General Information

Channing Tatum at a gas station on I-40 in Newport

13 Celebrity Sightings in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains

These are a few famous faces that have been known to make an appearance in and around the Smoky Mountains When you live near a popular tourist destination like the Smoky Mountains, you must keep your head on a swivel. You never know when the person behind you in line at the Salt and Pepper Museum might be a famous

the tennessee welcomes you sign next to the new tennessee georgia border

Tennessee-Georgia Border Controversy: A Mistake That Might Reshape the State

The strange mistake that reshaped the state of Tennessee (literally) and why Georgia isn’t happy about it There’s a dispute along the Tennessee-Georgia border. It goes far beyond the singing of Rocky Top and red-clad adults who like to bark at football games. It’s a water war, y’all, with headwaters that go back more than 200 years. It’s a dispute

a man looks upon the biltmore estate from afar

13 Movies Filmed at the Famous Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC

A movie fanatic ranks famous flicks filmed at Biltmore Estate in Asheville In Selma, the muddy and mighty Alabama River curves under the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge where the infamous Sunday Civil Rights March took place. I worked in one of those buildings, next to the bridge. Working next to an iconic location you get used to a few things, including

The Worst times to visit the Smoky Mountains

Worst Times To Visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

A local breaks down the times to avoid when booking your Smoky Mountain vacation While I generally hold with the belief there are no bad times to visit the Smokies – with the exception of during natural disasters and the like – I will admit there are times that a Smoky Mountain vacation is less optimal than others. When are

a no trucks sign at buc-ees

3 Surprising Reasons Behind Buc-ee’s Infamous Truck Ban

Buc-ee’s is famous for their Beaver Nuggets, they are also famous for their anti semi-truck stance As the preeminent Buc-ee’s journalist east of the Mississippi, a writer who has been extensively quoted in the paper of record in Ft. Worth, Texas, I know a thing or two about America’s favorite new gas station. I can wax poetic about Beaver Nuggets

Gregory's Cave has been off limits now for several decades

3 Forbidden Places Where Visitors are Not Allowed in the Smoky Mountains

They may be fun to learn, but these forbidden places in the Smoky Mountains are off-limits for visitors I’ve been told over my 30 or so years living around the mountains of places I shouldn’t go. There are places that for a variety of reasons aren’t safe or aren’t welcoming. But in the Smokies, few places are forbidden or off limits.

tourists walking the strip in downtown Gatlinburg during winterfest

These Are the 4 Absolute Worst Times to Visit Gatlinburg, Says Local

If you visit Gatlinburg during one of these times, you may swear you’re never going back As a local who has been knocking around Gatlinburg for more than 30 years, I’ve developed something of an informal guide system on when it’s a good idea to go to the Burg and hang out. Gatlinburg – unlike its sister city Pigeon Forge

guests walking around john oliver place in cades cove

The Fight for Cades Cove and the People Who Refused to Leave

It turns out, not everyone was thrilled when the land became government property When touring Cades Cove today, we see one of nature’s true holy places. The verdant valley with its fields and streams, is surrounded by the high mountains. It’s a place of wonder and we rejoice that our forebearers nearly 100 years ago sought to preserve for us.

the sevierville tennessee buc-ees aerial shot

Move Over Sevierville, There’s a Newer, Bigger Buc-ee’s in Town

The Sevierville Buc-ee’s just lost its accolade for being the biggest in the world Well. It was good while it lasted. After roughly 11 months at the top, the Sevierville Buc-ee’s is no longer the largest convenience store in the world. That’s right, there’s a new largest Buc-ee’s in town. Although, I say that as more of an expression as

a sign that reads "no honking in tunnel" next to the spur tunnel

Long-standing Tunnel Honking Tradition in the Smokies Banned by the Park

The ‘no honking’ signs went up last year, is the change permanent? I’m comfortable when on the Gatlinburg Spur. After all, I’ve been driving between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for more than 30 years now. And so, as I focus quite literally on the road, I might not notice changes going on the periphery. Growing developments certainly seem to be