True IIRC Elkmont, Wonderland Lodge, lodge cabins, etc closed during the Clinton years the last ones living there were told to leave. This is not a town abandoned for 100 years. It would not look like that in the GSMNP climate. It would not be standing at all. It's been empty about 20 years IIRC give or take a few years.
I think some families leased the houses, cabins, and lodge out, then NPS canceled the leases and people living there told to leave.
IIRC The town was built as a resort back in the early 1900's before the park was established. Great Smokey Mountain National Park does not look like it did around 1900 before the park was established. It had been logged over {most trails are old abandoned rail road beds} and barren. You can still find old foundations, pieces of railroad track, and other things back in the more remote areas going down onto Fontana Lake where access takes a day or so hike.
It’s a big area. Keep in mind that this is a brit article.
I took the train last fall from Bryson City to Nantahala OC.
We traversed Fontana a bit. You can also see Fontana from Clingman’s Dome.
I have read on some trout fishing sites that you can even find the wreckage of an F-15 way back in the boonies on the NC side.