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The 56,000-acre
Cherokee Indian Reservation is home to more than 10,000 Eastern Band of the
Cherokee members. Each year, thousands of visitors from across the country come
to discover this enchanted land and to share the natural mountain beauty the
Cherokee have treasured for centuries.
A visit to Cherokee is like stepping into the past. You’ll find a nation still
linked to ancient customs and traditions that enable them to live in harmony
with nature as their ancestors did. The Reservation,
 known as the Qualla
Boundary, has a number of outstanding attractions. Among them is the
Museum of the Cherokee Indian,
Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, “Unto These Hills” Outdoor Drama,
Oconaluftee Indian Village, and
Harrah's
Cherokee Casino & Hotel.
There are 28 campgrounds on the Reservation, and many motels and cabins. And be sure
and visit the Cherokee Welcome Center on at 489 Tsali Boulevard in downtown
Cherokee. Be prepared however to be turned off by the somewhat
glitzy atmosphere on Main Street, which overflows with tourist
stores selling "Indian" souvenirs made in China, and street
performers wearing Plains Indian costumes.
One major problem area does exist in Cherokee that hopefully
will be addressed in the near future. The
privately owned
Cherokee Zoo, Santa's Lane and the Chief Sauooke Bear parks keep
their captive native Black Bears in
deplorable and sub-standar d conditions, enough so that attention has
been drawn to the problem by
national media. Bob Barker, on behalf of
PETA, one of the organizations protesting the bear's conditions, is leading the drive to bring about positive change at the zoos
(Read Barker's letter to Chief Hicks). The Black Bear has long been a
symbol of the mountains, and a sacred animal to the Cherokee
Indians, and is unfortunate that some of these magnificent creatures
are kept in such pathetic conditions. Until this situation is
corrected, I suggest that you boycott these three attractions and let the folks at the
Welcome Center know why you did.
Website:
Cherokee Indian Reservation
Location:
Cherokee NC
Distance: 1-11/2 hours from Asheville
Address: Cherokee Welcome Center, 498 Tsali Boulevard, Cherokee, NC 28719
Telephone: 800-438-1601
Allow: Plan to spend the whole day
Primary Attractions:
Harrah's
Cherokee Casino & Hotel,
Museum of the Cherokee Indian,
Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual,
Unto These Hills,
Oconaluftee Indian Village,
Unto These Hills
Nearby:
Great Smoky Mountains
National Park
Directions: From Asheville take I-40 west to exit 27 (Great
Smoky Mountains Expressway). Continue west on U.S. 74 past
Waynesville, Sylva, and Dillsboro to exit 74, Cherokee. U.S.Hwy 441
will take you into Cherokee.
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