The Smokies has seen the elk population continue to grow ever since they were reintroduced to the area in early 2001. Cataloochee’s elk began to roam the forests in 2002. At one time, elk were as prevalent in Smokies as the black bear and were one of the dominant herd animals in the area. If you haven’t seen an elk up close, they’re much bigger than the white tail deer that are commonly seen on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains. Outside of Cataloochee, your best chance to see elk, especially a herd of them, is near the Cherokee entrance to the park, but there is always a really good chance of seeing them in Cataloochee.

Cataloochee compares favorably to Cades Cove, only it’s on the northern end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Whether you are staying in Tennessee or North Carolina, Cataloochee is only 10 miles from Interstate 40.  In comparison to Cades Cove’s historical buildings, Cataloochee is much more secluded, thus less population, which equals fewer homes/buildings. It also has fewer visitors then Cades Cove.  Moreover, Cades Cove does not have elk. Cataloochee is also a great place to take a lunch or even camp out for a night, the elk will find you. It’s hard to miss them.

Since elk were introduced in Cataloochee, it’s hard to go to that side of the GSMNP without seeing an elk.  They’re literally everywhere. So amazing! The size of the elk is almost unrivaled in the national park. Their trophy racks are unparalleled by most deer and cause most wildlife to approach with hesitancy.  Their racks tower above them and make the elk itself seem even more imposing.  Some racks seem almost as tall as the animal itself. Nevertheless, elk are very docile and, though you don’t want them to get as close as the deer do in Cades Cove, it’s their nature to get close.

On at least one trip to Cataloochee, a tagged female was so close that you could have reached out and touched her.  Meanwhile, the bulls were all in a field together, grazing. There were also about a dozen lying in a field – herd mentality.  In Cataloochee these normally aggressive animals have found a stress-free location to graze and raise their young. Let your family experience the beauty of an animal that has been reintroduced to their rightful home.  Head to Cataloochee on your next trip to the Smokies and experience the elk.

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Elk in Cataloochee

If you plan on skiing in Gatlinburg, TN during your next vacation, church retreat, or Smoky Mountain getaway then the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is where you’ll wind up. This is the only ski resort in Tennessee, so if you’re looking for more choices you’ll need to look a little farther east in North Carolina at slopes such as Sugar Mountain, Ski Beech, Appalachian, etc.

Ober Gatlinburg is a family ski resort that has activities for everyone. If part of your family doesn’t ski or snowboard, there are other fun things to do such as ice skating, arcade, alpine slide, scenic chair lift, and more. Even party poopers have something to do as they can sit by the fire in the lounge or even “people-watch” around the ice skating rink. Ober’s been a Smoky Mountain staple since 1962 when it comes to entertaining family, friends, and even yourself.

If you plan on making Ober Gatlinburg your ski resort vacation destination, then you have two options of getting up there. You can either ride the aerial tramway (which happens to be the largest aerial tramway in America) from downtown Gatlinburg or you can drive up the mountain on Ski Mountain Road. Simply turn at traffic light #9 on the south end of Gatlinburg (closest to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) and follow the winding road (Ski Mountain Road) all the way to the top…just have cash ready to park. The earlier you go, the better. The are three tiers of parking lots and if you get there early, you have a better shot at getting a parking spot at the top near the resort. Otherwise, it’s a short hike from the lower parking lots, but the locals call that the warmup!

The 2012 ski season has started in Gatlinburg, TN!

Lift Ticket Rates:
http://www.obergatlinburg.com/wintinfo.htm

Other Attraction Rates:
http://www.obergatlinburg.com/rates.htm

Latest Ski Report:
http://www.obergatlinburg.com/snowrpt.htm

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is NOW OPEN!

* Currently, Ober Gatlinburg is anxiously awaiting a sustained cold snap that allows for ongoing snowmaking, and plan on opening as soon as possible.

Think you have to go out west or to the northeast to enjoy great skiing? Think again! A trip to Gatlinburg, TN means you can enjoy winter sports in the heart of the south!

The Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is a centerpiece in Gatlinburg, offering visitors a buffet of winter sports to enjoy! Experience skiing and snowboarding on eight different trails, varying from easy to difficult. All trails take you on an exciting adventure down the slopes of the Smoky Moutains, offering spectacular views of snowy peaks, wintry forests, and thrilling skylines! If you are a beginning skier, or have never skied before, you don’t have to be left out of all the fun! The Smoky Mountain Snow Sport School, located at the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort, offers lessons for individuals and groups! This is a fun way for families, friends, or corporate groups to learn to ski, while bonding together.

If you don’t have your own skis or gear, don’t worry! You can rent everything you need at the gear store, located in the resort. They have clothing and gear available for rental in a variety of sizes, for both kids and adults!

In the warmer months, Ober Gatlinburg’s Amusement park is filled with fun and excitement for the entire family! Enjoy the Alpine Slide, indoor ice arena, and scenic chairlift. There is also a waterslide, arcade, bumper cars, pirate ship, bungee jumping, Velcro jump wall, shooting range, and mini golfing! You can spend days and days with your family, and never enjoy the same adventure twice!
Enjoy winter sports with a touch of Southern hospitality at the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort. Ski, snowboard, or just enjoy the winter mountain views! Be sure to see our links to the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort lift ticket rates and ski reports.

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Skiing in Gatlinburg, TN

The light switch to Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic lighting display will be flipped up on Nov. 9  and for four months visitors can cruise, mouths agape, through the wintery lighting spectacular. The town promotion has continued to grow in popularity and it shows with the million dollar investment in LED (light emitting diode) bulbs strung across every light post and city tree. Displays highlight the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its inhabitants including deer, foxes, squirrels and rabbits. Many of the timeless displays visitors have grown accustomed to over the past 22 years have been converted to crisp LED as well. Most recently, fanciful snowmen, dancing fountains, a group of international children and a shiny rocking horse joined the lineup.

The first three phases of the $1.6 million-plus rollout of custom designed and fabricated lighting displays are marked by sections reminiscent of winter forests, evergreens and romance. Now, Hwy. 321 features an injection of new displays. In all, switching to LED displays have saved some 95 percent in energy costs and allow for 120 days of lighting.

But don’t just come down for the lights on Wednesday, Nov. 9, stay for the  Chili Cookoff on Wednesday, November 9. Homemade chili ranging from mild, hot, to really hot will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Downtown Parkway, highlighted by the Winter Magic LED lights unveiling.  The Winter Magic Chili Cookoff will feature more than 20 restaurants, attractions, civic groups, retailers, banks, and public service agencies serving more than 30,000 cups of chili and competing for a variety of awards.

Those attending are encouraged to vote for their favorite chili. These votes will be tallied to award the coveted People’s Choice Award to the most popular chili. A panel of judges will cast their votes for other awards, including: Best Presentation, Best Chili Apron, and Best Chili. Cookoff winners will be announced and trophies awarded at 7:15 p.m.

Verified chili sample providers for this event include: Corky’s BBQ, Crawdaddy’s Restaurant, Dick’s Last Resort, Fox & Parrot Tavern, Gatlinburg Elk Lodge #1925, Gatlinburg Fire Department, Gatlinburg Police Department, Great American Grill at Hilton Garden Inn, Johnny Rockets, Loco Burro Cantina, Mellow Mushroom, MountainBrook Village, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, Partridge & Pear, Puckers Sports Bar & Grill, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Sevier County Utility District and Titanic Museum Attraction.

This year’s event will be spiced up by the smooth Motown music of The Tams, featuring original member Charles Pope and Little Redd. The Tams have been entertaining for over 40 years and are known for such hits as, “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy”, “What Kind of Fool”, “I’ve Been Hurt” and “Untie Me.

Although admission for the event is free, an $8 wristband is required for chili sampling and can be purchased on-site the day of the event, with a portion of proceeds going to benefit Pi Beta Phi Elementary School PTA. Wristbands will be available for purchase onsite the day of the event at four convenient ticket booths. For more information, please call 800-568-4748.

Other holiday events occurring in the Great Smoky Mountains region during Gatlinburg’s Winter Magic festival include Gatlinburg’s own Trolley Ride of Lights and Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest.

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg Winter Magic & Chili Cookoff

Starting in Gatlinburg, there are quite a few places to grab a raft and navigate a local river. The Pigeon River’s untamed mountain waters provide families with the thrills and exhilaration of riding the white rapids! Whitewater rafting in Tennessee is the perfect cool down to a hot day and makes for a great honeymoon, family reunion, or corporate outing as well!

And don’t worry, most whitewater outfitters will take you through the entire process of setting up your day on the river. Guided rafting tours make for a safer trip, and one that’s probably a bit more fun too. Depending on age and experience level, there are several different classes of rapids to choose from when determining your rafting trip. Whitewater rafting in the Smokies is a also a great way to not only see the mountains but become a part of them.

When it comes to whitewater rafting, safety is the No. 1 concern. Experienced guides will educate rafters in what to bring, what to wear, and how to react in certain situations on the trip. Also, expect to be asked to sign a release form for you and every member of your rafting party. If it’s certainly a white water rafting trip you’re after when in Gatlinburg, make sure that you contact an outfitter well in advance. Just so that it’s convenient for you!

Here are some of the area’s more popular white water rafting companies in Gatlinburg, TN and the Smoky Mountains:

Rafting in the Smokies
PO Box 592, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(800) PRO-RAFT
(865) 436-5008
http://www.raftinginthesmokies.com

White Water Rafting – Smoky Mountain Outdoors
453 Brookside Village Way
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865-430-3838
or
1-800-771-RAFT
http://www.smokymountainrafting.com/

Like the Boy Scout motto says, “Be Prepared” – that especially rings true if you’re going whitewater rafting. Be sure you are dressed properly. And be prepared to get wet! Which means don’t wear heavy clothing, such as jeans or wool. Shoes like flipflops or crocs are a no and refrain from bare feet as well. What is required are water shoes and other lightweight, secure footwear. No loose jewelry, and don’t try to bring your camera, unless it is waterproof!

Whitewater rafting in Tennessee is thrilling, refreshing, and a fun adventure for the entire family. If you’re going to be in the Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge area, a smoky mountain white water rafting trip down the Pigeon River in the Great Smoky Mountains will be something you’ll always remember!

Closer to Sevierville, the Wilderness at the Smokies resort is an exciting, somewhat new attraction to the area. The area’s newest resort is also drawing year-round events to its 700-acre Sevierville, Tennessee property, complete with 234 mountain modern guest rooms and 472 multi-room suites in addition to condominiums at the Wyndham Resort on the Wilderness property.

The resort’s two outdoor waterparks and a nearly four-acre indoor waterpark are what guests are really buzzing about.

“When your guests are done with a busy day in the board room, they, along with their families, will welcome the opportunity to kick back and relax in our fabulous waterparks, on Eagle’s Landing championship golf course, or at our restaurants,” said Dottie Clabough, director of sales for Wilderness at the Smokies. “We even have a trolley service available to us that goes to many popular shows and attractions in nearby Pigeon Forge. It is perfect for spouse’s programs or evening activities.

“When guests come to our property, they can park their cars and not worry about driving during their stay. Everything they could want or need is all right here.”

Wilderness at the Smokies resort opened in June 2008 with the Stone Hill Lodge and Salamander Springs outdoor waterpark adjacent to the Sevierville Event Center. River Lodge and the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark were added six months later. In May 2009, Wilderness at the Smokies expanded again with the addition of Lake Wilderness – the resort’s second outdoor waterpark. Lake Wilderness features the Wilderness Rapids Wave Pool, Cataloochee Creek Adventure River and poolside cabanas.

If you’re going to be staying closer to Pigeon Forge, Dollywood Splash Country might be more to your liking. From the daring drops of Big Bear Plunge, a white water rafting ride, to the twisting turns of the Mountain Scream body slide ride, Dollywood Splash Country features more than 23 water adventure slides and thrill rides. Toss in two interactive children’s playground areas, the Lazy River and Little Creek Falls, and you’ll find family fun activities for everyone each summer.

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Gettin’ Wet in the Smokies

There are many attractions in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has been rated the best over all of them! You can easily spend a couple of hours in the aquarium, so they even have a restaurant inside in case you get an appetite looking at all the fish. If your children are begging to take a fish home, don’t worry they also have a gift shop where you can buy some stuffed versions on the sharks and other animals that you saw throughout the Gatlinburg aquarium. Seriously…they’ve thought of just about everything!

Here are some of the things that you’ll experience at the Gatlinburg Aquarium.

• Species from the Tropical Rainforest: Discover four-eyed Fish, Oscars, Poison Dart Frogs, Piranhas, and more!
• Ocean Realm: See fish of all sizes, color and shape in this area.
• Systems Control: If you or anyone in your group is into levers, knobs, switches, lights, computers, etc then this is the place for you! Here you will see the inner-workings of how the millions of gallons of aquarium water stays fresh, temperature-regulated, etc and how all of the animals are monitored throughout the entire aquarium.
• Coral Reef: The most colorful fish in the aquarium…and the world for that matter! Be sure to visit during the feeding times to see a great show.
• Shark Lagoon: I think the name says it all! This may be the very thing you came to see! While you may stand motionless in awe, you’ll actually be moving along a gliding path through a glass tunnel…right underneath all of the action! You’ll see snappers, tarpon, a giant sea turtle, stingrays, and so much more…and sharks!
• Discovery Center: This is THE place for the kids…or even the young at heart! The Discovery Center is the hands-on area of the aquarium where you get to touch, grab, twist, all sorts of things…you can even touch live horseshoe crabs! There are also special programs offered for teachers and social groups making this a perfect destination for a school field trip.
• Gallery of the Seas: See some beautiful as well as scary looking creatures in this part of the aquarium! You’ll see an octopus, sea horses, jellyfish, corals, and so much more!
• Stingray Bay: All sorts of species of stingrays glide through this part of the aquarium specifically devoted to them. Be sure to catch the dive show and see the stingrays eat right from the hands of the divers!
• Touch a Ray Bay: Just as the name implies, you can actually touch a stingray here!
• Babies in Incubators: Discover the miracle of life and the various stages of incubation for numerous types of creatures.

Tips for visiting the Gatlinburg Aquarium

• Gatlinburg Aquarium Coupons – The Gatlinburg Aquarium is much like Dollywood and Dixie Stampede in that they do not offer coupons in coupon books and such around town. Most deals that you find are often linked to timeshare promotions. They do, however, offer discounts for the following: AAA Discount, AARP Discount, Group Discount, Local Resident Discount, Military Discount, Senior Citizen Discount, and Student Discount. There is also a combo deal available through Dixie Stampede at http://www.dixiestampede.com/specialoffers.php
• Photography Tips – One of the biggest “mistakes” that people make is to use their flash when taking pictures through the aquarium glass. What this typically does is cause a bright reflection on the glass and all you will see is a big, bright flash in the picture….and no fish! Try taking images without the flash. If you have the option on your camera, bump up the ISO to around 400. If that doesn’t work, go ahead and turn on the flash (if it’s allowed) and put the camera lens up against the glass. This usually produces the clearest images.
• Go Early – The best time to go is in the morning since the aquarium gets busier as the day passes. Also, try to avoid Saturdays if at all possible.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg TN
88 River Rd
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(888) 240-1358?
ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Ripley’s Aquarium Gatlinburg

If you want to see a true “wonder of nature”, a beauty that can only be seen in a two known places in the whole world, then you need to see these fireflies. They are a rare species of firefly that seem to coordinate their blinking into a little Smoky Mountain show (all they need is some music!) around mid-June (the 4th through the 12th) each year. There’s only one other place in the world, Southeast Asia, in which this phenomenon can be seen. This species of fireflies has an internal “sensor” that let’s them know when a nearby firefly has lit, in which they respond with their own light as quickly as possible. It may take a minute for them to get in sync, but all of a sudden that start performing together with flashes that last as long as six seconds. This, in turn, presents an amazing wave of blinking lights that is truly astonishing. To see this yearly performance, refer the following notes:

The show begins at dusk (usually around 9:30 p.m.).

The following Gatlinburg trolley services will be provided for $1 (roundtrip) per person from June 4 through June 12.

-Starting at 7 p.m., visitors may board the trolley from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Trolleys will run every 20-25 minutes. It will take you to the Little River Trailhead at Elkmont. The last trolley back leaves at 11 p.m. (no private vehicles will be allowed into the Elkmont entrance after 5 p.m.- the trolley is the only transportation in and out unless you are a registered camper at Elkmont…in other words, you won’t be able to simply drive up into Elkmont to experience this…you must either be camping in Elkmont or ride the trolley).

-Bring a blanket or a small lawn chair to sit on, a flashlight or two (cover them with red cellophane to minimize white lights), and a backpack with refreshments. The only amenities available are portable toilets.

-Park rangers and volunteers will be available in various locations for questions, guided walks, and assistance.

-No pets or alcoholic beverages allowed.

-If attempting to take pictures or video, do not use a flash. Not only does it disturb the fireflies, but your picture will turn our horrible. Try turning the flash off, setting your aperture to f11 and taking a long exposure of a few seconds. You’ll get a spooky looking glow…very cool!

-The last trolley services back will be at 11 pm.

More information about synchronous fireflies (or lightning bugs) in Gatlinburg, TN and Great Smokey Mountains National Park :
http://www.nps.gov

http://www.wbir.com

http://www.southeasternoutdoors.com

http://www.appvoices.org

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

The Smoky Mountain Synchronous Fireflies

Set at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this event showcases artists from across the nation from a range of styles. Juries choose each exhibitor to participate in one of 16 categories ranging from ceramics and glass to watercolor and woodworking. In all, $10,000 in prizes and purchase vouchers is at stake.

For artists, the festival is a prestigious showcase event while for visitors, it’s a guaranteed opportunity to enjoy the best in fine arts, music, a fantastic children activity program, and take in the Great Smoky Mountains.

The festival is a two-day street fair set at Ripley’s Aquarium and River Road, with attendees of the free event mingling riverside with their favorite artists. A special “Night with the Artist Party” is scheduled for May 15, and will be held this year at the beautiful Mills Auditorium. The “Night with the Artist Party” requires a $50 ticket for the affair, but the $50 is returned to donors in the form of a money voucher redeemable at any artist’s booth over the weekend.

While admission to the festival is free to visitors, the event serves as a major fundraiser for the internationally renowned Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, the Sevier County Arts Council and the Gatlinburg Boys & Girls Club art program.

The 6th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival will present the debut of the 2011 version of the popular Gatlinburg Tunes &Tales. Those acts will perform at the “Night with the Artist Party” on May 15 at Mills Auditorium as well as throughout the festival. This makes it a perfect time to visit the “Burg” famously nestled at the foot of the majestic Great Smoky Mountains.

For additional information about the 7^th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival, visit its website at http://www.gfaf.net.

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

The 7th Annual Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival

The event will start at 8:15 am but seeing as they have almost doubled the number of participants from last year, I would plan to arrive early. The triathlon itself is open to anyone 15 years and older capable of swimming one-half mile, biking twenty kilometers, and running five kilometers consecutively.

The .5 mile swim will take place in the indoor pool at the community center. Immediately following the swim triathletes will step outside for the 20km bike race. From the bikes they will start the 5k foot race along Ogle Road and finish back at the community center. This style of triathlon is called a “Sprint” triathlon.

Participants will be broken down into age brackets and then each age bracket will have a men’s and women’s division. There will also be a Team Relay for teams of two or three people. In the past, the entry fee has been $25 for individuals and $60 per Relay Team. There will be prizes for the winners of each division in each age group and for the first two teams. For more information about the rules for the race, and to register, please contact the Gatlinburg Recreation Department at 865-436-4990.

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg Gateway Triathlon

According to Kristen Morales with the Knoxville News Sentinel, Gatlinburg’s Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers is currently for sale, but only to the right buyer.

The museum opened nearly 10 years ago, and today have more than 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers on display throughout the premises.

“In the beginning of the ’80s we went to swap meets and flea markets – actually, we started with (pepper) grinding mills,” Rolf Ludden said. “After a while my wife started to fall in love with the shakers.”

Step into the museum and before you lies a world of travels, history and cartoon characters constructed for the purpose of dispensing condiments. Categories, such as the type of material used to make them, the type of animal or person they depict, or the place they represent separate the hundreds of thousands lining the shop.

On any given day, visitors can peruse the woodland creatures or barnyard animals or plastic household items from the 1950s. There are ceramic corn figures with grimacing faces. Angels, devils and miniature fried eggs. Chubby babies and chubby chefs. Donkeys – some pulling carts, some without.

International and domestic locales separate a section of shakers from around the world.

Domestically, Ludden said the states with the biggest treasure trove of shakers lie along the rust belt: Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.

“In the 1900s there were big factories,” he said. “When the Depression came, the factories that made dishes didn’t have any orders, so they started to do smaller items like salt and pepper shakers.”

Shaker production moved to Japan following the 1930s – first occupied Japan, then Japan, then China.

“But the creativity is from here,” he noted. “That’s the interesting thing about it. My wife is an archaeologist and that’s where she decides – on the creativity. It’s so interesting to see all the different things.”

Today, the museum and the family’s artistic endeavors are a joint effort. Rolf and Andrea have two grown children who are artists in their own right and also have a love for the quirky salt and pepper shakers they’ve grown up around.

Courtesy of the Knoxville News Sentinel

But for as much as they love the shakers, Rolf and Andrea have been working a long time, and they admit they would like to retire, at some point.

So, the Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers is up for sale – to the right person.

In an innocuous note posted among the display cases, Andrea writes how the family would sell the museum to the right person, one who can take it “to the next stop.”

Rolf puts it more plainly.

“We are not in a hurry,” he said. “We want the museum to stay, (for someone) to keep it going. One day we want to retire.”

Rolf and Andrea’s daughter, also named Andrea, said the family wants to devote some time to their new museum, too. On May 21, a sister museum to the Gatlinburg attraction opened in Spain.

“We opened another one in Spain, and we don’t want to feel too spread,” said daughter Andrea, who makes jewelry with her father and travels around the country selling pieces at art shows. “That’s why I wouldn’t mind it if it’s someone who has a passion for salt and pepper shakers. We’ve already invested seven years of our lives to bring it to fruition. It has to continue; there’s no other option.”

Whether the museum stays in the family or is sold to another salt and pepper shaker lover, Andrea said she’ll always carry her parents’ love of the items. While she doesn’t have a favorite – there are just too many, she says – she does favor the retro-themed plastic ones, like the miniature fried eggs.

“We’re a very close-knit family,” she said, and she notes that she and her brother always appreciated the salt and pepper shakers.

“I don’t think we were given an option.”

Article fromInside Gatlinburg, TN

The Gatlinburg Museum of Salt and Pepper Shakers… For Sale to the Right Person