An expedition led by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo is believed to have passed through Happy Valley in October 1567.
 Pardo was attempting to reach the village of Coosa in northern Georgia via the Tennessee Valley.
 He left Chiaha (on Zimmerman's Island, now submerged by Douglas Lake) on October 13, marching southwest across the Foothills of the Great Smokies.
 He crossed Little River at what is now Walland, and camped at what is now Lake in the Sky.
 From there, he proceeded across Happy Valley en route to the village of Chalahume at the mouth of Abrams Creek.

In the 18th century, Happy Valley was likely part of a Cherokee trail system connecting the Overhill towns along the Little Tennessee to the Tuckaleechee Villages in modern Townsend and tribal hunting grounds in Cades Cove.
 The Overhill town of Chilhowee was situated opposite the mouth of Abrams Creek, and likely succeeded the village of Chalahume reported by Pardo.
 Abrams Creek was named after Old Abraham of Chilhowee, a prominent Overhill chief in the 1780s.
An expedition led by Spanish explorer Juan Pardo is believed to have passed through Happy Valley in October 1567.  Pardo was attempting to reach the village of Coosa in northern Georgia via the Tennessee Valley.  He left Chiaha (on Zimmerman's Island, now submerged by Douglas Lake) on October 13, marching southwest across the Foothills of the Great Smokies.  He crossed Little River at what is now Walland, and camped at what is now Lake in the Sky.  From there, he proceeded across Happy Valley en route to the village of Chalahume at the mouth of Abrams Creek.
In the 18th century, Happy Valley was likely part of a Cherokee trail system connecting the Overhill towns along the Little Tennessee to the Tuckaleechee Villages in modern Townsend and tribal hunting grounds in Cades Cove.  The Overhill town of Chilhowee was situated opposite the mouth of Abrams Creek, and likely succeeded the village of Chalahume reported by Pardo.  Abrams Creek was named after Old Abraham of Chilhowee, a prominent Overhill chief in the 1780s.
Happy Valley, Blount County, Tennessee