Duck boat tragedy "storm came out of nowhere" BS

[Sigarms]

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:

auto repair pigeon forge tn - Google Search

WAY off the record and hypothetically speaking only, if there was ever a time someone would want to just "gun it" with their car on the road and take a bunch of tourists out, I could honestly understand the person behind the wheel if they were in the Gatlinburg/Pigion Forge area.

A city may be a cesspool of people, but I expect it and can deal with the surrounding "attractions" for what that city has to offer. Tourist traps I can't LOL

 

[Sigarms]

I used to make the trip across the park to Gatlinburg just to get Stroh's beer...won't go near the place these days...

There use to be a Stroh's brewery up in Allentown (anyone local can correct me if I've got the wrong beer!). Hadn't been to the area in about 20 years until last month when I went up to see my dad. Not certain of the exact location, but seems they replaced the brewery with a hospital LOL

 

[Liquidsilver]

Dumb question is, what makes this area of Missouri a tourist trap??

Branson is what it is, like it or not. I'm more of a rock-n-roll guy, so I'm not big on the town, which is a mix between stale Nashville, some of the original roots of hillbilly mountain music halls, way-off-vegas shows (all family friendly) and crummy little 'Gatlinburg' style amusements. Not my speed, but when meeting with folksy family types, it's a 3-hour drive from St. Louis and everybody can find something to do. Ride the Ducks is one of those amusements. The tourist traffic in the area is unbelievable at certain times of the day. Silver Dollar City is a real, big-city type theme park, like Six Flags. It is antique/hillbilly themed, with a real tilt to arts and crafts. (mature citizens taking grandkids, etc.)

Tablerock Lake is a gem. Gorgeous clear water, not much boat traffic, narrow channels that wind endlessly through beautiful green Ozark hills. I love the area for motorcycling, but everybody knows to stay the hellouta Branson.

I like the hills of NC, but I love the hills of MO and they're home. If you were hoping to have crops of something in the area, it'd better be a crop of rocks.

 

[Sigarms]

Branson is what it is, like it or not. I'm more of a rock-n-roll guy, so I'm not big on the town, which is a mix between stale Nashville, some of the original roots of hillbilly mountain music halls, way-off-vegas shows (all family friendly) and crummy little 'Gatlinburg' style amusements. Not my speed, but when meeting with folksy family types, it's a 3-hour drive from St. Louis and everybody can find something to do. Ride the Ducks is one of those amusements. The tourist traffic in the area is unbelievable at certain times of the day. Silver Dollar City is a real, big-city type theme park, like Six Flags. It is antique/hillbilly themed, with a real tilt to arts and crafts. (mature citizens taking grandkids, etc.)

Tablerock Lake is a gem. Gorgeous clear water, not much boat traffic, narrow channels that wind endlessly through beautiful green Ozark hills. I love the area for motorcycling, but everybody knows to stay the hellouta Branson.

I like the hills of NC, but I love the hills of MO and they're home. If you were hoping to have crops of something in the area, it'd better be a crop of rocks.

Perfect explanation of the area, thank you.

I've got to be in Mountain City Tenn on Friday for work. Come to think of it, would be a great place for a casino LOL.

 

[/pine]

...would be a great place for a casino LOL.

Unfortunately that is what they said about Cherokee NC...really sucks to have to deal with weekend traffic when it involves being between the 8th largest market in the US and the closest casino...!

 

[QRTRHRS]

There use to be a Stroh's brewery up in Allentown (anyone local can correct me if I've got the wrong beer!). Hadn't been to the area in about 20 years until last month when I went up to see my dad. Not certain of the exact location, but seems they replaced the brewery with a hospital LOL

That brewery was on Route 100 south of I-78 coming into Allentown from the west. Last time I was in the area (2008), I believe that Stroh's was long gone and that they were brewing some of Samuel Adams offerings. Not sure about the place today or the hospital?

 

[k0ua]

Well, lets see now. Branson. I live here. Outside of the town just a bit. Yep, just a big tourist town. Hillbilly with his hand out I say. The reason I moved here is I got laid off of a good job in Springfield, Mo, (they closed the place) and found another with the same company in Harrison Ar. The wife still had a good job in Springfield. I asked the employer how far I could live away from Harrison and they said Branson. Well since Branson is halfway between Harrison (my job) and Springfield (her job) That is where we moved. My company paid for the move, so I couldn't beat that.

During the tourist season, you just learn to stay off of certain roads (mainly 76 country music boulevard) And you will do fine traffic wise. It is all good. I haven't been to a "show" in years, and haven't been to very many of them. I haven't been to "steal your dollar city" (Silver Dollar City) in decades. I just don't have that kind of money to burn. But hey the Branson area is kind of a beautiful place to live. Really pretty in the fall. Come on down. Us Hillbilly's need your money !

 

[robbyr]

Only time I’ve ever been to Missouri was Halloween in ‘94. Stepdad bought a Baker resaw and my wife and I drove up to get it in Ellington, Missouri where they are made. Here where I’m from we have pine forests. Got to see the fall foliage in Missouri. Beautiful.

 

[Sigarms]

That brewery was on Route 100 south of I-78 coming into Allentown from the west. Last time I was in the area (2008), I believe that Stroh's was long gone and that they were brewing some of Samuel Adams offerings. Not sure about the place today or the hospital?

I was wrong, hadn't been 20 years since to that area, more like 30 years (lived in Bethlehem and worked in Allentown). My family is from Schuylkill county though, so I-78 was a regular drive. Honestly, didn't really even recognize I-78 other than the turnpike exit and some other buildings. Hopsital is St. Lukes and going west, it was the largest building on the left, and it looked like it could of been in the general area of where the brewery use to be. Had a old friend pick me up, and between talking with him and taking phone calls from work, I didn't pay very close attention.

 

[Sigarms]

Come on down. Us Hillbilly's need your money !

At least your honest about it.

I read a story on this tragedy and one of the locals from Branson stated that they love their tourists. Thought to myself they don't love their tourists, but the money the tourists brought with them.