and in response, the residents erected Headrick Chapel on the cemetery's grounds. The chapel was shared by four Baptist and Methodist congregations, with funeral services having priority. The chapel's bell would ring once for every year of the deceased's life, a tradition still observed by the inhabitants of Wears Valley. In 2001, Headrick Chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The national park In 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established. The park's border paralleled Wears Valley to the south, following the crest of Roundtop and Cove Mountain. With improvements to US-321 in the 1950s, tourist outlets began to trickle into Wears Valley. Cabin rentals and outdoor supply stores are among the more common tourism-oriented venues in the valley today. In 2005, a group of developers led by Ron Ogle and Jerry Miller sought to build 400 houses on the slopes of Cove Mountain. This raised concern among many Wears Valley residents over the impact such development might have on Cove Mountain's scenic value. In 2007, Friends of Wears Valley— a group opposed to the development— unsuccessfully petitioned the Sevier County Regional Planning Commission to block the housing expansion on Cove Mountain. The group has posted "Save Our Mountains" signs throughout the valley, although the developers insist their plans will not harm the mountain's natural qualities. Fire of 2016 While the 2016 Great Smoky Mountains arson fires mainly affected the nearby towns of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, many cabins did burn down in the northern part of the valley. After a downed power line ignited the dry foliage in Little Cove Gap, an isolated fire quickly spread, thereby consuming the surrounding structures towards the northern end of Wears Valley. Around 40 homes were destroyed and another 40 were damaged on Hideaway Mountain and Dogwood Farms Mountain. Fire of 2022 On March 30, 2022, a wildfire known as the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire broke out in Wears Valley. The fire swept across the Greater Pigeon Forge area in the span of 4 hours. The Sevier County emergency management issued evacuations of the surrounding area with an evacuation shelter being set up in central Pigeon Forge. Schools were closed the next day on March 31, 2022. Education Wears Valley is the site of Wearwood Elementary School. References External links Sevier County, Tennessee - Official website Wears Valley Area Chamber of Commerce - Official website Crowson's Cove