| Page Views: 10,194 Last Visit to Gatlinburg: May, 2004 | Gatlinburg: Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains by Stephen-KarenConn - last update: Jul 27, 2005 |
| Gatlinburg Viewed from a Smoky Mountain Overlook |
Most people either love Gatlinburg or they hate it - or both. When I lived and worked in Gatlinburg, I often met visitors who come once or several times a year and think it is the neatest place in the world. Occasionally I encountered first time visitors who expected to find a quaint little out-of-the-way mountain village and were shocked by the congested glare. Gatlinburg is literally within footsteps of the most visited National Park in the United States, and has been in a non-stop boom ever since the formation of the Park, in the 1930s. However, expansion is severely limited by the mountains and surrounding parkland. Not to be deterred, developers just keep tearing down old structures and building bigger and better ones. First the development was to provide accomodations and sell hand-made mountain crafts to visitors to the park. Today, sad to say, many people come for the tourist attractions of Gatlinburg and never give the Park a second look.
Gatlinburg is definitely NOT your typical Appalachian village. It is a small town of just over 3,000 population that draws up to 10 million visitors a year. Take Gatlinburg on its own terms. Enjoy the restaurants, museums, amusements, fudge, and entertainment - knowing that whenever the clamor gets to be too much, you can easily escape into the serene fastness of Eastern America's greatest wilderness area. |
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| Pros: | "A fun place: great shops, lodging, and restaruants" | | Cons: | "Crowded, noisy, and totally touristy" | | In A Nutshell: | "The Ultimate Mountain Tourist Town" |
Stephen-KarenConn's Gatlinburg Travel Tips
 Comments for Stephen-KarenConn about Gatlinburg | | | | |
rowdiegurl Sat Oct 4, 2008 04:35 UTC
I have been to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge at least once a year for most of my life and this trip, for the very first time, I am going to the park! Finally hubby and I are taking our own vehicle and don't have to be Dixie Stampeeded to death! I'm so excited! | maccooks1900 Sun Aug 17, 2008 05:03 UTC
If anyone runs across this outdated page as I did. Be aware this restaurant is no longer there. It has been replaced by a place called 'Smokeys'. It is a bar and grill | starship Thu May 29, 2008 19:06 UTC
Terrific page!! So much info. & great pictures too. Interesting story about Mr. Gatlin and the Ogle(sby) clan. The national park itself must be amazing! Great work! | garrett0119 Sat Mar 8, 2008 23:25 UTC
Can you tell me the name of the wedding chapel on Airport Road? It is in the vicinity, across the street from the Holiday Inn, or thereabout. Thank you for your help. |
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