Here is the story behind the "Thing" resting in a wide ditch less than 3 miles from the Smoky Mountain National Park.

Growing up in the Maryville, Tennessee school system I was blessed at times to be placed in the same room at Sam Houston elementary with Jan Van Meter. Her dad and mom had a bakery and often they would drop in with cupcakes for the entire class! Riding with Morton up to his bunker on the mountain one winter afternoon he pointed out one of Jan's delivery vans, long dead, resting in this wide ditch. Naturally the very next trip the camera went along and this picture was taken. We even talked about getting a chain and snaking the thing out, getting some shade tree mechanics to look her over and see about getting it back on the road. Yep, we "talked" about it but on closer examination we felt it would add more to the beautiful mountain hill side left right where it was. If you want to go get it I bet the owners of the ditch would "work" with you on a great price!