Attractions – Page 3 – Inside Sevierville

Father’s Day in Sevierville

What to do for Father’s Day in Sevierville, Tn.

This father’s day surprise dad with a memorable trip to Sevierville. There are numerous activities the whole family can enjoy this father’s day including Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum. The museum lets dad come face to face with a collection of over nine million dollars in American muscle cars. From Shelby Mustangs to Big Block Chevys and Mopars, Garrett’s has a bit of everything for the car enthusiast including rare engines and specialty cars like a 1940 Ford Coupe that was confiscated for running moonshine. Floyd Garrett’s museum has been featured on My Classic Car, Shadetree Mechanic, Speedvision, TNN’s Motor Trend, in Super Chevy Magazine and in Muscle Car Review.

Further down the parkway is the NASCAR SpeedPark. The park offers eight thrilling tracks from the kid friendly Baby Bristol to the Smoky Mountain Speedway. Riders must be 16 years of age with a valid state-issued license to ride the Smoky Mountain Speedway and stand at least 64” tall to ride in the 5/8 scale NEXTEL Cup style cars. For those without a driver’s license, and who are 54” tall, the track can be driven in a Rookie car, which doesn’t go as fast.

Take dad to the skies at the Tennessee Museum of Aviation. This aviation museum features a flyable warbird aircraft and an ever-changing cast of aircraft from Russian MiGs and Thunderbolts to the PBY Catalina. The museum is located at Sevierville’s airport. If the Tennessee Museum of Aviation inspires dad to see the Smoky Mountains from the sky, try a flying tour with Scenic Helicopter Tours.

Maybe it’s the outdoors that are calling dad. Make sure he has the right gear with Sevierville stores like Bass Pro Outdoor World and the Orvis Company Store. It’s easy to get outfitted for a day of hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains or fishing on Sevierville’s very own Douglas Lake. Dad can also visit the 88,000 square foot knife showroom at Smoky Mountain Knifeworks and even look through the National Knife Museum which is housed there.

Still, Sevierville’s best treasure is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park – America’s most visited national park and the only one that is absolutely free. This 800 square mile park is an International Biosphere Reserve and contains over 10,000 discovered species. Programs like Smoky Mountain Field School help everyone learn more about the amazing diversity in the Great Smoky Mountains. While there, enjoy fishing, hiking, horseback riding or even a simple picnic under the sun.

Forbidden Caverns

Forbidden Caverns takes you away from Sevierville and into the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

Head underground to cool off this summer – literally.

One of Sevierville’s most renowned attractions, Forbidden Caverns, stays a cool 58 degrees year round and is the ideal family stop if you’re headed toward the Great Smoky Mountains.

Forbidden Caverns was once only known to the Eastern Woodland Indians who roamed East Tennessee’s forests and mountains in search of good hunting grounds. In the winter the cave was used as a shelter and the river running through it provided a constant supply of water.

It is believed that the source of the water stems from an underground lake located beneath English Mountain. English Mountain has since become famous for it’s spring water. If you’re familiar and you look closely, chert or flint can be found here, but in limited quantities. Each was at one time used to create arrowheads, knives and scrapers by local Indian tribes. There are also many unique calcite formations that are still growing in the cave/ Other rare rock formations found in the cave include the largest wall of rare cave onyx or dripstones known to exist.

There is an interesting Indian legend that details an Indian princess’ fate who was lost in a “hollow mountain of two streams”…” which is forbidden”.

From the early 1920s until 1943, moonshine was made in the cave. Its never-ending supply of water and the isolated location was the perfect spot for moonshiner’s to brew their homemade whiskey.

In 1964, a group of businessmen began the initial planning and vast undertaking of opening Forbidden Caverns to the public. Following three years of excavation and development of the vast area, Forbidden Caverns opened to the public in June 1967.

Today, a picturesque valley leads you to the caverns. This route affords all guests a beautiful view of majestic Mount LeConte and English Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains. A quaint old grist mill-museum, primitive farm houses, and a trout farm are among the many sites visitors might take an interest in along this route.

Forbidden Caverns is but a 35-minute drive from Gatlinburg, 45 minutes if you’re traveling from Knoxville, and should be a stop along the way as you enjoy beautiful East Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains. Most guided tours average only 55 minutes. Free parking is provided for cars and buses and there is a souvenir shop on the premises, refreshments, and a picnic pavilion.

NASCAR Speedpark in Sevierville

NASCAR Speedpark in Sevierville is the place in the Smokies to test your speed in a NASCAR-like setting. Fun for the whole family with 8 tracks.

If you’re going to being spending some time in Sevierville anytime soon and looking to have a bit of fun/unwind, NASCAR Speedpark is as good a place as any in the Smokies to really let your hair down and bring out that inner child again. With 8 tracks to choose from, there’s a course for everyone in your family or group. But that’s not all, the Speedpark also has bumper boats, an arcade, a climbing wall, putt-putt golf, a kids coaster, adult roller coaster, and a handful of other rides to keep you entertained for hours.

So you’re wanting to try your hand at the big time? Well, the Smoky Mountains Speedway is it. This quarter-mile D-oval shaped course is where the pros go to race at NASCAR SpeedPark. You’ll get the chance to drive a 3/8 scale version of an actual NASCAR Sprint Cup car. The only stipulation – drivers must be at least 5 feet tall and have a valid driver’s license.

The Competitor is the next track down from the Smoky Mountains Speedway, but don’t let it fool you. This oval short track’s high banks and side by side racing don’t leave much to the imagination as you try to fend drivers off around every turn. These Eagle cars require a minimum height of 54” to drive while double karts require persons at least 5 feet to drive and 40″ to ride as a passenger. Drivers also must be 18 years of age.

The Intimidator track is a monster in itself. Hence, it’s name. Drivers must be at least 54” tall, no exceptions. This one’s a “must race” for anyone coming to the Speedpark and one that many will come back to, thinking this time I’ll get the best of The Intimidator.

A 750-foot slick track, Slidewayz features hard, tight turns. It’s highly polished surface provides for a teeth-grinding, white-knuckle race every time out. Come test your mettle at Slidewayz, you won’t be sorry. To drive Slidewayz, you must be at least 54” tall. Drivers must be at least 60” tall and 18 years of age and passengers must be at least 40” tall on the two-seaters.

mileycyrus — Singer Miley Cyrus at the Speedpark.

Family and Kids rides:

Family 500 – An hourglass shaped road course for rookies and pros, this track features single and double seat cars. On the two-seaters, drivers must be at least 60” tall and 18 years of age and passengers must be at least 40” tall. On the single-seaters, drivers must be at least 48” tall. This track is definitely built for fun for the entire family.

Young Champions – This 1,100-foot track is a fan favorite for all visitors. Drivers must be at least 54” tall. On the two-seaters, drivers must be at least 60” tall and 18 years of age and passengers must be at least 40” tall.

The Qualifier – At this beginner’s track drivers must be at least 48” tall.

Baby Bristol – Kids love NASCAR too – and they’ll love the chance to drive their very own car around this 200-foot starter track. Children must be at least 40” tall to drive.

For hours and additional information visit nascarspeedpark.com/tn_hours.aspx. To order tickets, visit nascarspeedpark.com/tn_tickets.aspx.

Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum

Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum in Sevierville, TN is a 50s, 60s, and 70s American muscle car lover’s dream.

With the yearly Rod Runs, Pontiac gatherings, yellow Mustang shows, and all-Chevy weekends, it would seem that Sevierville and the neighboring cities of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN have the market cornered when it comes to classic car events. Sevierville even boasts a classic car museum showcasing some of the most popular and collectible hot rods in the world – Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum.

Around here, when you’re talking muscle cars Floyd Garrett‘s name is synonymous with anything big block and V8. In his museum, 60’s and 70’s high performance automobiles are on display in their finest form. And when it comes to “Muscle Cars” Floyd’s 40 years of hands-on experience is rivaled by no one. Originally from Fernandina Beach Florida, a hobby turned into a love affair for Floyd. It all started with a black 1970 Chevelle he purchased in 1975 and the rest is history as each visitor can attest. It’s a collection that’s ever-growing.

The collection of American muscle found at the museum has attracted the likes of Spike TV, the Speed Channel, My Classic Car, The History Chanel, Super Chevy Magazine, Mopar Muscle, and Muscle Car Review just to name a few. Countless stories have been written and the museum has been featured on television so many times that Floyd’s probably lost count.

You’ll never see a more impressive collection of American muscle than at Floyd Garrett’s! This collection has been valued at over $8 million! The 90 cars on display represent the best of Detroit during the 50s, 60s, and 70s – a time when muscle didn’t mean biceps, but the number of horses under each hood.

If you grew up during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s you know it was the high water mark for the American automobile industry. New technology around every corner and car makers were literally racing to improve on their designs. It was the golden era of the American “muscle car”. Since opening on April 26, 1996, Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum has become a destination for car lovers traveling to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding towns of Sevierville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Come and see the cars, but don’t leave without checking out the different engines and other muscle car memorabilia – over 5,000 items related to the classic American automobile. Stop by the gift shop on your way out as well. There are plenty of T-shirts, die casts, posters, and much more to choose from. There’s something for every Ford, Chevy, and Pontiac enthusiast. As Floyd said, “If it has “muscle” we have it waiting for you!”

Floyd Garrett’s Muscle Car Museum
320 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Sevierville, TN
37876
865-908-0882

Smoky Mountain Knife Works – A Destination Unto Itself

Smoky Mountain Knife Works is not only a great destination if you’re shopping for knives, but it’s also the location of the National Knife Museum. At Smoky Mountain Knife Works, you’ll learn about the history of the knife, as well as many other tools, as you shop for that perfect pocket or hunting knife.

There are very few retail stores or locations that become a destination unto themselves. Smoky Mountain Knife Works is one of those locations (along with Bass Pro Shops and Gatlinburg’s Arts and Crafts Community). People from all over the country make the big-blue-roofed building the first stop of their vacation as they enter Sevier County, the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains! Smoky Mountain Knife Works is one of the largest retail companies in the area (more than 80,000 square feet), but the building contains a lot more than just a shopping experience. Besides a store full of knives, knife accessories and kitchenware, the store contains one of the nation’s largest collections of trophy wildlife, indoor waterfalls, relics and artifacts of native people from around the world and employees that have more knowledge of the products they are selling than you will find anywhere else. It also houses the National Knife Museum.

The National Knife Museum is located upstairs above the showroom area as you come in the front doors. The exhibits have been gathered from the knife makers themselves and you will be able to view not only the knives but examples of the original advertising pieces that have become a true part of Americana. The museum covers the progress of the knife from early man using stone tools through the change to steel and beyond. If you are a knife enthusiast you will find yourself reading every word of text and examining each display. Spending hours going through the museum is not unheard of.

Even if you are not in the official museum area of the Knife Works, you will notice that the entire store is one huge collection. The walls are covered with displays covering every brand, every pattern, every kind of knife you could imagine. The showroom claims it is the largest knife collection in the world and we would have to say they are right. Besides the knives, you will be hard pressed to find a bigger or better exhibit of trophy wildlife from around the world. The exhibit covers animals from almost every continent, and patrons will have a hard time not being drawn to the animals covering the walls. You will also see some animals that don’t exist in nature like the elusive jack-a-lope. While you are there enjoying the displays, look for the moose with long-horn steer horns–another of their treasures and one of our favorites.

In the lower part of this something-for-everyone environment, you will find the relic area. Kevin Pipes, owner of Smoky Mountain Knife Works, has been a collector of Native American relics and artifacts since he was a child. Archeology is one of his passions and he has been able to collect artifacts from around the world, from east Tennessee to the Sahara Desert. In the artifact section of the Knife Works, you will see Neanderthal stone axes, arrowheads, head-pots from Peru and even crystal Clovis points – one of the most exotic raw materials used by stone-age man. This area was added, along with about 30,000 square feet of space, when the new addition opened in 2006.

Last, but certainly not least, the employees at the Knife Works provide great customer service. Whether you are ordering from one of the 325,000 catalogs they ship a month, ordering on the internet through www.smkw.com, or from the retail showroom, you will be treated like you are their top priority. And as far as their customer service goes the customer is their top priority. Smoky Mountain Knife Works employees roughly 250 employees, from their massive warehouse in Dandridge, TN to their call center, and those employees want to make sure that each customer has the best experience they can have. Knowledgeable and well trained, the staff at the Knife Works can answer any question you have about the products they sell. The employees receive training not only from the management at the knife works, some have been with the company for 20+ years, but also from the vendors. You will find that some of the employees sought employment at SMKW due to past visits and devotion to some of the brands they collect.

The Smoky Mountain Knife Works needs to be on your list of “Things to See & Do” in the Smokies. Whether you are staying in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville or Gatlinburg it is worth your time to find the big-blue-roof. Go in, learn some history, shop and gaze in wonderment at the exhibits on the walls. Your trip to the Smokies will be much richer for adding the Knife Works to your itinerary.

The University of Tennessee Volunteers’ 2010 Football Schedule

The University of Tennessee Volunteers play football in Knoxville, Tn – just west of Sevierville, TN.

The 2010 University of Tennessee football season is bound to be a year to remember with new head coach, Derek Dooley, defensive coordinator, Justin Wilcox, and the rest of the all-star coaching staff Dooley has assembled from the pros and college ranks. Below you will find the complete 2010 University of Tennessee football schedule that lists all of the dates, who the Vols play, kickoff time, televised games, and more! Some of the times and channels will become available as the Volunteers football season progresses, so bookmark this page, share it with your friends, and enjoy the 2010 UT Vols football season! If you’re into UT football, then you love hearing “It’s football time in Tennessee”!

If you’re looking to buy Tennessee football tickets to the games, click here!

If you’re going to be staying in Pigeon Forge, TN or Gatlinburg, TN, then be sure to check out the following guides:

Click Here to Buy Tennessee Volunteers Football Tickets

2010 University of Tennessee Football Schedule
Date	Opponent	Time/TV Schedule
9/04/10	Tennessee-Martin	TBA
9/11/10	Oregon	TBA
9/18/10	Florida	TBA
9/25/10	UAB	TBA
10/02/10	at LSU	TBA
10/09/10	at Georgia	TBA
10/23/10	Alabama	TBA
10/30/10	at South Carolina	TBA
11/06/10	at Memphis	TBA
11/13/10	Mississippi	TBA
11/20/10	at Vanderbilt	TBA
11/27/10	Kentucky	TBA
12/04/10	SEC Championship	TBA
All Times Eastern

Wilderness at the Smokies

Wilderness at the Smokies offers some of the area’s newest attractions outside downtown Sevierville

Not only has Sevierville’s Wilderness at the Smokies resort brought an exciting new attraction to the area, it’s now redoing the way convention, conference and meeting planners view and utilize the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. The area’s newest resort is drawing year-round events to its 700-acre Sevierville, Tn. property.

Wilderness at the Smokies offers 234 mountain modern guest rooms and 472 multi-room suites in addition to condominiums at the Wyndham Resort on the Wilderness property. All this, and it’s conveniently located next to the 200,000 square-foot Sevierville Event Center. Guests can also enjoy the resort’s two outdoor waterparks, a nearly four-acre indoor waterpark and 36-holes of championship golf during their stay.

The Wilderness at the Smokies resort is quickly becoming one of the region’s most popular conference, convention and meeting destinations. In all, the resort boasts a 108,000 square-foot exhibit hall, a 19,000 square-foot ballroom, more than 1,600 parking spaces, 10 covered loading bays, two nearby airports, and all less than a full day’s drive for 75 percent of the U.S. population.

Wilderness at the Smokies resort has hosted conferences, meetings and conventions ranging from family reunions to major national events like the Phil Waldrep Ministries “Celebrate America” conference in October with keynote speaker former President George W. Bush which was attended by nearly 10,000 people – all since opening less than two years ago.

“We work hard to make sure the meetings our guests host are fun and easy,” said Dottie Clabough, director of sales for Wilderness at the Smokies. “Our facility offers multiple meeting room options, six executive suites, and if you need more space, we have the Sevierville Events Center, which is connected to our Events Center Hotel.

“When your guests are done with a busy day in the board room, they, along with their families, will welcome the opportunity to kick back and relax in our fabulous waterparks, on Eagle’s Landing championship golf course, or at our restaurants. We even have a trolley service available to us that goes to many popular shows and attractions in nearby Pigeon Forge. It is perfect for spouse’s programs or evening activities.

“When guests come to our property, they can park their cars and not worry about driving during their stay. Everything they could want or need is all right here.”

Wilderness at the Smokies resort opened in June 2008 with the Stone Hill Lodge and Salamander Springs outdoor waterpark adjacent to the Sevierville Event Center. River Lodge and the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark were added six months later. In May 2009, Wilderness at the Smokies expanded again with the addition of Lake Wilderness – the resort’s second outdoor waterpark. Lake Wilderness features the Wilderness Rapids Wave Pool, Cataloochee Creek Adventure River and poolside cabanas.

Located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Wilderness at the Smokies is establishing a new standard for conventions, conferences and meetings in East Tennessee, as well as being one of the area’s premier lodging destinations. With two 18-hole golf courses, an indoor waterpark with a wave pool and surf rider, two outdoor waterparks, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for everyone. For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

2010 University of Tennessee Football Schedule