Arby’s in South Knoxville, a viral kudzu post Once thought a miracle cure for erosion, kudzu is thriving in the mountains whether we want it to or not. We moved to Tennessee in 1990. At the time, we settled into a house in rural Blount County, not far from the Sevier County line. It was an immersive introduction to all
This 850-foot-long tunnel was once called the 8th wonder of the world The irony of aging – or one of them – is that it takes time to acquire the wisdom to grasp the depth and breadth of our ignorance. I was a confident young man. Well-read and inquisitive and possessed a certain acumen for retaining and recalling that which
Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, has died. The man who inspired the song Jolene among others was 82. For nearly 60 years, Carl Dean was married to one of the most beautiful, talented and wealthy women in the world. And somehow, almost no one knew who he was. Dean married Dolly Parton in May of 1966. He watched from
The little-known story of how the Smoky Mountains nearly had two theme parks, instead of one There are many great figures who shaped the path of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge over the years. Some are well-known and some mostly forgotten. From Dolly Parton, to the first Ogles who set foot in White Oaks Flats, later known as
The real story behind the legend of the Gatlinburg BMW There is a mystery in the mountains of Gatlinburg. But it doesn’t have anything to do with haints, haunts, or wild people. We won’t be talking about Big Foot or spooky hollers. This mystery is much deeper than any of those fly-by-night mountain legends. It involves something at the very core
A Local Offers Tips on What Not To Do at Gatlinburg’s Most Frequented Steakhouse The dining options in Gatlinburg are vast and varied. You can choose an elevated experience at a place like The Greenbrier, The Peddler or Chesapeake’s. You can eat some of the best (literally) BBQ in the country served on checkered plastic tablecloths while seated at mismatched
A local offers his advice on 5 things not to do when booking, attending dinner shows in Pigeon Forge Dinner and a show. Sounds like the perfect night out – or matinee – in Pigeon Forge. Dinner theaters have long been part of the fabric that is Pigeon Forge. But it’s only in recent years that everyone wised up and
These are the best Gatlinburg restaurants of 2025, according to a local Ranking the restaurants in Gatlinburg is a dangerous game. Not in the sense of actual danger, but dangerous in that figuring out how to weigh classics with a reputation decades in the making versus a new and interesting spot that may or may not have staying power can
The story of those who lost to the Tennessee Valley Authority My home is located in what is known as the Lakeway Area. With tentacles in Hamblen, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Greene, Hawkins, Claiborne and Hancock counties, the Lakeway Area is a relatively modern term. Our communities touch Norris, Douglas and Cherokee lakes. But the truth is, had you arrived here
A Smoky Mountain resident talks about experiences he wouldn’t try twice at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge While I can’t lay claim to being the world’s biggest Dollywood fan, I’ve been visiting since the first year it transitioned over from Silver Dollar City. I’ve watched in awe and appreciation as it has grown through careful planning and execution from a kitschy