Sevier County finds itself on the front line of the battle between two growing gas station chains Buc-ee’s arrived in Sevier County, at I-40’s Exit 407, one of the busiest in the country, with trumpets blazing, massive fanfare and a welcoming fit for king. Casey’s arrived in a different fashion. The Iowa based chain bought 38 Pilot stores in East
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
Celebrating the legacy of expert tracker Dwight McCarter “It’s the first few thousand miles, after that a man gets limber with his feet!” – Sgt. Buster Kilrain, “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shara. It’s impossible to figure how many mountain miles Dwight McCarter walked in his 80 years. He was raised in the mountains by a family steeped in the
From the Vols to the Titans and beyond the best way to watch sports during your mountain vacation We were on the road, vacationing in Orlando. Our beloved Tennessee Vols were hosting Ole Miss, marking the return of prodigal son Lane Kiffin. He was the coach who stayed in Knoxville for a season and exited for greener pastures. His departure
Choosing your home base for your Smoky Mountain vacation There can be a lot of planning that goes into your Smoky Mountain vacation, and the choices are so vast that it can quickly be overwhelming. Cost. Location. Occupancy. Comfort. These are just a few of the dozens of factors that go into where you decide to stay. But the first
When is the Pigeon Forge Rod Run in the Smoky Mountains? The Smoky Mountain Rod Run in Pigeon Forge is a hugely popular car show that normally takes place twice annually in the spring and in the fall. The 3-day event features a huge swap meet, a car corral and cash prizes. It attracts thousands of automobile enthusiasts, hot rod
Ranking carnival food on the strip in Gatlinburg My affinity for carnival food goes back to my days as a youngster in the tiny Indiana town of Mitchell. In September, the downtown area was shut down for the Persimmon Festival. A harvest gathering which features carnival games, rides, and food. I had a handful of dollars in my pocket and
Local looks at Dollywood pricing throughout the years Dollywood is by all accounts a success story of gargantuan proportions. When Dolly Parton partnered with the Herschend Family to put her name on the park formerly known as Silver Dollar City in 1986, little did we know the effect it would have on the theme park industry. It’s approaching 40 years
Blue Moose vs. Calhoun’s: Who ya got? There are many factors in choosing how to spend your culinary budget in Gatlinburg, not the least of which is geography. Are you, your hotel or your car on one end of the strip? Then it doesn’t make much sense to go past dozens of restaurants to get to the other end. In
What do you do when an emergency strikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park? In early June, a couple of North Carolina teens on a hiking, fishing and camping trip in the Pisgah National Forest found themselves facing life and death. One of the boys stepped over a log and felt a prick on his foot. He turned around