A look at the Farmhouse Grill and how it differs from the Farmhouse Restaurant The Apple Valley complex, located on the Sevierville-Pigeon Forge line, is a multi-purpose facility. It is designed to fill all of your apple-based tourism needs. In addition to the hotel, the Apple Valley Creamery, the Christmas and Candle Shop, the Apple Barn and the Cider House,
East Tennessee local shares list of best food and snacks at Pal’s Sudden Service Pal’s Sudden Service – the regional fast-food chain in Northeast Tennessee with a cult-like following – is an institution for some and a total mystery to others. It was founded on an ideal of rapid service – hence the name. There’s a fairly basic menu with
This massive general store in Tennessee allows guests to see live bears How the times have changed. Back in 1979 – when the store that would become the Three Bears General Store opened – the treatment of animals in zoos and circuses and the like was very different than today. How different? Somewhere in my grandmother’s picture collection is a 5-year-old
Local compares two popular Southern-style restaurants in the Smoky Mountains One of the truisms of life in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is that if you find business success with a new or unique idea, it won’t be long until someone else is moving in on your territory. I’ve been around these mountains for nearly four decades. I recognize that imitation
Local weighs pros and cons of two of the most popular Pigeon Forge restaurants It seems that in the Smokies, there’s danger in diversification. The tried-and-true traditions of successful businesses in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and beyond are found in mimicry. Imitation is, after all, the sincerest form of flattery and the path to financial success in Sevier County. As someone
The real original Buc-ee’s is not destroyed, despite media reports As the self-proclaimed preeminent Buc-ee’s journalist and scholar East of the Mississippi, I pride myself on keeping up with the latest in the world of Buc-ee’s business. And so, I was shocked by the recent headlines proclaiming the original Buc-ee’s had burned to the ground. My co-worker and fellow Buc-ee’s
Pal’s Sudden Service is unlike any fast food restaurant you’ve ever seen There is a clamor for a famous burger chain or two to set up shop in the Smokies. Some want Whataburger. Some crave Fatburger. While others want an In-and-Out. But what if I told you they don’t need these West Coasters to come to the mountains? What if I told
I’ve eaten hundreds of meals in Pigeon Forge, these are the best, and the worst, I’ve ever had As someone whose culinary memory in Pigeon Forge goes back to the days of Chef Jock’s and beyond – that’s more than 30 years, I’ve had countless meals in countless Pigeon Forge Restaurants. Most of them were chiefly forgettable but pleasant experiences.
As someone who remembers when cheesiness was half the point for a Smoky Mountain tourist trap, I can attest that when it comes to underwhelming attractions, there are two that are head and shoulders above the rest. They both feature animatronics that would make Chuck E. Cheese seem cutting-edge. They both feature beat-up, under-cared-for scenery that makes you wonder if
Smoky Mountain native offers tips on vacationing with a rainy forecast Editor’s Note: The following is a new advice series where readers can write in and get personalized advice from Smoky Mountain travel experts. Do you have a question that you would like us to answer? Email us at [email protected]. Question: I booked my trip to the Great Smoky Mountains