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
Military Widows Meet In Gatlinburg Tennessee
Members of the non-profit American Widow Project, dedicated to military widows from this generation, will meet in Gatlinburg Tennessee this Friday. The organization holds events across the country to bring military widows together.
This weekend they will enjoy horseback riding, relaxing at a cabin in the Smoky Mountains area, and a day at one of the local spas.
For more information on the American Widow Project and tour events visit http://www.americanwidowproject.org .
Heritage Day At The Old Mill Pigeon Forge Tennessee
Public invited to come celebrate Heritage Day on the 19th of September 10:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. at the historic Old Mill Village Square, downtown Pigeon Forge TN.
Enjoy strolling through the 170 year old operating grist mill during Heritage Day. The Pigeon Forge Old Mill, built in the 1800’s, served as protector and gathering place for many early settlers to the Smoky Mountains area. The Old mill is nestled along side the Little Pigeon River and surrounded on three other sides by over 26 specialty gift shops and eateries.
Admission is free !! Enjoy homemade fudge, peanut brittle, crafts and other great gift items at The Old Mill Village Square shops. There are a variety of pottery and craft shops, little ones can observe local artisans at work and learn new things while having FREE fun.
The Old Mill Village Square is popular during the day but just as visited in the evenings as families freely walk about enjoying all there is to see and do under the warm evenings breeze.
For more information call (865) 428-0771 or visit them on the web at www.oldmillsquare.com
Dolly Parton Smoky Mountains Tribute
Dolly Parton has done a lot for her Tennessee Smoky Mountains hometown. Dollywood seemed to be a big boost for Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains area . It was nice to see a park focused on beauty, keeping the area seemingly mountain natural while still providing endless fun. Not handicap myself, it was great seeing handicap citizens aptly hired and allowed to become a part of the productive work force.
Dolly Parton is more than Dollywood. Making numerous appearances annually, each seems to be another feather in this fine performer’s life. Only a handful of the things she has done in the community have I seen. Dolly donated to the construction of a physical therapy wing in the old Fort Sanders hospital, put on a benefit concert at Smokies Stadium to raise money for the new Sevier County hospital, raised the largest single donation for the “Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation” by opening her home to 12 guests and having 2 spend the night where she prepared breakfast the following morning.
Dolly, with a very busy personal schedule, acted as the Smoky Mountains National Park Spokesperson. She not only travelled nationally speaking for the park, she filmed several commercials and attended the re-dedication ceremony as singer and speaker. My understanding is this was all done at no charge.
Every family has skeletons in their closet and with 13 children surely there’s many in Dolly’s. However, Dolly and her family members have every right to feel proud of what she and they have done for their mountain home community and their nation. They have worked tirelessly to pick themselves up from poverty only to enrich the lives they touch. What great upbringing Dolly’s family instilled in their children, they all seem to share their abilities in bettering the lives of those unknown. Their gifts come with love and devotion that will touch people and the community after they are gone.
Thank you Dolly Parton and family members, well done and carry on!
Tennessee Smoky Mountain Black Bears Visit Cabin Rentals
Several visitors to the Smoky Mountains area have been visited themselves by local Smoky Mountain Black Bears.
As fall like weather has come to the area, Black Bears are scurrying to fatten up for the hibernation season. This has increased the number of sightings by cabin rental owners and guests throughout the Tennessee Smoky Mountains region.
If you plan to visit the Smokies soon, keep aware of your surroundings and keep trash and food unavailable. Many cabin rental companies provide bear proof trash containers.
Taking pictures of these bears is best done at a great distance, with a telephoto lens if possible. Black Bears seem very friendly and not very threatening, this is a big miconseption made by many an unsuspecting guest to the Smokies.
Black Bears are notorious for working their way into cars when they think there’s the slightest possibility of finding food. Have seen videos taken in the Smokies where a cracked window is easily broken by a bear. The photo to your right was taken by our local photographer Dean Brown. Dean had only been out of his vehicle long enough to carry some equipment into a rental cabin. When he returned, to close his car’s hatch, he found mama bear and her cubs making light work out of his valuable equipment.
Beware - Mama bear with baby cubs will turn on anyone at any time. It may be tempting to get a few feet from these bears to get that ultimate photo or you may feel bears are slow and you’re fast, best not to try those theories out. Mama bear will surprise you when it comes to protecting her cubs, your presence in her space is enough reason to attack.
Should you come upon a Black Bear while in the Smoky Mountains and feel you can not escape from the bear, make plenty of loud noises. If you have a stick or other objects in your hand, use them to make your presence appear bigger and more menacing.
Highway 66 Twitter Updates - Smoky Mountains TN
TDOT has created a new Web page, www.improving66.com, to let motorists stay informed about the work on Highway 66 leading into Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee. They can also get the most current updates on twitter.com/improving66, or @improving66 for those who already have a twitter account.
Traffic snarls along Highway 66, on the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway, are common place during tourist season. Locals have campaigned for years to get the highway widened to help alleviate the problem.
The project was often a victim of tightening budgets and other issues, so local officials waited anxiously to see when it would actually begin. They also had to struggle to get the state to accept plans to widen the road from Boyds Creek Highway into town, rather than back to the interstate. Instead of creating a new bottleneck, Atchley said, the first phase of the construction will let those traffic snarls break up as they come to a wider section of road that continues to Gatlinburg.
“Once the six lanes down to Boyds Creek (are) done it will really help,” Atchley said.
TDOT has divided the remainder of the work into two phases, with the next covering 1.9 miles from Interstate 40 south to the intersection with Douglas Dam Road included in the current state budget. That work could be let in September, according to state officials. The final leg of the work will connect the other two, including expansion of the bridge over the French Broad River. TDOT has not yet set a date for when it expects to fund that work.
TDOT officials are saying the phase started Monday will be the most expensive highway project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in Tennessee. The project was bid at $38.7 million; it will include an additional lane in each direction with curbs, gutters and sidewalks on each side.
“Highway 66 is a very busy route, especially during peak travel seasons as vacationers make their way into Sevier County,” said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. “The improvements we are making with these Recovery Act funds will help reduce congestion and improve safety.”
No public mention, as to how this will help local employment, was made.
Vote for The Best Of The Smokies
You Select …
Businesses in tourist areas can always claim to be the best. Most simply entertain or provide services to a marketing company, print company or travel magazine and in exchange the business is rated in the ”Top 10″ for the best of its type in their area.
This is an unfair practice for guests and businesses alike. Every day people use our services and we need to hear from them.
Our Smoky Mountain Blog is open for guest to decide who’s best in their minds. Visited the Smoky Mountains once or you do so many several times annually, please vote whom you think is best and state why. Don’t write about the worst, we will approach that topic at a later date.
Categories Are:
- Indoor Attraction (Activity)
- Outdoor Attraction (Activity)
- Restaurant
- Live Show
- Dinner Show
- Musical Performance
- Lodging Company
- Shopping Center (or Store)
- Spa/Massage
- Floral Shop
If we overlooked a category, please add in your post and grade. Look forward to the responses of real people, thank you.
Welcome to the Tennessee Smokies!
Welcome to Gatlinburg Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains area. We wish to start our blog off by having our new readers chose the Categories and subject matter that will appear in our blog. Gatlinburg Smoky Mountains Blog’s purpose is to serve you, so who better to choose our direction in doing soo.
Please check out our Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Web Cam Live! and be sure to stop back in and see how we measure up to your Gatlinburg Smoky Mountains informational blog needs.
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