Maggie Valley is a town in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States.

[4] A popular tourist destination, it is home to Cataloochee Ski Area and the former Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park.

[7] Elk were copious throughout the United States, but numbers decreased in the mid-19th century because of overhunting and habitat loss.

In 2001, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Park Service and other partners joined to restore wild elk to the Great Smoky Mountains in the Cataloochee Valley near Maggie Valley.

[8] Most elk are found in Cataloochee Valley, which is a perfect viewing area in the southeastern section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

[10] During winter, the black bears are inactive for a short amount of time and exhibit some physiological responses to low food storage and temperatures.

Locals strongly suggest never approaching a bear to photograph it, or leaving food or garbage out, and taking in any bird feeders that are not monitored (especially at night).