Pigeon Forge Walden Creek Landing Theater
Fire up the popcorn machine, Walden’s Creek Landing Pigeon Forge shopping center has been approved for a movie theater! Plans are to start construction next month and completion is scheduled for May, 2010. Initially there would be 5 movie screens with a possible 4 more added later.
The movie theater would be located at the back of Walden’s Landing. The theater is planned for 632 to 1,100 stadium seats and digital 3-D projection. Many locals are in high hopes this will offer the first piece of competition to Reel Theaters, Hwy 66, that until now has had none in Sevier County.
Smoky Mountains National Park Road Improvements
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has received $44 million to improve and rebuild many of its roads. The work is scheduled to start early spring 2010 and continue into the summer.
This is great news for locals and visitors to the Smoky Mountains. Due the large number of projects, varied traffic handling, and possible date changes for each project, we feel it’s best to direct you to the Smoky Mountains National Park web site for road closures and traffic pattern changes/updates. They have a calendar showing all the projects at www.nps.gov/grsm “Planning Your Visit.”
Smoky Mountains National Park Electronic Field Trip
On November 3rd the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will broadcast an electronic field trip to millions of students. The 60 minute program will air via satellite, cable, and web cast from 10-11a.m. and 1-2p.m. on November 3rd.
Using technology and an interactive web site, www.smokymountainseft.org. Teachers and students can visit the web site now, to prepare for the electronic field trip through six learning modules with interactive games, video podcasts, and lesson plans. Schools can still register to participate on the web site.
Once registered, explore the park’s biodiversity of plants and animals. During the live broadcast times, students can call in or email questions to a group of experts from the park.
Local 6th through 8th grade students from East Tennessee and Western North Carolina auditioned and will participate as student talent working with Park Rangers during the broadcast.
In a downed economy, this appears to be one of the commendable uses of technology to maximize education while cutting costs to school administration participation. BRAVO ZULO to those behind this project!
Pigeon Forge Tennessee Area News Updates
Titanic Museum has not yet sailed and already she demands a red light. As politics play out we can be assured the light will be installed soon, so travelers be ware of changing traffic patterns.
It appears Waldens Landing shopping center may get a new theater that would replace the current putt-putt golf course. Will devulge more info as it develops.
Pigeon Forge’s Dollywood Splash Country water park announced the addition of Slick Rock Racer, a multi-lane mat slide available for the 2010 season.
“Me and my brothers and sisters used to play in the creeks around home in the
Smoky Mountains, and more times than not, we`d land on a mossy covered rock that
sent us for a ride like you wouldn`t believe,” Dolly Parton said. “That`s the
same kind of unexpected thrills and adventure that I had in mind when I chose
Slick Rock Racer for families to enjoy together at Dollywood`s Splash Country.”
Slick Rock Racer spans 300 feet and features four water-drenched lanes, each
side by side. Positioned belly down on mats, each rider travels head first on a
channel which includes an initial dip to build speed. Multiple bumps along the
length of the slide allow riders to gain additional momentum which propels them
to the finish. The new attraction can accommodate approximately 600 guests an
hour. Dollywood Splash Country operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Smoky Mountains National Park Elk
Approximately 110 Elk live in the Smoky Mountains National Park. Elk were depleted from the Smokies in the 1800’s.
In 2001 25 elk were re-introduced in the park and in 2002 another 27. This year a recorded 16 calves from 19 born survived. Elk can grow as much as 700 pounds reaching lengths as much as 10 feet.
Elk eat primarily grasses, nuts, bark, leaves and buds. They mate in the fall with births occurring early in the summer.
Smokies Black Bear
A few interesting facts for visitors to the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Black Bears
There is an estimated 1,500 - 1,600 black bears in the Smoky Mountains National Park. This is an estimated 2 black bears per square mile. About the last 60 years the black bear population has grown five times it’s original estimated numbers, despite the last 2 years bear hunting seasons.
Black bears eat plants, nuts, berries, insects and various meats. We also know that human food and garbage have become a part of the black bears diet, though harmful to their health as well as a serious concern for the safety of park visitors. Humans are the largest threat to the black bears.
Smoky Mountains National Park Announced Winter Closings
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced its winter season facility closings schedule. As cooler weather approaches and visitation decreases, various facilities will close, including 7 of the 10 campgrounds, and operational hours for some visitor services will be reduced.
VISITOR CENTERS
Through the month of November, the Sugarlands Visitor Center, 2 miles south of Gatlinburg, TN, will open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC, will serve visitors from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The Cades Cove Visitor Center located half way around the Cades Cove Loop Road will be opened daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The visitor center hours for the following winter months are posted on the Park’s website.
ROADS
Several of the secondary roads will close as indicated: Balsam Mountain/Heintooga Roads on November 1, Parson Branch and Rich Mountain Roads on November 16, Roundbottom/Straight Fork on November 10, and Clingmans Dome and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail on December
During the winter months, the Park’s two main roads, Newfound Gap (U.S. 441) and Little River, will remain open throughout the year, except for temporary closures for extreme winter weather conditions.
The Gatlinburg Bypass, Cades Cove Loop Road, Cosby Road, Greenbrier Road, Upper Tremont, Forge Creek, Lakeview Drive, and Foothills Parkway (East and West) will open and close as road conditions mandate. For more information on winter weather road conditions, contact the Park at 865/436-1200.
LODGING
LeConte Lodge will accommodate guests until November 24 when it will close for the season.
CAMPING
Two of the three major campgrounds will remain open all year. These year-round campgrounds are Cades Cove in Tennessee and Smokemont in North Carolina. Starting November 1, they will be on a self-registration basis with a reduced number of available sites. Elkmont Campground in Tennessee will remain open through the Thanksgiving weekend and will close on December 1.
Balsam Mountain campground is already closed for the season. The six remaining self-registration campgrounds will close on November 1.
CADES COVE CAMPGROUND STORE
Cades Cove Campground Store will close on December 21, but will reopen December 26-January 3 to serve visitors during the holiday period. Vending machines at the store will remain in service throughout the winter.
PICNICKING
Seven picnic areas will remain open through the winter: Chimney Tops, Cades Cove, Cosby, Greenbrier, Metcalf Bottoms, Big Creek, and Deep Creek. Picnic pavilions at Cosby, Greenbrier and Deep Creek will be open through the winter and can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Picnic pavilions that will close on November 1 include Twin Creeks, Collins Creek, and Metcalf Bottoms.
HORSEBACK STABLES
Smokemont Riding Stable is scheduled to close on November 2. Sugarlands Riding Stable and Smoky Mountain Riding Stable will close on November 30. Cades Cove Riding Stable will close on December 21, but will reopen December 26-January 3. The closing dates are dependent on weather conditions.
HORSE CAMPS
All five horse camps–Round Bottom, Tow String, Cataloochee, Big Creek, and Anthony Creek–are scheduled to close on November 9.
Park Starts Roadside Vegetation Gatlinburg Bypass and Spur
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Chief of Facilities, Alan Sumeriski, announced today that motorists can expect single lane closures on the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Spur and on the Gatlinburg Bypass beginning November 2 and extending through mid-January. No work will be allowed from noon on Fridays to Monday mornings or on holidays or the week between Christmas and New Year’s.
A contractor will utilize single lane closures along the Spur to allow workers to clear the brush along the shoulders of the road and to cut back overhanging branches, to increse the clearance for tractor trailers and large RV’s. On the two-way Gatlinburg Bypass flaggers will control traffic flow around one-lane closures. “We also plan to begin on the Bypass rather than the Spur to avoid impacts motorists who are only travelling to Gatlinburg and back without going into the Park. By the time the Bypass is completed, traffic should taper off even more than it will earlier in November.
“It’s all about safety.” Sumeriski said, “Brush at the edges of the roadway limits a driver’s sight distance around the road’s tight curves, reducing his or her reaction time to stalled traffic or obstructions. Overhanging limbs either strike the tops of higher vehicles, or cause their drivers to edge away from the road’s edge, sometimes creating a hazard as they crowd the vehicles in the adjoining lane.”
Bob Miller, Management Assistant
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
(865) 436-1207
Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Tennessee News
Gatlinburg Goes Green!
Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation was proud to announce their 200th member having joined the Gatlinburg Goes Green program. Ma’s Kitchen on Glades Road proudly signed onto the program October 7th to learn energy and money saving tips through the Chamber Foundation’s educational business program.
National Park Hosts A Live Electronic Field Trip
On Tuesday, November 3, millions of students from all over the country will visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park on an Electronic Field Trip, during which they will explore one of the richest ecosystems on earth. The National Park Service, National Park Foundation, UPS Foundation, and Apple are teaming up to showcase the biodiversity of the Park for students around the country via this live broadcast. From the comfort of their classrooms, elementary and middle school students will be able to interact with National Park Rangers and local student hosts from North Carolina and Tennessee and learn about biodiversity and the wonders of the Smokies.
An interactive website, www.smokymountainseft.org, is now available for teachers and students to prepare for the electronic field trip through six learning modules with interactive games, video podcasts, and lesson plans. Schools can still register to participate in the broadcast through the website. Once schools have registered on the website, they can begin their adventure to Great Smoky Mountains National Park exploring the Park’s rich biodiversity of plants and animals. During the live broadcast, students can call in or e-mail their questions, and a bank of experts from the Park will be available to answer them. The live 60-minute program will air via satellite, cable and webcast from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 3.
“The Smokies is home to more than 17,000 known species of plants and animals making it world renowned for its biological diversity,” said Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson. “Even so, new species are continually being discovered in this mountain wonderland. We’re excited that students around the country will learn about biodiversity, what it is, why they should care about it, and what they can do to protect it both in the Smokies and in their own backyards,” continued Ditmanson. Local students in 6th through 8th grades in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina auditioned to be the student talent who will work with Park Rangers in the field during the broadcast to search for salamanders, sift through leaf litter, and turn over rocks in streams in order to showcase the biodiversity of the park for other students. The show will be based in and around the Twin Creeks Science and Education Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Gatlinburg’s Craftsmen’s Fair Oct 8 - 25, Downtown Gatlinburg
More than 200 booths featuring some of the nation’s finest work. Artisans on hand to demonstrate their skills, answer questions, and offer their unique art for sale. Live bluegrass and country music. Location: Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Tennessee Smoky Mountain Area News
Sevierville Tennessee Downtown Parking Lot
Plans have been in the works for sometime to build a multi-story parking lot downtown Sevierville Tennessee. The plans were put on hold partially due to the extra costs demanded by the selected construction company. The plans call for restrooms to be built, landscaping to be added, and now a stage built on top of the restrooms. Guess this is a great way to save space, but sure hope the winds work in favor of the stage.
Sevierville hosts many events, such as the Bloomin Barbecue, each year. They have been held in the Sevier County Court House parking lot and next to the Sevier County Civic Center. Getting a stage for many of these events is surely only a matter of time and money.
Veterans Boulevard Extended
Sevier County’s Public Building Authority (PBA) are busy little beavers. They have their focus on extending Veterans Boulevard from where it currently dumps onto Dolly Parton Parkway and taking it across the river to Robert Henderson Road.
The PBA plans to pay for design of rights of way for all 3 planned phases at once. This will include a section of road that will cut over back to the traffic light on Hwy 66 across from the Sevierville Convention Center.
One of the hold ups is promises from large scaled development projects along the PBA corridor to either resume their construction projects or begin in tandem with the road extension. Much of the tax dollars collected from these businesses is what will help pay back the debts incurred by the Veterans Boulevard extension. One of the key projects they want on board to resume building is the Dumplin Creek development, near Exit 407. Dumplin Creek has gotten WalMart to agree to build, but is looking for more such tenants to anchor the area and make it profitable to build. Efforts are being made by the developer of Dumplin Creek and others to get an Exit 408 constructed.
When construction will actually take place is unsure, however it is sure to come quicker than was expected. The need is there for visitors to the area and the developers alike.
Sevierville Indoor Yard Sale
City of Sevierville is holding an Indoor Yard Sale at the Sevierville Civic Center, 200 Gary R Wade Blvd, Sevierville, TN (865) 453-5441, from 8am to 2pm Saturday Oct 16th. Plenty of booths for your indoor shopping enjoyment!
Smoky Mountains National Park Bear Reduction
As of this writing, Bear Hunting Season is only 2 weeks in and a reported 187 bears have been thinned from the Smokies area, nearly twice as many this time last year. Last year a total of 446 bears were hunted.
Haunted House Kodak
Boys and Girls Club in Kodak will host a Haunted House this Friday and Saturday from 7:30p.m. to 11p.m. at 4125 Douglas Dam Road, Admission is $5. For more info call 933-3718.
New Center Elementary School
The Sevier County School system has closed the deal on 22 acres, on Newport Highway across from Sims Tractors. Despite school funds being down by $700,000. School officials are looking forward to the .25 Sales Tax increase that will add millions annually towards the schools’ capital needs and capital debt payment.
Property values in the area have decreased dramatically, so tax values of properties should decrease. The large numbers of foreclosed investment properties available in the area has forced domicile home values down as well. This of course works great for investors and people who always wished they could live in the Smokies.
Dollywood - American Eagle Foundation
An Eaglet released by the American Eagle Foundation, at Dollywood Theme Park, was spotted in Pennsylvania near Lake Erie. It is great to see that the work they are performing at the American Eagle Foundation. Maybe through their dedicated efforts and valuable supporters, we once again may see American Eagles fly alongside our cars as we journey highways to our vacation destinations. Bravo Zulu, Great Job!
