Here are the abandoned cabins of Mac's Indian Village of Cherokee, NC. This complex is on a road long bypassed by a four lane a few hundred feet in the background. It is from this four lane that we spotted the backlit profiles of the Tee Pees and had to see what they were.

Mac's Indian Village
Cherokee, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Essentially this is more or less the standard cabin motel of the pre-war years, but with a Tee Pee facade in front of each one. You will notice one still had a metal lawn chair and that there is a merry-go-round in the playground, another symbol of a by-gone era. The old neon sign is difficult to read.

Teepees and marquee
Cherokee, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Bad as this looks, do not consider it out for the count, there were signs of life here. One of the cabins had been completely rebuilt (not shown here) and when I took a peek inside one of the others I found it full of new windows just waiting to be installed. It may not be long and this roadside classic may once again be open for business. 04-08

Below are more photos of Mac's Indian Village. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for update.

UPDATE 05/08 : Mac's Indian Village is open for business.  My husband and I have been running it for over a year now. It had been closed for a while.  Eight months ago we took the Qualla Motel across the street. We are remodeling some of the tee pees and people come from all over to stay here and have been for many years. They've been there around the early 1900's. Many thanks to Phyllis, owner of Mac's Indian Village, for update. 05-08

UPDATE 05/08 : Have you seen “Digging to China”?  They used Mac’s as a location for the movie, filmed in 1998. Many thanks to Julie Kravec for update. 05-08

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