Davy Crockett Birthplace Destroyed Since October

[Baloo124]

I'm posting this here since Davy Crockett has been such an iconic figure in Walt Disney television and cinema throughout the history of the studio. Played by legendary actor and friend of Walt... Fess Parker, the "King of the Wild Frontier" became a household name and hero to audiences young and old. Boys played in their yards while wearing his iconic -skinned cap, most people were familiar with his catchy theme song (the ballad of Davy Crockett), and the thought of grinning down a bear seemed feasible, because after all, Davy could do it.

While the Davy Crockett on screen may have been nothing short of Superman himself thanks to the combined efforts of Walt and Fess, the real-life Crockett was more grounded in reality, though still a significant historical figure.
In case you haven't heard, the real birthplace of Davy Crockett suffered tremendous damage back in October, due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. It's not a common thing to hear of hurricanes in the hills of Tennessee, but when we do get one, it leaves a bad footprint. https://www.wvlt.tv/2024/10/01/davi...mpacted-by-historic-flooding-state-park-says/

To this day, the park of his birthplace still remains closed. If you visit the official website, this is the message you see:

The state plans to rebuild and re-open his birthplace at some point, but as of now the King of the Wild Frontier's early years are off limits to the public. You can Google search images of the flooding damage. It's not pretty.

Again, just wanted to share since Crockett is such an important historic figure in real life and to TWDC library of film & TV.
Hopefully the birthplace is restored to its former self soon.

 

[Heppenheimer]

I'm old enough to remember when the coonskin cap and Betsy rifle were two of the most popular souvenirs at Disney World for boys, and this was decades after the Fess Parker films, such was the enduring popularity of the character. Shame that his birthplace was yet another victim of the weather from last summer and fall.

In the current political climate, I can't imagine Disney going out of their way to bring Davy Crocket back to the forefront.

 

[Baloo124]

I'm old enough to remember when the coonskin cap and Betsy rifle were two of the most popular souvenirs at Disney World for boys, and this was decades after the Fess Parker films

At the height of their popularity, the coonskin caps were selling at a rate of 5k daily.

10 Things You May Not Know About Davy Crockett | HISTORY

Explore 10 surprising facts about the man often called the “King of the Wild Frontier.”

www.history.com

I wasn't alive to witness the prime of Crockett popularity when the shows first aired, but was introduced to Fess and those projects via reruns on Disney Channel of the glorious 80s. I quickly became a late fan.

 

[Baloo124]

Another thing that's kinda interesting, but also bittersweet given the current circumstances of his birthplace.

The last time I visited his birthplace and that state park several years ago, I remember an employee talking about the river which runs just past the spot of the cabin where Crockett was born. Apparently when he was a young boy, he was playing in that river with his best friend, and the best friend almost drowned. Crockett pulled the friend to safety; one of the earliest of many heroic deeds he would perform throughout his life.

Yet sadly, that very river is also the one which flooded his birthplace last year.