Local offers tips for spending spring break in the Smoky Mountains When visitors plan a vacation to Gatlinburg, most of them don’t realize that spring break can be just as busy as the summer months. I live here in Gatlinburg and I can tell you that it’s quite a shock seeing the flock of tourism during this time. This year
Yes, the New York Times did print a story about a Wildman in Tennessee. But that’s where the truth begins and ends. I’ve spent a good part of my life in and around the mountains. I grew up on the edge of the Smokies. Although I was aware that various cultures had stories about Wildmen, I was an adult before
Disney set to expand their empire to the mountains of North Carolina at former Ghost Town location The theme park competition in the Smoky Mountains is about to get very real and quite magical. On the heels of Universal officially announcing its Epic Universe park in Orlando and a kids-themed park in Texas, Disney officials are moving to announce their bold
Gatlinburg captures the hearts and minds of millions of visitors every year. Many folks dream of moving to the Smoky Mountains, thinking it will be the breath of fresh air they need. While that is certainly true in my case, it doesn’t come without its costs. Of course, vacationing here gives you an idea of what to expect in terms
A local compares two popular mountain towns, Gatlinburg, TN and Asheville, NC While we don’t want to speak in generalities, there are some pretty obvious differences between the cultures of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. As someone who has lived in East Tennessee and driven across the mountains to visit North Carolina, I find those differences stark. In this
Get ready to officially say goodbye to an area icon: The Smoky Mountain Opry As someone who has knocked around the Smoky Mountains for more than 30 years, I remember the heyday of Pigeon Forge music houses. Various country stars tried to use the mountain vacation venues as a place to set up residencies – something like Sinatra or Celine
Nearly half the residents in Cades Cove in the 1850s can be traced back to two families: The Olivers and the Shields As someone who has lived in and around the mountains of East Tennessee, I’ve heard all the insults. They’re particularly rampant on social media – especially if you frequent certain SEC football message boards. Mouth breeders or kissing
Local offers advice for heavy rainfall in the Smokies It’s not uncommon to see heavy amounts of rainfall and flooding in the Sevier County area. And of course, since the Great Smoky Mountains area is a major travel hub, knowing how floods may affect your vacation can be handy. With that in mind, as a local, here’s what I think
Gatlinburg resident shares his story of how roads turned into rivers during the January 2024 flash flood event I expected January 9, 2024, to be just another uneventful day in Gatlinburg. Sure, it had been raining since late the night prior. But the rising waters would soon provide much more drama than we could’ve ever anticipated. Our day began with my
A look at the popular show Moonshiners: What is fake, what is not If you’ve ever watched Discovery Channel’s hit TV show “Moonshiners”, you may have pondered at some point: Is this real life? The short answer is: No, not really. But here’s the question you should be asking: Is any of it real? With hundreds if not thousands of