Author: sevierville insider

Avoiding Traffic In, and Around, Sevierville

Maneuvering your way around Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg while avoiding traffic.

If you’ve been to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, or Gatlinburg, in the past… oh… 20-plus years…. you’ve probably seen or even been a part of the large number of cars, trucks, trailers and campers that flock to the area on the weekends, during the holidays and in peak season. It can literally be a slow moving mess, and a headache for drivers. Here are just a few easy ways to avoid major traffic jams when you come to town:

  1. Try to avoid arriving in town between 3 pm and 7 pm on Friday. This is when the east coast travelers arrive in the area. If possible, arrive at your destination earlier rather than later.
  2. Leaving town between 10 am and 1 pm on Sunday should also be avoided. Stay for lunch if you can. The southbound side restaurants (if you’re traveling toward Gatlinburg from Sevierville and Pigeon Forge) will be less busy. Around 1 pm the traffic really starts to thin out.
  3. Of all the things to keep up with, keep up with the Pigeon Forge calendar of events for car shows. It can be quite a task to enjoy everything Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have to offer if you’re in town during a car show… unless of course that’s what you’re here for. During the Spring Rod Run, Shades of the Past, and the Fall Rod Run, the Parkway is packed with antiques hot rods, and basically any other car you can think of.
  4. Try taking the trolley when you’re in town, or walking. Sevierville and Gatlinburg are taken in a lot easier if you’re on foot and there are ample places to park throughout town.
  5. Plan things that are close together and easy to reach. There are places that have shopping, restaurants, and shows and entertainment all within walking distance. Plan accordingly to keep from having to actually get on the Parkway.

And these are just a few tips. Take a look at the links to the right and you might just find some secret, insider info! Samples: Alternate route to Dollywood and Shortcut to the Park From Pigeon Forge.

A Smoky Mountain Wedding in Sevierville

A Smoky Mountain wedding in Sevierville is the dream of many brides every year as they look for that perfect local in the Smokies.

A Smoky Mountain weddings in Sevierville is the dream of many brides every year. And it’s no wonder, Sevierville offers a picture perfect setting for every girl’s most important day. Most places, like the Wedding Chapel at The Preserv Resort, even offer expert wedding planners who are available to help you with every aspect of your big day. Whether it’s an outdoor wedding you want, a ceremony in a wedding chapel, or even a cabin in which to exchange vows privately, the opportunities are numerous.

There are many wedding packages and wedding receptions choose from, depending on your budget of course, as well as a wide range of honeymoon cabins to choose from. It’s really no wonder that Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains are widely known as the “Wedding Capital of the South”.

The majority of people looking to get married in the Smokies are looking for a wedding chapel. Depending on the chapel, sometimes  an ordained minister is even included. Customize your own wedding to include such necessities as a bridal bouquet, wedding photography and flowers for the entire wedding group. Other options includewedding and reception music, a wedding cake, and even a limousine if that’s on your list. The Smokies have most any kind of wedding chapel you could think of from in town to behind a mountain stream. If you want a recommendation, try the newest Smoky Mountain wedding chapel at The Preserve Resort.

Tennessee Marriage License

Tennessee Residents: A Tennessee marriage license costs $45.00 upon completion of a 4-hour counseling session given by a qualified counselor or minister. Just present your certificate of completion when you apply for your license. It’s $105.00 if you don’t choose to go the counseling route. Same goes for out-of-state residents.

Sevier County License Locations:

Sevier County Courthouse
125 Court Avenue, Sevierville, TN – (865) 453-5502
Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and
Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Sevierville TN is home to more than a dozen wedding chapels. From log chapels and traditional southern chapels to a Victorian chapel and a handful of mountaintop chapels, there’s a little something to make anyone’s big day unique. Or, just say to heck with it and get married in the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Whatever it is you prefer, there are plenty of Sevierville lodging options that can accommodate both families and wedding parties alike. Consider a luxury cabin such as that at The Preserve Resort, which offers cabin rentals anywhere from 2 to 12 bedrooms for wedding groups and 1-bedroom luxury log cabins for honeymooners.

THE PRESERVE RESORT
Website: www.thepreserveresort.com
Phone: (866) 361-8439
The Preserve’s wedding facilities are simply the best in the Smoky Mountains area! Enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains without having to travel from your mountain retreat. Cap off your wedding with a relaxing massage treatment right in the privacy and seclusion of your mountain home. Or try the swimming pool. The magnificent, outdoor pool provides a setting unlike any other, as you gaze out at a vista of blue-shaded mountain ranges. The Preserve’s wedding chapel is the newest and most exciting in the area. The chapel is a place the two of you, and your guests, will always remember. Plan your reception at our indoor or outdoor gathering place. All this . . . and the privacy and serenity of an exclusive mountain retreat. Located just 8 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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

The Diner in Sevierville

Take a trip back to the 1950s at The Diner in Sevierville.

Take a step back into the 1950’s… literally. The Diner in Sevierville has captured the feeling of the 50’s and bottled it for everyone to enjoy. The popular attraction is a monthly destination for old car buffs with their weekly cruise-in’s and those of us who like to take a step back to the good ‘ole days.

The Diner’s popularity also stems from their all-day breakfast menu. Patrons can stop by any time for a fresh stack of pancakes and a side of eggs, or have an omelet fried up, order some biscuits & gravy, waffles, or enjoy one of the Diner’s  finest breakfast steaks.

Known by some to serve Sevier County’s best burgers, guests can choose from Angus, bison, elk, veggie, or char-grilled burgers made to order.  Sides include onion rings, skin-on fries, or low carb vegetables.  If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, there are BBQ, chicken, BLT, prime rib, Reuben, tuna salad, bologna, club, Philly cheese, as well as hot dogs.  Hand-dipped shakes and scrumptious banana splits, homemade banana  pudding, sundaes, cheesecake and cakes all round out the desert menu.

If you’re in the mood for Italian, The Diner also offers a taste of Italy including spaghetti & meatballs, eggplant and chicken parmesano, as well as lasagna.

Traditional and southern fare include steaks, grilled or fried chicken, mama’s meat loaf, chicken & dumplin’s, baked chicken pie, open-face roast beef or turkey, country-fried steaks, grilled or fried fish, shrimp, and chicken liver.

Check out their weekly calendar of events and be sure to stop by when you’re in town and choose your favorite song on the jukebox!

The Diner
550 Winfield Dunn Parkway
Sevierville, TN
37876
865-908-1904

The Grand Spring Rod Run

The Grand Spring Rod Run rolls through town in mid April on the way to Pigeon Forge.

Just because the Rod Run is held in Pigeon Forge every year doesn’t mean that Sevierville doesn’t take part in its own way. For all the parking along the parkway, there’s just as much driving on Main, gawking at chrome, and whistling on the road.

Sevierville should start seeing the classic cars roll through town on their way towards the Parkway in Pigeon Forge around April 10. The 2012 Grand Spring Rod Run is slated for April 12-15. From shiny, chromed-up, vintage models to the unique fixer-upper, there are cars to look at, cars to drool over and cars to buy. It’s a can’t miss event for every kind of gearhead.

Starting at traffic light No. 3 in Pigeon Forge and running almost all the way down the Parkway, cars are parked in every available parking space facing the road. Literally thousands of cars. You can see cars of every description, especially cherry, vintage, American steel: ’58 Corvettes parked next to Model Ts; a ’55 Bel-Air parked next to a ’38 Studebaker Bus. One of the nicest things is that the owners of these cars will be sitting near them. Look for the lawn chairs near the car and they can tell you everything from where they got it, to what they have done to it and with it.

Right behind the cars will be the vendors. Vendor booths, sponsor booths and demonstrations are just part of the weekend. From Hunter’s Custom Automotive to Ausley’s Chevelle, Camaro Central to ET Motorgear, all the big companies are there. Get the answers that may make your car pain your car passion, then head back to the strip.

Things get even more exciting at night. There is an almost constant parade of cars as the owners fire up their machines and cruise the strip. The rumbling up and down the streets of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville is continuous. Thousands of pounds of steel, chrome and glass doing what they were meant to do… cruise.

The Pigeon Forge Spring Rod Run is the first of the big three car shows that literally take over the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge-Sevierville area every year. The other two car shows are Shades of the Past and the Fall Grand Rod Run. If you want to be a spectator, participant, or even a car show vendor then we have all of the information you need.

Cruisin’ the Parkway during the 2011 Spring Rod Run:

Pigeon Forge Spring Grand Rod Run Information:

When: April 12-15, 2012
Where: Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

  • Participants:
    30 Days Before Event = $30
    Within 30 Days of Event = $40
  • Vendors:
    Outside Space (9×16) = $135
    Inside Space (10×10) = $155
    Sales Corral = $75

For more information about any of the Grand Rod Runs, contact:
MCS Promotions
865-687-3976
Monday-Friday 8am – 4pm EST

Hotels associated with the Pigeon Forge Rod Run:
(This is not a recommendation of these hotels…these are simply the places affiliated with the event. To see our recommendations, visit our list of the best hotels in Pigeon Forge)

Family Inns of America – West
3114 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
865-453-4905

Family Inns of America – East
3785 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tenn
865-453-5573

Family Inns of America – North
3239 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tenn
865-453-7151

Family Inns of America – South
4112 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, Tenn
865-453-5549

Family Inns of America – Twin Malls
2647 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
865-429-2244 or 800-251-4444

Grand Inns of America
3206 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-0056 or 800-247-8282

Smoky Shadows Motel and Conference Center
4215 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-7155 or 800-282-2121

Again, For more information about the Spring Grand Rod Run or the Fall Grand Rod Run in Pigeon Forge, contact:
MCS Promotions
865-687-3976
Monday-Friday 8am – 4pm EST

For a list of all car shows in Pigeon Forge, be sure to check out our Pigeon Forge Car Show Schedule. You may also want to see our list of the best places to stay in Sevierville as well Sevierville cabin rentals. Also check out the best restaurants in Pigeon Forge and some of the finest Sevierville restaurants. Finally, if some shoppers are coming to town with you, score some points and give them our list of the best coupons for Pigeon Forge.

Have fun and enjoy the Spring Grand Rod Run 2012 in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee !

Mast General Store

Over the years, Mast General Store has become as much a destination as it is a shopping experience in Smoky Mountains.

Over the years, Mast General Store has become as much a destination as it is a shopping experience. And Sevierville is all the better for it due to its close proximity to the Mast General Store in Knoxville, and its rather close proximity to another Mast store in Asheville, North Carolina.

Original Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, North Carolina.

With locations all over the Smoky Mountains, the Mast General Store is not only a fun step back in time but has become a traditional stop for visitors as they trek through the Smokies.  Whether it be candies (which President Barack Obama was looking for during a recent stop at the Boone, NC Mast General Store), beverages, food, clothing or items to decorate the home that you maybe searching for, the Mast General Store is a great “shopping point” as you plan your next adventure in the mountains.

The Mast General Store’s origins go back to its first store in Valle Crucis, NC.  The store was opened by Henry Taylor in 1883 who eventually sold a half interest in the operation to W.W. Mast in 1897.  In 1913, W.W. bought the other ownership half. His vision for the store was for it to become a place where all his neighbors in the Valley could shop for anything they might need.  Thus, the moniker: “If you can’t buy it in the Mast General Store, you don’t need it.” arose around in Valle Crucis.  From plows to nails, cradles to caskets, W.W.’s store carried it.

The Mast General Store was eventually sold to an Atlanta doctor and an Appalachian State University professor in 1973. The National Register of Historic Places also honored it as “one of the finest examples of an old country general store.”  Since then, The Mast General Store has grown and expanded by leaps and bounds.  The Valle Crucis store is still the most rustic.  Walking through the store, this is a building that has been added to and patched up over the course of more than a century.  The floor boards have seen thousands of people of this valley trek through as they purchased the items needed for daily life in Western North Carolina.

Locations:

  • Valle Crucis, NC – established 1883
  • Boone, NC – established 1989
  • Waynesville, NC – established 1991
  • Hendersonville, NC – established 1995
  • Asheville, NC – established 1999
  • Greenville, SC – established 2003
  • Knoxville, TN – established 2006
  • Columbia, SC – established 2011

The Valle Crucis location still has the bins of nails and bolts that were used a the business’ onset, as well as the same counters that have served customers for almost the entire time they have been in operation. Meanwhile, the merchandise has been updated so that you can also buy gear for your next hike. The newest location in Knoxville, TN has one of the best selections of outdoor clothing and accessories in the area with boots, outer wear, backpacks, sleeping bags and tents all available for purchase, and located just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Boone store’s Main Street locale is nestled in beside some of the best local shopping and restaurants you’ll find on that side of the Smokies.

No matter what Mast General Store you’re in, they all have a few things in common.  Kids will be able to buy glass bottle sodas from antique-style soda coolers much like your parents and grandparents did when they were growing up. Bins of candy align part of each store, ready for shoppers to fill their own bag with. Others will find those home decor items and cooking utensils that were once mainstays in the kitchen of yesteryear but have been replaced by newer technology.  From tablecloths to toys, tin signs to kitchen tools, the Mast General Store is more than just a regional store; it’s a glimpse into a forgotten way of doing business and is truly a Smoky Mountain treasure.

Writer Fred Brown Headlines the Rose Glen Literary Festival at Walters State in Sevierville

Fred Brown, co-author of “The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith,” headlines the Rose Glen Literary Festival

Fred Brown, co-author of “The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith,” will present a luncheon keynote speech during the second annual Rose Glen Literary Festival on Saturday, February 25 at Walters State Community College Sevier County Campus. The event will begin at 9am and conclude at 2pm with the luncheon taking place at noon.

Brown and his wife, novelist Jeanne McDonald, co-authored the book which follows three families who are prominent in the serpent handling faith. As a journalist, Brown spent 16 years following the faith and getting to know many who practice it in order to accurately tell their stories.

“Fred Brown has an unparalleled knowledge of East Tennessee and ability to relay a story,” says Sevierville Chamber special projects facilitator and event organizer Carroll McMahan. “I feel certain he will deliver a memorable address comparable to the outstanding remarks last year from Lyn Bales.”

A working journalist for 45 years, Brown is retired from The Knoxville News Sentinel and is a member of the Scripps Howard Hall of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editor’s Malcolm Law Trophy for Feature Writing and the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship in Journalism at the University of Michigan.

Other confirmed writers for the Rose Glen Literary Festival include Robert Allen (retired FBI Agent) and Steve Watson (retired TBI agent) who are co-authors of “The Perry’s Camp Murders” as well as J.C. and Margaret McCauley, co-authors of “Growing Up in Cade’s Cove”.

Other authors include Greg Johnson (“Sanctuary”), Cathy Wilhem (“Inside the Darkness, a Walk Through Grief”), Ersa Rhea Smith (“Flying Bullets and the Resplendent Badge”), Emma Catlett and Glenna Julian (“Kodak Historical Cookbook”), Laura Long Martin (“A Beautiful View: Reflection on Bluff Mountain by Matriarch Marian Oates”), Veta King (“History of Pigeon Forge” and “Images of America, Pigeon Forge”), Lyn Bales (“Natural Histories” and “Ghost Birds”), Mary Phillips (“Booger: A Tall Tale”), Eric Ball (“Blue Mountain Mist Cookbook”), Donnie Lamon (“Riding to Newport”), Dr. Bruce Wheeler (“A Mountain City in the New South”), Jack Hodge, Arthur McDade (“Smoky Mountain Days” and “The Natural Arches of Big South Fork”) and Steve Cotham (“Great Smoky Mountains National Park”).

There is an $18 charge for attending the keynote luncheon, which includes a gourmet chicken pot pie lunch, a gift from The Old Mill Pottery and an opportunity to win door prizes. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis. There is no fee to attend the other workshops during the day. To reserve your tickets, call Carroll McMahan at (865) 453-6411.

Smoky Mountain Home Show

The 24th Annual Smoky Mountain Home Show runs February 3-5 at the Sevierville Events Center at Bridgemont.

The 24th Annual Smoky Mountain Home Show is back and better than ever February 3-5 at the Sevierville Events Center (202 Gists Creek Road) at Bridgemont.

Sponsored by the Sevier County Home Builders Association, the Smoky Mountain Home Show will take you through a beneficial maze of new home and existing home products.  There will be displays of the latest products available from the home remodeler to the new home builder to the home decorator.

Event-goers can gather the latest tips and gain insightful advice from experts, specialists, and skilled professionals only found at the Smoky Mountain Home Show.

You’ll also be able to purchase the latest innovations in a number of categories including: Appliances, Architecture & House Design, Awnings & Shutters, Bathrooms, Brick & Stone, Builders, Cabinetry, Childrens’s Fun & Furnishings, Concrete Repair & Resurfacing, Decks, Decoration Items, Doors & Windows, Energy Saving & Environmental, Fencing, Fireplaces, Flooring, Furniture & Accessories, Garage Doors, Gutters, Health & Exercise, Heating & Air  Conditioning, Entertainment & Home Theatre, Home Loans & Financing, Home Remodelers, Insurance, Interior Design & Decorators, Internet Services, Kitchen Cookware & Utensils, Kitchens, Landscaping, Lawn & Garden, Lighting, Marble & Tile, Offices, Organizing & Storage, Outdoor Living, Paint, Paving & Surfaces, Pest Control, Pet Care, Plumbing, Pool & Spa, Real Estate, Roofing, Satellite Equipment, Screens, Sunrooms, & Patios, Security Systems, Siding, Solar Equipment, Waterproofing, Water & Air Purification, Window Treatments & more.

Show hours:
Friday February 3, 2012 – 2:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday February 4, 2012 – 10:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday February 5, 2012- 10:00am to 6:00pm

Where can I purchase my tickets?
Tickets will be sold at the Home Show or through attending exhibitors.
$7.00 @ Door

Are refreshments available during the show?
Yes, refreshments will be available through concession.

Is parking available?
Yes, FREE parking.

New Years Eve in Sevierville

Head to Gatlinburg for the area’s best New Years display if you’re coming to Sevierville.

If you’re in Sevierville for New Year’s Eve, head on over to Gatlinburg for the area’s most spectacular New Year’s display.  Gatlinburg’s space needle in the middle of downtown is where all the action takes place around 11 pm Friday. Vendors will be handing out free party favors such for everyone who chooses to brave the crowds downtown in search of a memorable close to 2010. At midnight the ball will drop from the top of the space needle and fireworks will light up the night as everyone in the streets celebrate New Years in Gatlinburg, TN.

While you’re sure to see the show from the street, some of the best vantage points are from the balconies of hotels on the opposite side of the street from the space needle – that’s if you can secure a room. But don’t worry, there are also a handful of parking garages in the area that are good spots if you can get up top. Just look for the top of the space needle and you’ll be fine. If you are planning on driving out of Gatlinburg that night, park along River Road or on either end of town. Try not to park downtown… the closer you get to the space needle, the more likely you’ll end up staying the night.

More Gatlinburg info:
Local Phone: (865) 430-4148
Toll-Free: 1-800-588-1817

Have a blast and HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us in Sevierville, TN!

Parker’s Greatest Knife Show (photos)

Each year Parker Knives brings one of the biggest Knife Shows in the southeast to the Sevier County area. Here are some pictures from the 2011 Parker’s Greatest Knife Show:

Each year Parker Knives brings one of the biggest Knife Shows in the southeast to the Sevier County area.  Here are some pictures from the 2011 Parker’s Greatest Knife Show: