Tennessee Smoky Mountains News Update
Tennessee Smoky mountains is hoping as we approach the Easter weekend. The season is starting early and from the buzz about town, it appears this year will be a big one.
Pigeon Forge - Waldens Landing is working hard on their new movie theater. Several of the vacant stores have been demolished and debris removed, now is the fast paced construction of the new movie theater! Originally they planned to have the theater operational by May 1st, now the schedule is for late August. The new movie theater will use digital and 3D technology to add to the viewers enjoyment. Locals are watching intently to see if the added movie theater will impact Reel Theaters, Highway 66, and possibly reduce ticket prices. Ticket prices are not bad when compared to other areas, however they are extreme when compared to the average earnings of most locals. In addition, Five Guys Burgers and Fries are moving along fine and should have the doors open very soon.
Louise Mandrell fans, don’t miss your opportunity to see Louise Mandrell at Country Tonite Theater on April 1st at 7pm. She is participating in the Cherish The Child benefit for the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. VIP tickets for 200 guests, $50 each, are available and include a back stage meet with Louise Mandrell after the event. For tickets and information, call (865) 453-2193.
Elwood Smooch is back! Billy Baker, a.k.a Elwood Smooch, will be performing his “Elwood Smooch Choo Choo Boogie Variety Show” at Memories Theater at 1pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays beginning April 20th. If you have never seen Billy Baker perform, you have got to see and hear his performance. This man is a top notch!
Soul Of Shaolin, a new live theatre performance portraying an orphan boy, a mother’s love, and an unforgettable journey of self-discovery.
Dollywood is working hard to get attendance up this year. This is Dollywood’s 25th Anniversary. Dolly did an early show for visitors and will return to the park around her May 7th Dollywood Parade. Guests visiting the park will be randomly selected for giveaway prises on a daily basis.
Kerbela Shriners Rod & Kustom Nationals Car Show in Pigeon Forge will be held April 22nd - 25th. Admission is $10 for adults and FREE for 15 and under.
Sevierville- Remember the old “Home Accent” building, just behind and to the left of the Knife Works? Well this later became I.R. Cheap and now it appears to have a new calling. This will be the Two Rivers Antiques and Collectibles Mall. Unlike the Flea Market, there is a 10% commission added to each purchase and 2% if you more if you use your credit card. Will have to visit and report back later.
Kodak - Mr. Miyagi’s comes to Sevier County Tennessee. About a mile off I-40 exit 407, you will come upon Food City, on your left. This is home to a new Japanese Cuisine restaurant called “Mr. Miyagi’s”. Entries are the usual and a pub, called Bonsai, will be added featuring fresh made sushi.
Tennessee Gatlinburg Farmers Market
Gatlinburg Tennessee started way back as an agricultural hub for farming and trappers goods. Now Gatlinburg is reaching back into its roots and offering visitors to Gatlinburg and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains area and opportunity to enjoy an outdoor Farmers Market!
The Gatlinburg Farmers Market’s mission is to promote and provide local foods and goods for healthy mountain living, while providing a supportive gathering ground for both local citizens and visitors alike.
The Gatlinburg Farmers Market will open May 22, 2010 through November 20th, selling fresh produce, baked goods, jams and jellies and more in the Alamo Steakhouse upper parking lot Highway 321 in Gatlinburg every Saturday morning.
Farmers are encouraged to contact either Megan or Vesna if you have a farm or large garden in either Sevier or Cocke County, and would like to be a vendor. There is a small fee, rules and regs that must be adhered to. For more information visit their website http://gatlinburgfarmersmarket.weebly.com/index.html .
Small Wonders Of The Elderly
A young person of only 50 year’s age, today I am compelled not to share a story of the Tennessee Smoky Mountains but a story of one of its residents.
Small wonders of the elderly, how small our world can become when we take the time to share with the elderly surrounding us. A young man of 50, my life has been filled with journeys. The Navy kept true to its word and took me places I never would have traveled and what a blessing.
The other day a friend introduced me to his mother over the phone for business reasons. Soon the conversation switched to more personal travels and life’s experiences. The wonderful woman shared stories of her and her husband’s journeys before his passing. The stories where so interesting, they spelled of struggles from meager beginnings to great successes, the willingness to embrace small things into happy memorable events, and with each word spelled one adventure after the other. The outcome, two people shared love, raised a family, and seemingly made others lives along the way better.
As I listened I also found our lives, though years apart, journeyed the same paths. Not only in struggles and triumphs but actual points on the globe. We had been to Alaska, traveled the Alcan Highway to many of the same towns in Alaska, been to New Orleans and countless other state side and abroad destinations. Most interesting was their having worked a schooner (ship) made at Mystic Seaport, from where I visited only last year.
Mystic Seaport Connecticut is a great seaport town steeped in seamanship, whaling, and naval history. Mystic Seaport is home to the last seaworthy wooden whale ship in the world, the Charles W Morgan! If that were not interesting enough, most people never see one of the most advanced seafaring mission control facilities. This facility, hidden in a blending seaport structure, has played a key role in the discovery and retrieval of historic and treasure laden ships sunk all over the world. Most notably, the discovery, study, and retrieval of artifacts from the Titanic. Pigeon Forge is host to the permanent Titanic Museum, opening April 8th, 2010, housing not only the history of Titanic’s crew and passengers, but actual artifacts from many of the families having sailed aboard her that faithful April 14th, 1912.
It was a shame to have to end the call, but in that short of time I had met a woman who cherished life, love and family. She spoke well of her journeys and those met along the way. She reminded me of how precious are those small wonders of the elderly, how valuable each memory can touch and share in the lives of others not yet met.
Smoky Mountain Cabin Vacation Video
Check out this wonderful footage produced by Cabin Fever Vacations. Enjoy light music as you watch log cabin vacation accommodations in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains areas of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. If you like what you see and are interested in bringing your family or large group to the Smokies, please visit Cabin Fever Vacations web site or call them at 866-342-2246.
Tennessee Smoky Mountains - Pigeon Forge News
Spring is upon the Tennessee Smoky Mountains andPigeon Forge. 2010 looks to be an exciting calendar year with visitation numbers already off to a great start.
Pigeon Forge holds their city commissioners meeting today to discuss andapprove some of this year’s planned activities. We start with Dollywood celebrating their 25th Anniversary and the 25th annual Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade, scheduled for 6pm May 7th. The Dolly Partonparade runs from River Road to Wears Valley Road. For those unable to attend, be sure and watch the Dolly Parton parade, along the Pigeon Forge Parkway, from our Pigeon Forge webcam!
Pigeon Forge may be host, once again, to the Midnight Road Race. This Knoxville Track Club event was popular in the past and looks to dawn those magical shoes again as Midnight rolls into Saturday morning July 31st.
The 28th Annual Shades of the Past Rod Run should be here September 8th-12th. Car enthusiasts, automobiles usually start arriving the week before the event dates and many stay for days after. Groups, save a bundle by renting a Pigeon Forge cabin. The prices are predominently cheaper than a hotel, offer more space an amenities, and that’s before adding on the expense of eating out every meal.
April 22nd-25th will be busy with the Kerbela Shriners and Grand Rod and Kustom Nationals.
Several new stores and attractions will be here this year. Just to name a few changes:
- Smith Family Theater is now a Dinner Theater show with additional seating in their new balcony
- Gold Wing Road Riders annual event and parade to take place at the Grand Majestic Theater April 22-24
- Waldens Landing will have at least 5 movie theaters operational by May
- Waldens Landing is adding a Five Guys Restaurant, to open very soon
- Scream N Shout Kids Theater opened in Waldens Landing
- Annual F-100 Supernationals will have their show May 13-15 and the All Chevy Supernationals from June 11-13
- Titanic opens April 8th
- Wonderworks now hosts a magic show, in addition to Hoot n Hollar they will feature the highly awarded Terry Evanswood
- Country Tonite has stepped up with show changes that are sure to please, while Tennessee Shindig brought in a Las Vegas director andhopes to steal the show with all that glitters Las Vegas style
- This is not a complete list of all 2010 changes to Pigeon Forge attractions and stores.
Pigeon Forge and the Tennessee Smoky Mountains sure have a lot to offer visitors, we hope you and your families get to come and enjoy the excitement of 2010 Pigeon Forge!
Elwood Smooch Is Back ! Pigeon Forge Tennessee
Las Vegas Comes To Pigeon Forge - Tennessee Shindig
Well many would have thought that Tennessee Shindig owner, Jeff Davis, got the picture of how Pigeon Forge needs good ol hoedown entertainment. Surprise,Tennessee Shindig is the new home to Las Vegas spun entertainment!
Tennessee Shindig hired a Las Vegas show producer with several connections to various performers and Las Vegas shows, in fact the producer is still producing several Las Vegas shows. This season Tennessee Shindig will bring on glitter, glitz, and the eccentric. The Pigeon Forge live entertainment pot is about to be stirred, and we can’t wait to see what comes out in the fixins.
Not sure if this is an attempt to overshadow current Pigeon Forge shows and artists or how this move will play out. Last year Smoky Mountain Theater started up with “The Temptations Revue”, classic 60’s Motown performances, the show seemed to receive rave reviews. Smith Family Dinner Theater has Matt Cordell, a tremendous award winning Elvis tribute artist.
So what’s the twist? Jeff Davis loves change, after all Tennessee Shindig is the 3rd name change for his theater while Wood Grill Buffet and National Park Resort Hotel are both on their second name changes. So we will watch and report as the show unfolds and the voices of our visitors are heard.
Comments are encouraged!
Tennessee Smoky Mountains A Rockslide Year
A new Smoky Mountain rockslide blocked the western end of Little River Road within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The slide is about 2 miles west of the Metcalf Bottoms, so an 8 mile-long portion of the Little River Road is currently closed between Metcalf Bottoms Picninc Area and the Townsend Junction.
Traffic that would normally transit that section is being diverted out of the Park unto US 321 in Townsend then north on US 321 to the Lyon Springs Road in Wears Valley, where motorists can re-enter the Park on the Wear Cove Road to Metcalf Bottoms and continue east on Little River to Newfound Gap Road and on to either Gatlinburg or Cherokee. Due to bridge weight limits, no large motorhomes or buses can use that alternate route. These larger vehicles must continue on US 321 into Pigeon Forge.
Park crews are enroute to get a good look at the new slide. No estimated time of repairs is available.
Smoky Mountains Music With Jimbo Whaley
Smoky Mountains Weather Getting Warmer
Folks the Tennessee Smoky Mountains weather is starting to warm up and it appears trees are starting their new leaves. It’s a great time for families to visit the Great Smoky Mountains area and get in some wonderful family memories! Family memebers who are photography buffs, sunrises and sunsets this time of year in the Smokies are fantastic. The warmer weather, not hot, presents clear skies for grasping wonderful colors. Nature’s pets are starting to stur, presenting a great opportunity to catch animals in their natural habitat.
So make plans to bring your family, large group, or photography club to the wonderful and treasured Tennessee Smoky Mountains. This is also a great time to save on small to large log cabin rentals. In most cases the whole group can stay cheaper than costs associated with getting hotel rooms and eating out every meal.
