Author: gatlinburg insider

Gatlinburg Easter Egg Hunt

It’s that time of year when eggs are painted instead of boiled or even fried, and hidden to the delight of children everywhere. It’s no different in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains either. Come celebrate Easter in the Smokies with the town’s annual Easter Egg Hunt.

Sponsored by the Gatlinburg Community Police Programs, this Easter Egg Hunt is for children between the ages of 1 and 12. The hunt will take place on Saturday March 30 at Mynatt Park on Airport Road at noon. The Easter Egg Hunt starts at 1 pm. Not only will it be loads of fun, but kids participating in the Easter Egg Hunt get to compete for prizes as well.

For those with an empty stomach when they get there, hotdogs and other refreshments will be served. One more thing, don’t forget to bring your Easter basket!

Other events occurring in the area over the Easter holiday weekend include an appearance of the Easter Bunny at The Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, the Pigeon Forge Easter Egg Hunt, and the Easter Sunrise Service at Ober Gatlinburg.

Some Smoky Mountain Facilities to Remain Closed This Year

If you’re planning a camping trip in the Smokies this year, make sure the locale you’re looking into is still in operation. This following some recently announced federal budget cuts have some vacationers scrambling to find a new spot to pitch a tent this spring and summer.

These cuts will directly affect a handful of spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year. Included in these federal budget cuts are a 5 percent reduction in staffing and hiring limitations. This cut will not only hinder some parts of the park from opening on time, but could cut into the days that it will be in operation.

Park officials have already announced that a few popular spots will not open at all this year. Those spots include the Look Rock Campground and picnic area, and the Abrams Creek Campground, which are both located in Tennessee. On the North Carolina side of the Smokies, the Balsam Mountain Campground and picnic area and the Tow String Horse Camp will not open during the 2013 season.

National Park officials have reiterated time and again that the park regrets the inconvenience to all their yearly visitors, especially all who love backcountry camping and make that a yearly reason to trip to the Smokies.

Backcountry reservations, schedules, and permits are still available online at at www.smokiespermits.nps.gov .

Ripley’s Penguins

There’s only one place you can catch the rare, African Penguin in this part of the country and that’s at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, TN.

Since 2010, these little penguins have become one of the highlights of the Ripley’s Aquarium experience. The aquarium has even initiated a couple different events that celebrate the loveable little critters. During the summer, kids can take part in camps and sleepovers at Ripley’s that allow them to get inside the lives of the penguins. It’s a great way to spend part of your summer vacation while learning more about these exciting creatures.

In all, the Penguin Experience is a 3-hour event that delves deep into the lives of the African Penguins, or Black-footed Penguin, and is presented by the aquarium’s expert staff. You can even get as up close and personal with the penguins as you want. That’s right, you can pet them and walk around in their habitat at the aquarium. Go face-to-face with these magical black and white, flightless birds. You can even get your photo taken with them so that you’ll remember the occasion for years to come.

Penguins are just a part of the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies experience. Though they are a fairly large and important part. Make sure that when you come plan on attending one of the Penguin Painting Experience days. African Penguins are artists in their own right and they love to paint. Each painting is done to the Penguin’s own unique, creative style. It’s a footprint work of art you might say, and you can take it home with you as well.

Both of these events are featured during the months of July and August, so head over to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies to catch these exotic birds at work, and at play. Take advantage of the aquarium’s Penguin Playhouse exhibit. There you can crawl through the underwater tube and watch the penguins swim and play. It’s like you’re actually swimming with the penguins underwater!

Fishing in Gatlinburg & The 2013 Trout Tournament

One of the best things about Gatlinburg is the scenery. Part of that scenery is the mountain streams and rivers that converge and form the Little Pigeon River. With these bodies of water running through the city, it is no wonder that visitors and locals alike come to Gatlinburg to fish.

One of the best things about Gatlinburg are the numerous mountain streams and rivers that converge and form the Little Pigeon River. With these bodies of water running through the city, it is no wonder that visitors and locals alike come to Gatlinburg to fish. The accessibility of the streams and the fact that Gatlinburg stocks the river along River Road make for good fishing for the expert or novice. Being able to walk from your hotel to the water, wade into the river, start casting and land that big trout, makes fishing in Gatlinburg something to be remembered for a lifetime.

Which is why not long ago Gatlinburg came up with its own trout tournament – now entering its twelfth year. This year, April 6-7, contestants will be able to compete for over $10,000 in cash a prizes. To get ready for the tournament, Gatlinburg has stocked over 20 miles in local streams with 10,000 trout.

Due to the fact that Gatlinburg has one of the best stocking programs in the area, you do need a special permit to fish inside the city limits as well as compete in the tournament. You can pick up one of those permits at the Welcome Center on 441 South, the ‘Spur,’ before you get to town or City Hall on East Parkway. Gatlinburg has their own trout farm that they use for stocking. The streams are stocked on Thursday so there is no fishing on Thursdays, but any other day of the week is fine. The Gatlinburg Trout License has different rules and regulations depending on whether you are a Tennessee resident or not and there are a few exempt classes that do not need the Gatlinburg permit. You should ask those questions when you get your permit at the Welcome Center or City Hall.

There are some rules and regulations when fishing in Gatlinburg. Fishing in Gatlinburg is allowed from thirty minutes before sunrise to thirty minutes after sunset. There are several children-only fishing areas in Gatlinburg: no one over twelve is allowed to fish in those areas. When fishing in Gatlinburg, you can only use one hand-held rod and you can only use a single hook. No multiple hook rigs are allowed. There are, of course, creel limits to the number of fish you can catch, so make sure that you ask about creel limits, type of bait and lures that can be used when you purchase your fishing permit.

With all of the fishing opportunities it offers, Gatlinburg is a sportsman’s paradise. If you are a fly fisherman from way back, this is a great place to spend some time looking for that big trout in a stocked stream. If you have never fly fished before than you have the chance to fish where the water is easy to get to and you know that there are trout in the water. Good times are to be had fishing in Gatlinburg.

For more information, or to register for the 13th Annual Gatlinburg Trout Tournament, visit rockytopoutfitter.com or call 865-661-FISH

Prescribed Burns Becoming Common in Spring

Don’t jump to conclusions if you see parts of the Smoky Mountains actually smoking this spring. What you’re seeing likely isn’t a forest fire, but a prescribed burn being carried out by the National Park Service to fortify the Smokies from such wildfires and help replenish the majestic landscapes that everyone has come to know and love.

Needless to say, these burns are being carried out by design this spring in the Smokies. Burns like these planned ones are commonplace most years, especially in areas like Cades Cove. It’s just one of the ways that the Cove maintains its lush meadows, which in turn makes it a haven for Smoky Mountain wildlife. If someone is carrying a camera with them in the Townsend, TN area, they’re likely headed to Cades Cove or they’ve already been there.

In fact, there are plans for several intentional burns through the month of May.

In addition to replenishing areas of the park, official said the controlled burns also drastically reduce fuel that can build up and produce wildfires near homes located close tot he national park and help restore diverse tree populations in the forest.

The burns will not only occur in Cades Cove, Wears Valley and Lynn Hollow are scheduled for prescribed burns as weather permits this spring.

Despite these prescribed burns, the Cades Cove Loop Road will remain open, though visitors may experience brief delays because of drifting smoke or safety concerns as firefighter work along the road.

Fire management officer Dave Loveland said 600 acres of fields burned earlier in the cove look great as spring arrives.

Newfound Gap Road Work Ongoing, Completion In Sight

A completion date for roadwork on Newfound Gap Road looks to be within sight. Round the clock roadwork has been ongoing according to the contractor repairing US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) – the site of a January landslide took out a large, football field-sized section in North Carolina.

Accordingly, the main road between Gatlinburg, TN, and Cherokee, N.C., is scheduled to reopen by May 15. Incentives have been put into place if the work is done earlier and there are penalties if the project falls behind schedule.

Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park tell the Knoxville News Sentinel that Phillips & Jordan Inc. of Robbinsville, N.C., started working through the night this past week to speed up the completion date so that it would be finished by the summer tourism season.

In January, heavy rainfall and an underground stream combined to loosen thousands of tons of rock, soil and trees, which slid the length a football field down a slope during the mid point of the month.

A football field-sized gap now makes up the roadway. Officials say an estimated 9,000 dump truck-loads of dirt, rock and roadway crashed 45-50 feet down the side of the mountain.

Engineers believe a subsurface spring underneath the area was a large factor in causing the landslide. It’s unknown how long the spring had been there. That, combined with the heavy rain that week, caused the collapse. In all, 8 inches of rain fell in the area between Monday and Wednesday the week of January 14.

At the time, it was considered an active landslide because of the continuously flowing springs underneath the road’s surface.

Gatlinburg to Host World Storytelling Day

Though towns like Jonesborough, TN are more widely known for its Storytelling Festival every year, for one day this month Gatlinburg, TN will be epicenter for all storytelling lovers. World Storytelling Day will take place on March 23 in Gatlinburg as the town welcomes such widely known storytellers as Cuz Headrick, Rick Elliott, Carol Bell, Susan Fulbright, Kathleen Mavournin, and Jeanette and Charlie Stevens.

Members of the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association will tell stories of humor and history using a theme of “Fate and Fortune,” based on the culture and heritage of the Smoky Mountains. The event is a fundraiser for SMSA programs in schools and communities.

A Sevierville native, Headrick is an energetic tale spinner, who combines storytelling and mountain music with his band, Mountain Grass.

Another local, Rick Elliott from Gatlinburg is easily recognizable for his energy, his big voice, and his hilarious wit and wisdom. Between stints as an English teacher and basketball coach, he never seemed to need a microphone over 30 some odd years. Now a professional photographer, Elliot will bring his unique views and experiences to World Storytelling Day.

Carol Bell hails from Maryville. She has always been curious about every subject, every place on earth, and every kind of people. She has lived in six states and in Austria. It was while living in Europe in the mid-1980s that she realized how much she wanted to get back to Tennessee so that she could attend the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. A two-time cancer survivor, she completed a masters in storytelling at ETSU in 2005.

Kodak native Susan Fulbright weaves folktales, fables, horror tales, holiday tales, and family tales into her performance. She finished her degree in education at ETSU. While living in Texas, she taught reading, English, and storytelling for students in Houston. Susan is a reading specialist at Sevierville Middle School and incorporates stories into shaping young minds.

Kathleen Mavournin grew up in Minnesota before moving to East Tennessee over 40 years ago. She holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and worked for many years at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a Genetic Toxicologist. Now retired, she has a lot more time for storytelling, one of her favorite hobbies. Kathleen has performed at Storytelling Festivals, Tellabrations, and Renaissance Fairs around the southern Appalachian region.

From nearby Powell, Jeanette Stevens is a well-known author, with several plays and stories published. Jeanette and her husband, Charles, teach ballroom dancing. Jeanette writes much of her own material, from awe-filled to spooky tales.

The event is from 2-4:00 pm and will be held at American Legion Hall #202, 1222 East Parkway (Hwy 321), Gatlinburg, TN (between Gatlinburg Police Department and the post office. Parking is free.

Refreshments will be served. A donation is requested of $7 adults, $4 students, under 5 is free. Groups are welcome.

For more information on Smoky Mountains Storytellers Association, please visit www.smokymountaintellers.org.

Easter Sunrise Service at Ober Gatlinburg

Looking for a memorable way to spend Easter morning? What better way than celebrating amongst the trees in one of the most majestic settings of all – nature, and just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. More specifically, atop Mount Harrison at Ober Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg’s Annual Easter Sunrise Service (March 31) is a sight to see each and every year with an inspirational message given at one of the most inspiring places int he Smokies. The region’s beauty really stands out when both locals from the community and visitors staying in the area gather at Ober Gatlinburg for this memorable worship service.

This will be the 16th year that Ober has held mountain top services at the resort. In all, it’s a 30-40 minute high mountain service which is led by local pastors of the Gatlinburg Ministerial Association. The offering collected during the service will be used by the Association in assisting the county’s needy.

As host for the Sunrise Service, the staff of Ober Gatlinburg will provide worshipers with free tram rides to the mountain top beginning at 5:45 A.M. and continuing at 15 minute intervals until the service begins at 6:30 A.M. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive up the mountain. A breakfast buffet will be available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7:15 – 10:30 A.M.

Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales

Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales is a free event for the entire family in Gatlinburg, TN lasting throughout the entire summer. Find out where to be, when to be there, and what to see!

If you’re looking for some fun, FREE entertainment for the entire family in Gatlinburg, TN then the Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales may provide a solid evening’s worth of fun. From the start of Spring throughout the entire Summer (from April 5 to August 10) the streets come alive from 6pm – 11pm with all sorts of characters! You’ll find people clogging, playing “mountain” instruments, telling stories, singing songs, and inviting you to experience the unique history of authentic Appalachian entertainment.

Along the parkway there will be as many as 14 different acts lasting 15 minutes each throughout the evening. It shouldn’t be difficult finding these performers…just look for the circles of crowds!

Some of these aforementioned performers include Hammer and Strings – a dulcimer duo, the Gatlinburg Barbershop Boys – a  turn-of-the-century barbershop quartet, and The Pea Pickin’ Hearts, with their ear tickling 1930s and 40s sound. There’s even something for the arts and crafts folks as Annie the Quilter will be there telling stories that are stitched on her family’s quilt. She’ll also be giving quilting tips and showing how quilts are made.

Along with these performers, be on the lookout for a black bear! Well…sort of. It’s Zeno the Gatlinburg “mascot” so-to-speak, which you have probably seen in Gatlinburg’s marketing campaigns. Zeno loves to hug and get his picture taken with your family…just don’t feed him! For anyone worried about a black bear on the streets, it’s just a person in a costume…just don’t tell your kids. But to help you tell the difference…the fake bear walks on 2 feet and real bears walk on 4…so don’t go up hugging real bears and trying to get your picture taken!

More information about Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales in Gatlinburg, TN can be found on the official Gatlinburg website at the following link:  Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales

Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show

If there is one thing that Gatlinburg is known for other than its thriving tourism economy, it’s the broad spectrum of arts & crafts that are produced by the town’s local artisans. Here, local artists even have their own community and put on such big events as the 2013 Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

Now this isn’t the town’s first go-round with such shows, Gatlinburg is known nationwide for its numerous arts and crafts shows, but a few specific shows like the one that occurs every year at Easter, stand out above the rest. The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show takes place, as you guessed it, Easter weekend (March 28-30). You’ll see some of the finest artisans from the area demonstrating their craft and selling their wares.

The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show is FREE to the public and features all local artists. You won’t find that to be the case at any other arts and crafts festivals you may encounter. If you’re wanting to capture the true essence of the Smokies in the form of a gift, or just something special to remember your trip by, this show is a must-see. Put on by members of the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts community – one of the oldest of its kind in the country made up entirely of artisans, its become widely renowned for its uniqueness when it comes to the types of crafts on display. A number of the artists in the community are second, third, and even fourth-generation artists, their trades inherited and passed down among their family members.

After you visit the Convention Center, feel free to visit the 8-mile loop trail that makes up the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community located just three miles from downtown Gatlinburg on Highway 321 N or East Parkway. Here, you can visit with over 100 artists and craftsmen in their shops, listen to their stories, and pick up a few tips as well.

What kinds of Smoky Mountain-inspired arts and crafts appeal to you? Whatever it may be, you won’t want to miss this show!