The Black and Smoky mountains in the East have dozens of summits that are in the 6500' range. Even Mt. Katahdin in Maine is higher than most of the Denver suburbs. I live in Colorado and the mistake Coloradans make is equating pure elevation (aka 14,000 ft) with "good mountains". Where in reality, relief or prominence from the valley floor, steepness of slope, and craginess is much more important and impressive. This is why the Wasatch in Utah look so much bigger and more impressive than most of the mountains in Colorado...they are. Meaning they have more prominence and therefore are more impressive from the valley floor.
I've climbed over 200 named summits in my life (& 20+ 14ers) and been on several peaks in the 4,000-6,000 ft range that feel just as "real" and impressive as several 14ers I've climbed.
I will say that dozens of black and smoky mountain peaks in the 6500' feel more like big tree covered hills to me. The only mountains on the East coast that feel and look like Western mountains are the stretch from Mt. Katahdin to Mount Washington area (White Mountains).