About the Author
Vernon Corum, Jr.
Smoky Mountain investor, author, and operator — helping people own the experience and own the investment.
Owning the Smokies is your superpower.
Vernon Corum, Jr. is a Smoky Mountain real estate investor, author, and short-term rental operator. His work is built on a simple belief: the Smokies are one of America's most overlooked investment opportunities — and the people who win here treat it as a hospitality business backed by real estate.
Through the Owning The Smokies book collection, The Rule of 5, and the GRID Smokies investor community, Vernon gives investors the market awareness, operational truth, and frameworks they need to make confident decisions — without the fluff.
He lives and operates in the Smokies, walks the cabins, and reads the sub-markets the way only a local can.
What Sets Vernon Apart
The Approach
Boots on the Ground
Vernon lives and operates in the Smokies. He walks the cabins, knows the roads, and reads the sub-markets the way only a local can.
Author & Educator
Author of Owning The Smokies and The Rule of 5 — written to give investors a real framework instead of hype.
Community Leader
Leader of the GRID Smokies investor group, building a network of owners who help each other win.
Hospitality First
The core thesis: this is a hospitality business backed by real estate. Operations and guest experience drive the returns.