a chimney yet."

So at least I have the small advantage of getting a chuckle out of seeing this photo.

22 Apr 2007 10:35am

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