Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge Events

Everything Turns Green After the Fires

Posted July 29, 2018 by Tony Perez

Local broadcaster WBIR Channel 10 News has footage of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a recent story showing the dramatic recovery of the forests, following the wildfires of 19 months ago in the Gatlinburg, TN area. As the interview with the park’s fire ecologist Rob Klein makes clear, this is a great example of how quickly forests can snap back and regenerate with new life following a wildfire.

According to the story, 70 percent of the areas affected by the fires of November, 2016, are recovering very rapidly. Hundreds of brand-new Table Mountain Pine trees have already shot up to around 2 feet in height. Within a couple more years, says Klein, it will be difficult to see that these areas were even burned. In fact, entire areas will become transformed into new forests over the next decade.

This is all good news, and it’s quite astonishing to see the images of before and after in various parts of the national park.

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Delauder’s BBQ: Award-Winning Hidden Gem in Gatlinburg

Posted July 24, 2018 by Tony Perez

Delauder’s Smoky Mountain BBQ in Gatlinburg is hard to find but worth it – a hidden gem serving barbecue that was named among the Top 25 in the nation. If you crave an authentic taste of Tennessee barbecue, you have to give this place a try.

Eastern Tennessee barbecue is an American treasure, known throughout the nation for its distinctive flavor and tender texture. Local cooks specialize in pulled pork, but have applied their talents to everything from ribs to chicken, to brisket, and even to vegetables. If you’re looking for a truly American culinary experience, you can find one of the best right here in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Images courtesy of Delauder’s BBQ

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Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains

Posted July 21, 2018 by Tony Perez

There is literally so much to do and see in the area in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park that you simply can’t fit it all in. You’ll need a guide to the best ways to spend your time if you visit the area. This guide to the Smokies gives you a broad outline of the options, so you can drill down through the million-and-one things to find the type of activity that best suits your trip to the Smoky Mountains.

There are four major fields of activity in this part of the Smoky Mountains. You can visit the national park, you can play in the gateway towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, you can venture further out to some of the roads less traveled, or you can relax in your cabin in the mountains and watch it all from a hot tub on the deck.

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How Far is Cincinnati to Gatlinburg By Car?

Posted June 21, 2018 by Tony Perez

Driving from Cincinnati to Gatlinburg to enjoy the Smoky Mountains? This guide will outline the best ways to get there, whether you’re looking for the fastest trip or the most picturesque route.

There are several stops you might also consider taking to break up the driving day and add some interest to your journey. We’ll denote these under each route to give you some options.

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Music in the Mountains Spring Parade 2018

Posted April 29, 2018 by Tony Perez

Pigeon Forge holds its annual spring parade on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 6 pm on Parkway, starting at traffic light #6 and proceeding north to light #3. This year the 33-year old parade says goodbye to Dolly Parton as its Grand Marshal and welcomes baseball legend Cal Ripken, Jr to lead the parade. The name also has changed, to Music in the Mountains, with an emphasis on the musical heritage of the Smoky Mountains.

Image courtesy of Pigeon Forge

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How Far is it From Chicago to Gatlinburg by Car?

Posted April 24, 2018 by Tony Perez

Driving from Chicago to Gatlinburg, Tennessee takes roughly 9.5 hours. The shortest roadway distance between the two cities is approximately 582 miles. This is a perfectly doable one-day car trip. Or, you might consider stopping for the night and enjoying visits to a few famous attractions along the way.

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Dollywood Ticket Prices and Season Pass

Posted April 22, 2018 by Tony Perez

If you’re planning to visit Dollywood, you have a variety of options when purchasing the type of ticket that works best with your plans. For visitors on a weekend getaway, the individual one-day pass is perfect as it includes access to attractions, shows, and rides all day. Current pricing, not including tax, starts at $69 for adults, $56 for children, and $64 per day for seniors. For even more fun, visit Splash Country Water Park starting at $49 per day.

If you’re planning an extended visit, the two and three-day tickets are available for Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country. Two-day tickets for Dollywood start at $89 per day for two days and $99 for three-day tickets. Splash Country Water Park start at $69 per day for two days and $79 per day for three-day tickets.

Image courtesy of Dollywood

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Lynette’s Trip to Gatlinburg

Posted April 18, 2018 by Tony Perez

Recently, Lynette and her family visited Gatlinburg Falls Resort and stayed at one of our luxurious cabins. Lynette is a writer from Ohio who came to enjoy the beautiful springtime weather in the Smoky Mountains. The whole family took day trips out to attractions in the Gatlinburg area. In the evenings, they enjoyed their cabin’s amenities and Lynette was happy to share the experience with us.

Lynette stayed in one of our 4-bedroom, two story cabins, Cypress Lodge. Like all of our cabins, this offered spectacular views of the forests and Smoky Mountains just outside. The inside of the cabin offered plenty of room for her and her whole family, with numerous amenities, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Image courtesy of Cleverly Simple

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Wine Fest 2018 at Arrowmont

Posted April 12, 2018 by Tony Perez

April 14, 2018 is the 6th Annual Wine Fest at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, happening Saturday afternoon, 1-6 pm. The event offers wine sampling from all-Tennessee wineries, with delicious artisanal food pairings created by great restaurants in the area.

Image courtesy of Winefest

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Hands On Gatlinburg 2018

Posted April 11, 2018 by Tony Perez

The 2018 Hands On Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Weekend offers you a chance to make your very own hand-crafted artwork under the supervision of an expert. April 13-15 finds several studios once again opening their galleries and workspace to conduct over 40 classes in a variety of crafts.