General Information

a pinkish purple lake

The Legend Of Atagahi – A Hidden Lake In The Smoky Mountains

According to Cherokee legend, the enchanted lake only reveals itself to those who are pure of heart The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is dotted with well-preserved conclaves of cabins and barns. And the occasional mill or silo. Places like Cades Cove or Greenbrier or Roaring Fork serve as reminders of life in the mountains in the decades leading up

anavista tower with christmas lights in foreground at anakeesta in gatlinburg tn

8 Things You Need To Try This Winter in the Smoky Mountains

Local lists the best things to do in Gatlinburg this winter Most people don’t know that Gatlinburg has five seasons. There’s spring, summer, fall and two winters, one pre-Christmas and one post-Christmas. If you come for Gatlinburg’s first winter, it is joyful but tinged with a hint of seasonal melancholy. People are hustling and bustling – and possibly rustling –

great smoky mountain railroad in bryson city

The Scenic Train Ride in the Great Smoky Mountains You Need To Try

What to expect when you take a ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad There’s so much to do and see in the Great Smoky Mountains. But I recommend that you go just a little further past the state line of Tennessee. You’ll find that the neighboring state also has a lot to offer – especially for train enthusiasts, like

clingmans dome in north carolina

Clingmans Dome Controversy, the Tower That Weathered a Media Storm

A Smoky Mountain local recalls the tale of the tower that was almost canceled The Hatfields and the McCoys. The Jets and the Sharks. The Capulets and the Montagues. The National Park Service and the National Park Association. Queue freeze frame, quizzical look and record scratch. What? That’s right. The organization that was to be the voice of the National Parks

remnants from the fugitive's train wreck scene

24 Movies You Didn’t Know Were Filmed in the Smoky Mountains

A local movie buff offers a list (and commentary) of movies filmed in and around the Smoky Mountains Last summer, my daughter and I traveled to Atlanta to see John Mulaney perform. We had a little time to burn and decided to swing by the Marriott Marquis downtown, which was used as one of the main locations for the Marvel TV

a bobcat has a much shorter tail than a mountain lion and is much smaller

Are Mountain Lions in the Smoky Mountains? It Depends on Who You Ask

How to tell the difference between a mountain lion and a bobcat It’s been more than 100 years since mountain lions have lived in the Smokies. However, if you spend enough time around mountain folk, you’ll hear of someone who knows someone who knows someone who saw a panther – or its prints – in the national park. Sure, the mountains

a snowy scene in tennessee with white coated mountains

Everything You Need To Know About Snow in Tennessee, From a Local

Tennessean offers tips on snow around the Smoky Mountains For many, a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains in the winter months means an opportunity to see snow in the mountains. But finding snow can also be tricky. At the lower elevations, snow is usually a rare treat, falling in significant amounts only a handful of times each winter. If

a woman looks at downtown gatlinburg from a window

Is Gatlinburg Safe? What To Consider With Advice From a Local

A local offers his take on whether or not Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are “safe” I had a wonderful childhood with a level of freedom that would border on negligence today. For instance, I never sat in a safety seat. As an infant, I survived a car crash when my mom slipped me onto the floorboard and held on for dear

a young boy runs in the woods

Feral Humans in the Smoky Mountains? What Happened to Dennis Martin

Social media revives rumors of feral humans in the Smoky Mountains linked to old cold case Dennis Martin was 6 years old in June of 1969. It was Father’s Day weekend and they hiked near the Tennessee-North Carolina border, a Martin family tradition. William Martin (his father) and Clyde (his grandfather) and the two boys started at Cades Cove and

visitors drive through downtown Gatlinburg

Smoky Mountain Tourists Spend $10M a Day According to State Report

Sevier County ranks third in the state for visitor spending, saving locals an estimated $11,294 in state and local tax collections There may not be gold in the hills of East Tennessee, but there sure is a lot of green. According to a report from the State of Tennessee, Sevier County, gateway to the Smoky Mountains, ranked third in the