Visitors to the Gatlinburg and Smoky Mountains area can enjoy several new restaurants popping up all over Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  Off 321, Alamo Steakhouse parking lot, is the Gatlinburg Farmers Market.  Be sure to stop in for farm fresh produce, local crafts, and occasional music.

The Smoky Mountains has many an annual event throughout the year with barbecue and other smoked meats on the menu.  Webes Smokehouse Subs is different, they will be serving visitors and locals all throughout the year.  This means if you have a favorite smoked meat sub, you won’t have to wait until the next annual event to enjoy the savory flavors.  Their subs are up to 14 inches long, however children menu items are also available.

Owner Scott Birchfield said he wanted Sevierville and Smoky Mountains patrons to get a great meal at a fair price and not leave hungry.  They will also feature made-from-scratch side items and desserts like baked beans and homemade strawberry shortcake. 

Webes Smokehouse Subs is open Sunday-Thursday from 11a.m.-9p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11a.m.-10p.m..  Catering and call-ahead orders can be made by calling (865)365-1345.

The new family style restaurant is located next to The Incredible Christmas Place, old Bob Evans restaurant location.  The Partridge and Pear restaurant is dressed in the spirit of Christmas and like the theme, their goal is to spread Christmas cheer all year long with menu items reflecting foods expected to be found on tables during the Christmas holiday season.

The Partridge and Pear restaurant will be open Monday - Saturday from 4-10p.m. and Sunday from noon until 9p.m..  The restaurant seats up to 142 guests in five dining rooms.  They are working on starting up a lunch menu soon.

I was shocked to see the Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg Spurr, roadway between the two cities, photo from 1930 showing just one dirt and gravel roadway on one side of the river.  Other pictures depict the Old Mill, which was actually turbine driven, the wheel was later added for decoration. 

Many outsiders seem to think of “all” mountain folk as simple people having very little, this was not always the case as photos and stories of Pigeon Forge trickle from the book’s pages.

Elmont is the “south’s ghost town”.  Though the area once consisted of over 75 structures and until fairly recently a large hotel, like many ghost towns out west she was left to pass away and return to nothingness.  Unlike many out west, people did not willingly desert her, the government removed the people by refusing to renew their leases.  Despite the plea of her inhabitants and the many rallied alongside them to save the memories and beauty… the government turned a deaf ear.

Step forward to 2010, the government realises what a valuable asset of historic value Elkmont possesses and releases funds to rescue about 19 of the standing structures while letting 40-50 perish.  The push is now on to shore up structures that may be able to be saved and  actually restoring some of the less impacted structures.

I agree with Mrs. Faust, it is a shame that so many of the structures still standing will be destroyed and their story wiped from history.  For many it is not that they are that far gone, it is the expense that makes them unsalvageable.  The government caused their demise and once again turns a deaf ear to the individuals and groups willing to volunteer time, materials, and financial gifts to save as much of Elkmont as possible.  It seems the government could find a way to rally around the Elkmont Historic District and others wanting to save as much as possible.

In reading The Mountain Press’ Elkmont story,  one can feel themselves transported back in time.  The sounds of the Cherokee as they hunted for food and shared their hunting stories around the fire.  Pioneer settlers as they transversed below her trees to nearby forts.  Train whistles and the clacking on tracks as they carried in structures, the very structures now needing saved, and carried massive amounts of lumber used to build a young growing frontier.  The sounds of laughter coming from the nearby watering hole or children playing hide-n-seek from various rooms and porches of this magical town.  A town built from back breaking sweat and hard manual labor having moved on to become the memories of so many past and present.

Look at the cost many cities have paid to save or re-create historic districts and walking museums like Williamsburg and Plymouth Rock.  Why can’t others help restore as much of Elkmont as humanly possible?  Even Dollywood Theme Park recognises the value their structures contribute to their park’s popularity.  Elkmont is the peoples treasure as is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself.  There has to be a way for Park and Government officials to allow the people an opportunity to come to the rescue.

There was no mention as to if and what the Park Service plans on doing to gather the history of Elkmont and to display that history.  It does seem a more affordable opportunity to touch on the earlier days of the Smoky Mountains history with less cost than moving churches, homes, and barns that makes Cades Cove.  This is a juel ready for the park to place on display, like Williamsburg this can become a living museum of sorts reaching all the way back to the Cherokee and not just Millionaire’s Row.  An opportunity to allow volunteers to tell the stories, music to fill the valley and hills, and children to once again form memories if even but for a brief time…ahhh look at those fireflies.

Please take the time to log on and add your comments.  The log on is a way to block spams, your data will not be used in any fashion but to allow comment.

Despite having seen them year after year, I am never bored with the performance.  Each year some of the faces change and so do performances, however every year is every bit as entertaining as the year before.

From that mountain bluegrass many have grown up on to the slapstick comedy skits of young aspiring actors, Tunes and Tales is much of the character visitors to the Smokies come to embrace.  We invite our readers to come join the fun!  Tunes and Tales is FREE and happens nightly on the streets of Gatlinburg from 5-10p.m. through to August 7th. 

Many of the performers have produced CD’s of their own and you may wish to ask them where to get them.

Gatlinburg will host a fireworks display, after dusk Sunday, at Fun Park.  Enjoy the fireworks in full glory from atop the Gatlinburg Spaceneedle and if you are unable to make it to Gatlinburg for the festivities be sure to watch from our Gatlinburg Webcam, mounted atop the Gatlinburg Spaceneedle.

Pigeon Forge will be hosting several Fourth Of July events starting Saturday, July 3rd, with the annual Patriot Festival held at Patriot Park.  Recording artists Diamond Rio will be the feature performer and other groups will include Jimbo Whaley, Steve Azar, Greenbrier, TelluRide, Thompson Square, and a local band with members ages 9-11 called Grafite.

Unable to make it to Pigeon Forge for the fun, be sure to check out all the Patriot Park activities from our Pigeon Forge Webcam.  Zoom into the action from your home computer and take photos if you wish FREE!

Gatlinburg is the first in the area to legally sell moonshine,  the moonshine still is open for operation and seems to be drumming up a lot of fan fare among locals and visitors to the Smoky Mountains alike.

The Gatlinburg Farmers Market is another big hit.  Local farm produce is making its way back into Gatlinburg and it seems most everything sells fast.  Located on Highway 321, Alamo Steak House parking lot, the Gatlinburg Farmers market operates each Saturday, 8a.m. to 11:30a.m.,  into November.  Visitors can purchase locally produced eggs, produce, soaps, herbs, potted plants, and other garden related items.

Appearances mean a lot, Gatlinburg knows how important it is to the scenery when strands of unsightly wires were removed and placed underground over the past few years.  In an effort to continue moving wires underground, Gatlinburg has funded the next phase of that move.  This works well with the fact Gatlinburg has spent the last few years on GreenWay projects and dedicated itself to becoming the example in ”green” projects.

Nope this is not an advertisement and by no means am I a sports nut.  It would just be wrong not to share this information with others whom come to the Smoky Mountains looking for family fun and adventure on a tight budget.  How about parents wanting to step back to their memories as a child having gone to a big baseball game with a family member.  Maybe they would like to share that experience with their children while on vacation.

Remember the thrill of  those “on the edge of your seat” plays and singing along with  ”Take Me Out to the Ball Game”?  How about the aroma of hot dogs, peanuts, and popcorn or the sight of children chasing the chicken, and swapping bases?  Smokies Baseball Park has really livened up baseball with entertaining games the children participate in and adults can sit back to enjoy.  For less than $10 a person, watching the game in real life is what its all about.  Though having never caught a baseball personally at any of the games, it is fun to watch the faces of younger children having done so.  It also touches the heart when an adult struggles their best to catch an errand ball, only to generously pass it on to a less fortunate child.  Yes, over 3 hours of fun for less than $10 each, that’s a heck of a deal when compared to many events held throughout the Smoky Mountains.

While in town, remember to check out a great baseball game at Smokies Park, next to exit 407 Sevierville Tennessee!

Aside for the wonderful fresh products sold each and every day and the wonderful smells permeating the air for passers by on Winfield Dunn Parkway (Hwy 66), it is a tastier fact to know that the owners opened their doors by giving back to their community from go!

The Sevierville Dunkin Donuts owners and their staff collect tips at the counters, the tips are forwarded to various local charity groups.  In addition, all leftover donuts and baked goods are given to the Smoky Mountains Children’s Home daily. 

There is something to be said for these great business owners and other businesses in the area that seem to want to give back to their community.  Seems the big difference between them and corporate owned companies is one gives from the heart continuous while the other gives only when the spotlight is on them.  Bravo for the staff and ownership of the Sevierville Dunkin Donuts!