Cabins for rent where you can see the synchronized fireflies in the Smoky Mountains

No one would believe an old time resident of what was to become the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains national park when he claimed that he could sit on his porch a see the fields and mountainside light up with synchronized fireflies in the spring, after all this phenomenon was only recorded by scientists in Asia on the other side of the world.

Scientists came to the Elkmont section of the Great Smoky Mountains national park in the 1990's and saw for themselves that 1 of the 14 lightning bugs which lives in the park does in fact synchronize its flashing with the surrounding firefly beetles.

The flashing from the fireflies which is used to attract a mate slowly grows in intensity as one by one the fireflies see each other flashing and attempt to be the brightest prettiest flasher. As fast at the flashing increases in intensity, suddenly the flashing from the lighting bugs will stop for a few seconds and darkness envelopes the area only to be broken by the beetles flashing which start flashing all over again.

Coming back year after year and studying the fireflies in Elkmont the experts discovered that though the Asian lighting bugs synchronized in the trees, the lightning beetles in the Smokies flashed for their mates up in the hills and higher up in the bushes and trees and as the night progresses the males move closer and closer to the ground where the females have been sitting flashing to attract a mate.

Once the word got out about the beautiful light show the synchronized fireflies in Elkmont put on in late May and into June, the crowds started to come. At first it was manageable but then as people saw the amazing light show and told others the crowds that came to the Elkmont area in the Great Smoky Mountains national park were soon just too much to handle.

The national park service in cooperation with the City of Gatlinburg Tennessee decided to have visitors who came to see the fireflies in Elkmont park their cars in the national parks Sugarlands Visitor Center and take Gatlinburg trolleys as a shuttle to Elkmont to alleviate the crowding.

While this system worked for a while and everyone was happy, more than 1,000 people a day attempt to take the trolleys which can no longer add on more shuttles due to space and time limitations as well as the environmental and safety issues of too many people in such a small area.

Each year as more people know about the synchronized fireflies in Elkmont, the available seats on the trolley shuttles which are only $1 round trip, sell out faster and faster leading to a disappointment for many who have come to the Smokies to see the lightning bugs perform the fantastic mating light show.

Further studying of the lightning bugs in the Smokies shows that once the temperature reaches around 50 degrees the lightning bug emerge from the ground in a few other places in the Smoky Mountains other than Elkmont if the conditions are just right.

These special lightning bugs can't just be seen any place in the Smokies, the water, soil, elevation and surrounding area has to be just right. While most areas where these synchronized fireflies can be found are remote areas of the national park inaccessible by most and unsafe at night to wander around in, there are a few places where they can be found outside of the park.

Amazingly, they can be found in a small valley outside of the park just off the section of the Foothills Parkway called the Spur located between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Here for now the conditions are perfect and the fireflies can be found right by 3 cabins for rent in a field around a small creek!

Just imagine in the last week in May when the fireflies start to emerge (Exact time is dependent on previous weeks soil ambient temperature) that you will be able to see the nightly light show gain in intensity which remain strongest for about 21 days and finishes by the end of June.

Of course the other 13 species of firefly beetles found in the area will still put on a show for you throughout the summer while you sit out on the deck, sipping a cool glass of iced tea and enjoying nature's beauty and the peace and quiet of this secluded area of the Smoky Mountains.

The cabins where you can see the synchronized fireflies range in size from 1 bedroom cabins that accommodate a couple in comfort to huge 4 bedroom family friendly log cabins for rent that can hold many!

Imagine enjoying the best of the Smokies all day and the synchronized fireflies at night without ever having to leave your vacation rental! Year round these cabins for rent in the Smoky Mountains are a great choice given their fantastic location - close to Dollywood, Splash Country, Ripley's Aquarium and the other Ripley's attractions, the Great Smoky Mountains national park, hundreds of great restaurants and tons of outlet stores and quaint shops around the area.

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