John Gullion | The Smokies | Author Bio
FUN FACTS
Favorite Smokies Attraction:
Dollywood
Favorite Smokies Restaurant:
Calhoun’s (but shoutouts to The Melting Pot, Tennessee Jed’s, The Chop House and Chesapeake’s)
About John Gullion, Contributor of TheSmokies.com
John began his full-time career in journalism a few weeks before Y2K.
He has worked as a reporter, sports editor, news editor and managing editor for newspapers in East Tennessee and South Alabama including the Monroe County Advocate & Democrat, the Selma Times Journal and the Demopolis Times (very briefly).
Since 2005 he has been the Managing Editor for the Citizen Tribune in Morristown, Tenn.
He has won several awards from the Tennessee Press Association, the Alabama Associated Press and the Alabama Press Association. His work has been picked up by the Associated Press and run in papers nationwide.
A North Carolina native who was raised in Indiana, he moved to Maryville, Tenn. before his sophomore year of high school and with the exception of a handful of years in South Alabama he’s spent the last 30 years, exploring, covering and enjoying the Smokies and surrounding region.
He’s been married to his wife Leslie since April 1, 2000 but is considering claiming the six prior years they dated for anniversary purposes. They have three children.
John’s Latest Articles
The Glass Bridge in Gatlinburg: What You Need To Know Before You Go
When I was a teen in the early 90s, certain things outside the grunge culture were considered cool. For example, The Hard Rock Café. In…
These Are the Best Restaurants in Gatlinburg TN: 37 Top Places To Eat
In essence, Gatlinburg’s economy is built upon a three-legged stool of tourism commerce. Lodging. Entertainment. Food. And it’s probably not in that order. People come…
21 Best Restaurants in Sevierville TN, Ranked [2023]
On the map, the West Prong of the Little River divides Sevierville from Pigeon Forge. In the real world, unless you saw the sign, you’d…
Knife Making in Pigeon Forge TN, 4 Best Places To Go
Whether it’s work, personal or just the general state of things in the world, I find many people – including myself – battling high levels…
Big Changes Coming To Dollywood’s Chasing Rainbows
At the Dollywood theme park, change is a constant. It is a nearly 40-year project in successful visioning. The former and somewhat cheesy Silver Dollar…
Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? Here’s What You Should Know
Laurel Falls has always been one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The trail features a cascading waterfall with…