Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge.

[Bird]

We spent several days in Gatlinburg in June, 1973, staying in an RV park there. That was our first time there. We returned for several days, again in June, 4 or 5 years later and stayed in a motel downtown. Haven't been back since, and I'm sure a lot has changed in the last 30+ years.

 

[crbr]

You'll miss the prettiest part if you do not see Cade's Cove. No commercialism, all scenery. Located outside of nearby Townsend, TN and part of the national park.

Gat / Pig is nothing but a commercial strip, however each to their own.

 

[Bird]

You'll miss the prettiest part if you do not see Cade's Cove. No commercialism, all scenery. Located outside of nearby Townsend, TN and part of the national park.

Gat / Pig is nothing but a commercial strip, however each to their own.

Yep, Cade's Cove was very interesting and we spent one night in the campground there in 1973. A group of us were sitting around a campfire that night when I noticed one of the women across the fire from me, starting to get up, with a look on her face that told me something wasn't right. I looked down and a skunk was right beside my lawnchair.:laughing: If I'd let my hand fall off the arm of the chair I'd have hit that skunk right in the head and our night might have been ruined. Anyway, I told everyone to just sit still and go with the conversation, and the skunk wandered on off. Some of the other members of our party said they saw an albino skunk later that night by the restrooms, after I'd gone to bed, so I didn't see that one.

 

[creekbend]

You'll miss the prettiest part if you do not see Cade's Cove. No commercialism, all scenery. Located outside of nearby Townsend, TN and part of the national park.

Gat / Pig is nothing but a commercial strip, however each to their own.

re:crbr We used to call Gatlinburg a TOURIST TRAP.But it does have its positive points. I was raised in Hawkins County- Church Hill. What town in East Tennessee are you From? Thank you for your reply. Creekbend.

 

[jonyyuma]

Our last trip thru Cades cove was marred by the traffic, it took several hours of inching around. There was not much wind that evening and the content seemed to be mainly exhaust. That beautiful area is being Loved to death, and yes the trees at the top will bring tears to your eyes, with their demise...I dearly love the Smokey Mountains..

 

[MossRoad]

We started going there back in 1985 when we got married. We make it through there about every 2-3 years, it seems. The entire area is now too crowded, too expensive and too over-developed. Almost every mountainside outside of the national park is now scarred with access roads and fake cabins with green metal roofs stacked one on top of the other. It was disheartening to see it happen so fast. As someone mentioned, Gatlinburg was a touristy town and Pigeon Forge only had one or two stoplights back then. Now it is pretty much non stop development from Sevierville down to the south edge of Pigeon Forge. It is three lanes wide both sides all the way through now with two lanes along the river and back to development in Gatlinburg. I have had enough of it and we most likely will never go back except to the national park. If you are trying to get from Pigeon Forge to the national park be sure to take the bypass around Gatlinburg or you'll be stuck in traffic. Dollywood in Pigeon forge is sort of O.K. They have 4 GREAT roller coasters :thumbsup: and a REAL steam train :thumbsup: .... and 50-60 Dolly Parton gift shops. :laughing: That's about it. If you get discount tickets it is worth it. But you have to have a tolerance built up for country music because it is non-stop on the PA systems.

 

[brin]

blueriver,

I want to add...be real careful in making your Motel reservations...We have been going to both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for over 40 yrs. but over the last few years we have noticed many of the Motels are getting worn out and run down, poor interior maintenance to down right nasty inside..We have actually made reservations, gone to the room on arrival and right back to the front desk to get our money back and go look for another place to stay...The ads on line make the Motels look great but when you get there it can be a real surprise...From the outside they look great and then once inside ..it is worn out carpet, fixtures, tvs and furniture...There are some nice ones but they are pricey and we pay the price to not stay in a dump...Just be careful.

 

[MossRoad]

blueriver,

I want to add...be real careful in making your Motel reservations...We have been going to both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for over 40 yrs. but over the last few years we have noticed many of the Motels are getting worn out and run down, poor interior maintenance to down right nasty inside..We have actually made reservations, gone to the room on arrival and right back to the front desk to get our money back and go look for another place to stay...The ads on line make the Motels look great but when you get there it can be a real surprise...From the outside they look great and then once inside ..it is worn out carpet, fixtures, tvs and furniture...There are some nice ones but they are pricey and we pay the price to not stay in a dump...Just be careful.

I'll second that. We got into a room that was not cleaned from the previous day. So we went to the office and they sent us to another room. The water from the bathtub in the room above us started dripping on my wife through the ceiling! We left. :laughing:

 

[jonyyuma]

Ditto, for many years we tryed to avoid the older places as some are a disgrace and they are not shy about the pricing there ...

 

[crbr]

re:crbr We used to call Gatlinburg a TOURIST TRAP.But it does have its positive points. I was raised in Hawkins County- Church Hill. What town in East Tennessee are you From? Thank you for your reply. Creekbend.

Kingston

Our last trip thru Cades cove was marred by the traffic, it took several hours of inching around. There was not much wind that evening and the content seemed to be mainly exhaust. That beautiful area is being Loved to death, and yes the trees at the top will bring tears to your eyes, with their demise...I dearly love the Smokey Mountains..

Go early and leave early. You'll be done touring the loop when all of the incoming traffic is arriving as you leave out.