First time in Gatlinburg was hiking the AT and we took a break into town. When living in NC, took a girlfriend there (not my wife), and I absolutely HATED the place.
Years later, wife was looking at a waterpark for the family in Gatlinburg. Hmmm, thousands of people in a touron trap, traffic out that wazoo and overpriced everything for the tourists (not to mention I could care less for Dolly Parton). Just happened to mention to my wife why not rent a house back on Topsail island for a week. She said "really? you want to go back to a quiet beach for the whole week?". I laughed in my head, and said I thought it was a good idea.
I'm just the kind of guy where I'd prefer an empty shoreline enjoying the water than dealing with people when I'm on vacation.
Needless to say, we've told the kids Florida this summer was a one time deal and we're not going back:laughing:
I'm only 57. When we got married back in '85, on our honeymoon, first night stop was in Pigeon Forge, just outside Gatlinburg. We were going hiking in Smokeys. Pigeon Forge was cheaper than that tourist trap, Gatlinburg. I recall it only being a 4 lane highway, and maybe 3 stoplights in Pigeon Forge. There were maybe half a dozen motels, one or two restaurants, and that's about it.
Today, Pigeon Forge has surpassed Gatlinburg in attractions and hotel rooms. The highway is at least 3 lanes each way with huge median, and, I think at least 15 years ago, it has surpassed the number of theatre seats in Branson.
My mother in law is big country fan. So, we took her to Dollywood. Dollywood has 4 really, really nice rollercoasters, so that's worth it. It also has about 50 little shops, 45 of which are entirely Dolly Parton stuff.
My sister in law also drove there. Her husband rotated her tires before they left (he stayed home). Well, he didn't tighten her lugnuts. Leaving Dollywood, my father in law asked me to look at her SUV because he said it sounded like the wheels were gonna fall off. Well, they were! :laughing: She had snapped several lug bolts on all 4 of them. Wonder she didn't crash.
Only repair place open was this little place, way back up in the hills. The road ended at their gate. Looked sketchy, as one of their shops was burnt to the ground, the other had dirt floors, there were junked cars all over the place, mangy looking dogs, and some rough looking dudes.
They agreed to look at her SUV and found the right rear hub was destroyed. They showed me. It was. Gonna be BIG bucks because on that Ford SUV, you couldn't just change it out. There were several parts that had to be purchased together, pressed out, pressed in, etc.... Around $1000 for repairs. Sister in law blows a cork, starts mouthing off, calls her husband, and starts yelling about no tooth hillbillies trying to rip her off. Mechanic walks up to me with a BFH and tells me to get her out of there or he's gonna use it on her. :shocked: (he was my hero!).
I had my wife take her, my MIL, and my two daughters back to Pigeon Forge and not come back for 5 hours.
They left. Mechanic thanked me and expressed his condolences on being her brother in law. They bought my father in law and me lunch and took care of the car in a timely and professional manner. They ran the parts to Knoxville to press them in and out, as their press had been ruined in the fire. They had multiple pictures of all the local youth sports teams they sponsored, community events, etc.... great folks. Messy work yard, but great folks, great service! :thumbsup:
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