Since 1981, my sister, brother, and I have been watching our parents create and operate Hidden Mountain Resort. Working with family every day can be challenging or fun depending on the day, but overall it gives us a lot of time together. On this Father’s Day, I want to share a message I wrote last year on Facebook about my Dad, Butch Smith. He’s one-of-a-kind and we love him!
Happy Father’s Day to all the Hidden Mountain Men out there- Thank you for trusting us with your family’s Smoky Mountain memories!
“Happy Father’s Day to this guy in the center!
Dad isn’t the most talkative and may even come across as gruff sometimes. It’s probably just because his wheels are turning on his next project.
He started the first log cabin resort in the Smokies (with my mom) and built almost all of the cabins at Hidden Mountain. He always sees a way when other people say it can’t be done. Which came in handy when so many people told him a log cabin resort would never make it.
He isn’t one to wait patiently but is known for saying he wants to start things “yesterday,” and if the conversation is still going in 5 minutes, he’ll ask “Are you done yet?”
He isn’t afraid to stand up for what he thinks, to have an unpopular opinion, or to try something new. He isn’t afraid to fail.
He taught us to ask hard questions (“It’s not war. They can’t shoot.”) and that actions speak louder than words.
He loves old Westerns, fishing, big machinery, and being on the water. He loves God, babies, my Mama, his family, and a few other people. (Hey- nobody is perfect!😂)
And through it all- he taught us to laugh at life and ourselves, to travel, to adventure and explore, and to take time to be amazed at the majesty of God’s creation.
He can be a bit of a bulldozer, but, at the end of the day, it’s only to pave a path for other people.
Happy Father’s Day, Daddy! You are loved!”
