Believe it or not, Elvis was once sighted near the Ocoee River--the fact that this happened forty-five years ago is beside the point. Of course back then the Ocoee was known as a nearly dry river bed with only the creek-like remnant of a once mature river snaking its way through the copper-glazed boulders. I’m sure Elvis marveled at it...and wondered about it...as he drove along the River Road.

Here are two tales that are combinations of what I know, what I’ve heard, and what I’ve made...errrr...surmised.

Version number one:

"Whitewater Cantina," the sign announces. A fitting name, considering its proximity to the river; up the road a piece just past Burra Burra Creek and the community of Isabella. " NO ONE UNDER 21 ADMITTED " shout the bold letters gracing the front door while "regulars and rounders welcome" just plain goes without saying. But it hasn’t always been a honky-tonk. The lonely skeleton of a water tower stands sentinel over the site and if one could brush away the overpaintings and rust, the faint letters S A H A R A would be seen on its cistern. A linked row of small rooms are out back; laid out in the tell-tale arrangement of the motor-hotel of the 1950’s. And if we go back a few years--say to around the time when a nice guy named Ike was in the Whitehouse--this place shone like an oasis to travelers journeying through that desolate east Tennessee landscape known as the Copper Basin.

It was also during this time that a fledgling troubadour by the name of Elvis Aron Presley and his small entourage passed through these red hills. They were probably on their way to (or from) an engagement in one of the many small cities that dotted the South in the early ‘50’s. "I’ve done some records--birthday presents for my momma," it’s said he told Cobby, the proprietor of the Sahara. He was no doubt referring to those early demos at Sun Records in Memphis. Of course Cobby dismissed these words as unimportant, but they did find their way into his memory bank, as I’ll later explain.

Version number two:

"Whitewater Cantina," the sign now says. A fitting name since it does occupy the spot upon which the notorious "Cobby’s Place" sat until its fiery demise some years ago. And Cobby’s Place was a honkey tonk of renown, with fights, shootings, and general sociable dissipation always going on. It also had a few small rooms available out back for the road-weary traveler; rooms where one not burdened with luggage might briefly stay. It was during those days that a singing truck driver by the name of Elvis Aron Presley sometimes stopped here. "I’ve done some singing," it’s said he told Cobby, and it was known that he carried a guitar inside his truck. Of course Cobby probably rolled his one good eye and dismissed those words as unimportant, but they did find their way into his memory bank....

The Rest:

1955-1956: By now Elvis had hit the big time--a millionaire recording artist and movie star to boot. He had throngs of adoring fans everywhere! Of course all this was not lost on ol’ Cobby. He knew full-well how the human psyche behaved. He knew full-well how people regarded idols. He knew full-well how people liked to possess things. He also remembered that this same Elvis had slept at his establishment not that long ago on a sheet--perhaps the only tangible thing Cobby possessed that still contained the scent of Elvis. In a stroke of genius (and what might be described as an early form of merchandising), Cobby cut up that sheet and sold strips of it as "A Piece of the Sheet That Elvis Slept On." People came from miles around to buy a piece of that sacred cloth: Chattanooga, Atlanta, and even as far away as Florida! Problem was, there soon became more of a demand than the supply could satisfy. But that wasn’t a problem for ol’ Cobby; he simply cut up another sheet--then another and another! "If you cut it, they will come," the voice inside his head told him. Business was good; people never asked too many questions--just wanted their piece of Elvis’ sheet! Well, all good things must come to an end and it seems that ol’ Cobby was finally found out and made to stop his sheet-cutting ways; typical interference by law-folks I’d say-- messing up things when both parties seem to be happy about the situation.

So the next time you travel down Highway 64 en route to the Ocoee from the North Carolina side, remember this story as you pass the Whitewater Cantina. Although the sign says, NO ONE UNDER 21 ADMITTED look a little closer...use your imagination a little...and see if the words ELVIS SLEPT HERE don’t wax into view!!

Elvis has left the building, but the river’s still there.