For 25 years, Smokies Stadium was a centerpiece of the Sevier County tourism scene, it’s been essentially vacant for a year, what’s next? Baseball season is over in East Tennessee. The boys of summer have turned their attention to the endeavors of the fall. And for the first time since it opened 25 years ago, Smokies Stadium has mostly sat
A Smoky Mountain local reveals his top picks for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Gatlinburg In a world filled with chain restaurants and expensive dining options, sometimes you find the best restaurants where you least expect them. We call them hole-in-the-wall restaurants for lack of a better term. However, we use it with affection. Often, the best places to find
The best places in the Smokies to give – or get – a gift card from I’ve never been much for etiquette. Never drank tea with my pinkie finger out, never called my elders ma’am or sir and never worried about whether or not it was the right season to wear white – in my case, it’s never the right
What the Smoky Mountain Icon, Dolly Parton, said about her health On Sept. 28, Dolly Parton took to her Instagram account to announce the postponement of her impending Las Vegas residency from December of this year to next fall. She cited health challenges and her doctor’s advice. “I want the fans and public to hear directly from me that, unfortunately,
The Smoky Mountains’ amusement park cleans up (again) at Golden Ticket Awards If I’m being honest, I never really understood just how many amusement/theme parks there were in the United States. Growing up in the Midwest before moving to the mountains, I was well aware of places like King’s Island, Cedar Point and Six Flags. I knew about smaller parks
These are the restaurants we wish would come to the Smokies On one hand you could make the argument the Smokies have quite enough places to eat thank you very much. And we get that. What does a drowning man need with a cup of water after all? But, in the mountains, there’s a lot of similarities. A lot of
This Iconic East Tennessee gas station and convenience store has a reputation for clean facilities, great milk and lighting people up on social media With a history that goes back almost as far as East Tennessee, Weigel’s (pronounced ‘Why-gulls’) is a thriving regional institution. Locations in Tennessee range from Bristol to Chattanooga and as far west as Crossville. The Weigel’s
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants twin bears Daisy and River released to a sanctuary I’ll say this for the people of the mountains: we’ve come a long way. Some may think it’s an overstatement. Others may think it’s not far enough. But my memory goes back to the days that businesses in the region used live bears
From the Greenbrier to No Way Jose’s and everything in between. Ranking the restaurants of one of the Smokies’ most important restauranteur KBS Restaurant Group is one of the most fascinating mysteries of the Smokies. The people behind the Greenbrier – legitimately one of the best restaurants in East Tennessee – are also behind an almost bizarrely broad variety themed
Which of these two Tradition-Steeped Restaurants is the Best? In the competitive world of the Pigeon Forge culinary scene, there are a lot of angles that have to be considered. It’s not just about who has the best food. You have to stand out. Certainly, you have to be creative. You have to grab some attention. Because, after all, if