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donate to the smoky mountain fire relief

Smoky Mountain Fire Relief – How to Help

Posted: 01 Dec , 2016

The Smoky Mountains just endured what Governor Bill Haslam called "the largest fire in the state of Tennessee in 100 years." Over 15,000 acres were burnt and over 700 structures have been reported as damaged or destroyed in Sevier County. Click here to see our feature article that includes photos, videos, and a list of confirmations from businesses that were either damaged or still standing. As the fires have been contained, relief efforts have kicked in and, in true Volunteer spirit, there has been an overwhelming desire from all over to provide support and relief for those in need. If you have a desire to provide donations to help those in need in the Smoky Mountain areas, below are multiple ways for you to help in the relief efforts. Donation Center for Supplies The overwhelming generosity of people sending in supplies forced city officials to scramble to find a big enough, empty building to store everything! What a wonderful "problem" to have! Fortunately, the former Boyd's Bear Barn on the south end of Pigeon Forge was vacant. It has become the supply distribution center for people seeking various items such as food, water, clothing, medications, and so much more. Below is the...

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by Shane Eubanks
fire and smoke-in gatlinburg tn

Fire and Smoke in Gatlinburg TN

Posted: 28 Nov , 2016

During the Smoky Mountain Fire of November, 2016 we created this post to record the events as they happened by curating the numerous social media posts as they poured in through facebook, twitter, and instagram. A fire that started out small on the Chimney Tops Trail was dramatically fueled by low humidity and high winds throughout the day on Monday, November 28, 2016. Wind gusts were recorded up to 80mph, which cause trees to knock down powerlines around Gatlinburg, which sparked separate, non-related fires. The events recorded below are in reverse-chronological order, so the newest updates are here at the top. If you want to see the events as they happened, start at the bottom of this post and scroll up. Also, multiple area relief funds and donation centers have been setup to help those in need. If you would like to donate, visit our "How to Help" page to see numerous local options. UPDATE 12/3 - Property and business owners are being allowed daily into the city between 10am - 5pm. During that time, we were able to do a live video while driving through downtown to show the condition of all of the businesses. What you will notice...

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by Shane Eubanks
jimmy buffetts margaritaville gatlinburg tn

Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise Coming Soon?

Posted: 16 Nov , 2016

A few years ago, plans to build a Margaritaville hotel and restaurant in Gatlinburg came to a halt when Pigeon Forge passed their "liquor by the drink" laws. Margaritaville Island Hotel and restaurant opened at The Island in Pigeon Forge, instead, and both have been a huge success ever since. With the amount of success they have seen, there are plans currently getting approvals to open a brand new Margaritaville hotel and new restaurant in downtown Gatlinburg! Below, we break down what we know so far. Margaritaville Resort of the Smokies The brand new hotel is proposed to be named Margaritaville Resort of the Smokies and plans are in place for it to replace Twin Islands Hotel, which is near Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. The new Margaritaville hotel is proposed to be a 7-story hotel which will combine a hotel, restaurant, spa and other amenities. The location is ideal for visitors who want to stay in an upscale resort and be within walking distance to downtown shops, attractions, and restaurants. Cheeseburger in Paradise While nothing has been "officially" released as of this writing, our sources have informed us that Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant will go in the location where Hard Rock...

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by Shane Eubanks
elk attacks man in the smoky mountains

VIDEO – Elk Spars with Photographer in the Smoky Mountains

Posted: 14 Nov , 2013

This video of a young bull elk "sparring" with a photographer was captured in November 2013 in the Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The photographer was snapping photos along the roadside when this elk took an interest in him and approached him. Elk can charge at a rate of 45mph and can be lethal, so the photographer hunkered down hoping the bull elk would lose interest. What happened next turned from "playful sparring" and escalated from there. Check out the video below to see what happened! Photos of the Elk by the Photographer The photographer was James York from North Carolina and his full photography portfolio can be found on the Fine Art America website. He managed to capture the following unbelievable images during the encounter with the elk and posted them on the FineArtAmerica.com! [gallery link="file" ids="955,954,958,956,957,953"] Fortunately nobody was hurt in this instance of Elk vs Photographer as this was a potentially very dangerous situation. During the fall, bull elk begin their rut and become more aggressive. It is not suggested at all to approach them as they are looking to show dominance over just about anything that moves. This also goes for deer...

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by Shane Eubanks
clingmans dome gatlinburg tn

Great Smoky Mountains National Park OPEN

Posted: 17 Oct , 2013

UPDATED Thursday October 17, 2013 - With the government shutdown now over, the federal government has completely opened back up which means all of the national parks including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are open once again. This includes all hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, overlooks, etc. The opening takes place right at the peak of the fall colors at the highest elevations of the Smokies so it's a perfect time to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall colors in the Great Smoky Mountains! (Original article from October 1, 2013) - We have gotten a lot of questions asking if the Great Smoky Mountains National park is closed and we now have an official update as of October 1, 2013. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Public Affairs Office has released information regarding the park's closure due to the government shutdown. All park visitor centers, campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, restrooms and facilities are closed during the shutdown. Additionally, all volunteer activities, ranger programs and special events are cancelled. Roads that remain open through the park are the Highway 441 “spur”, which connects Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, the Gatlinburg bypass, which many people use to get around downtown Gatlinburg by...

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by Shane Eubanks

Welcome to Gatlinburg TN Guide

Posted: 19 Mar , 2012

If you plan to visit Gatlinburg, TN and are wondering where the best places to eat, stay, shop, and play are then you have come to the right place! As this guide grows, you will soon discover the best restaurants, attractions, lodging, and more as well as discover how to find the best Gatlinburg coupons and discount tickets to save money on all sorts of things in Gatlinburg, Tennessee! This guide launched in March of 2012, so if you cannot seem to find information on something you are looking for, then feel free to contact us and we'll look into making it an article! The articles throughout the website are researched and written by locals who live and breathe Gatlinburg and know just about all of the best tips to have the best possible vacation or visit to Gatlinburg. Welcome and enjoy your visit!...

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by pigeonforgetng