Where Luxury Meets the Smokies: New Luxury Big Cabins in Gatlinburg

GATLINBURG – A new development in Gatlinburg bridges the gap between rustic hillside cabins and well-appointed downtown hotel rooms. Cherokee Orchard has four big luxury rental cabins and a pool house with indoor pool — so far. The development at 368 E. Holly Ridge Road is already available for rent, but four more cabins are to come beginning in January 2019.

This collection of eight cabins has enough space to host up to 500 guests, of all ages, for a family reunion, company retreat, sports team competition, family anniversary celebration or a Smoky Mountain destination wedding. At this unique cabin community, you can get large parties–up to 96 people–under one roof.

A ribbon-cutting June 18 drew about 100 people, mostly local government and business officials connected to tourism and economic development.

Cherokee Orchard is the work of Kenny Hayes, the owner of Southern Scapes Home Design.
The cabins will be managed by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Smoky Mountains. Wyndham has been in the Gatlinburg-area market since 2012, managing properties with multiple owners.

Cherokee Orchard, on Historic Nature Trail, is designed like a small village with winding sidewalks, thoughtful landscaping, and plenty of parking, even for buses. It’s close enough to walk to the Gatlinburg strip, but a trolley stops at the bottom of the private driveway, too.

Inspired by the majestic beauty and rich history of the Smoky Mountains, Cherokee Orchard is your own private mountain oasis. Designed to bring the outdoors in, this incredible destination features stunning open-plan living spaces with modern mountain-lodge style and local décor. Sharp peaks, timber and rustic colors give the exterior of Cherokee Orchard cabins their classic lodge appeal. On the inside, history and functionality join forces to add yet another layer of character–rustic wide-plank engineered wood floors, locally sourced bark covered walls, oversized stone fireplaces and espresso colored furnishings.

With exceptional care taken to add modern comforts while preserving historic character, Cherokee Orchard strikes a perfect balance between active outdoor recreation, shared experiences, and personal renewal. The layout delivers intimacy without sacrificing spaciousness. Designed for memory-making, each cabin comes with varied amenities of modern resplendence such as home theaters, pool tables, an array of board games and more.
A shared space also means shared costs, so you can enjoy the ultimate get-together at a practical rate.
Book online at www.bigcabins.com or www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com or call 855-214-8104 to reserve your rustic-done-right retreat.

Everything There Is To Know About Sevierville TN Weather

Sevierville is a growing city in Sevier County, Tennessee with a population estimated to be around 18,000, and is continuing to see new families come to the area for a long term residence. It is also a popular place for vacationers to stay because it is located in the Tennessee Valley, at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

When visiting Sevierville, one of the things you should always keep in mind is the weather. However, Sevierville TN is a great place to see throughout the entire year and the weather conditions are far from extreme in all seasons. You will find the Sevierville TN weather by season, as well as some averages below. Continue reading “Everything There Is To Know About Sevierville TN Weather”

6 Reasons to Plan Your Next Event at the Sevierville Convention Center

If you are looking for a unique place to host your next big event in Sevierville, look no further than the Sevierville Convention Center. Not only do they offer a convenient location near all the fun things to do and relaxing places to stay in the area, they also offer a ton of amenities that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Continue reading “6 Reasons to Plan Your Next Event at the Sevierville Convention Center”

The Battle of Fair Garden

Recently, a new sign commemorating the Battle of Fair Garden was dedicated as part of Sevierville’s annual Arbor Day celebration. For many, the Battle of Fair Garden brings about puzzled looks and questions like, “What is the Battle of Fair Garden?”.

While the marker was placed for the Civil War Trails program, which promote awareness of Civil War sites with driving tours, the site is one of the more unknown battles in terms of popularity. A multi-state program, Civil War Trails highlights over 200 sites in Tennessee. If you’d like a list of these trail sites, maps can usually be found at the various welcome centers across the state.

“With interesting connections to nationally known figures such as Colonel Eli Lilly, who fought in battle and later formed the world renowned Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company, and General Sturgis, for whom the town of Sturgis, S.D., was named, the Battle of Fair Garden Marker is sure to attract a large number of visitors,” said officials in attendance at the marker dedication.

As for the battle itself, it has become known primarily for being the largest skirmish between the Blue and the Grey in Sevier County. History tells us that Confederate Gen. James Longstreet commanded Gen. William Martin to drive the Union calvary from an area south of the French Broad River on Jan. 25, 1864. This was an area that stretched 8 miles from Dandridge to the Little Pigeon River and encompassed three Sevier County farms – Rose Glen, the Stuart Dickey Farm, and the McNutt Farm.

General Samuel Sturgis led the Union forces in advance of the approaching Confederate army at Rose Glen. Three days later, the Union had lost 65 lives and 100 Confederate soldiers had perished at the Battle of Fair Garden.

The Battle of Fair Garden will celebrate an anniversary in January, a 150th anniversary to be exact.

An interesting story about the times. Most Sevier Countians were Union sympathizers during the Civil War, living in a Confederate state. Then, no one really knew who to trust, many point to those issues as reasons the Battle of Fair Garden is just now being recognized after so many years.

Dumplin Creek Development

New backing means a new start for the Dumplin Creek Development project off Interstate 40 in Kodak. A group representing Neyland Land Associates recently took ownership of the 200-acre project that has literally sat untouched for a period of time. The City of Sevierville is also involved.

Sevierville’s end of the deal includes application for $4 million in grant money, which would be matched by the city, to be used toward road improvements in the area. Included in those plans are a brand new Sevierville exit along Interstate 40. If everything goes according to plan, work could begin as soon as this fall.

John Turley, the creator behind Turkey Creek in Knoxville, presented the idea 5 years ago to the city. The development was expected to bring shopping, hotels, restaurants, and even a theater to area. Those plans still remain.

Local leaders are adamant that another access point (Exit 408) from the interstate is needed for this area. Not only that, but there have also been talks about widening Bryan Road over to Douglas Dam Road, then widening Douglas Dam Road to State Route 66.

Mark Nagi, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, pointed out that a new interchange would only be considered when improvements to the current Exit 407 were completed.

“An Exit 408 interchange was considered when planning was being done for improvements to the Exit 407 interchange,” Nagi said. “We need to wait until the Exit 407 improvements are completed and evaluate its operation to determine what additional measures may be needed, if any. TDOT will look into an interchange at Exit 408 in the future.”

At the moment, plans for the Dumplin Creek development are in the discussion phase. Sevierville has given no money to fund Dumplin Creek as of yet.

Historic Downtown Sevierville

Sevierville’s historic town square is just one of the reasons people make it a destination whenever they travel to the Smoky Mountains. Not only do you have the picturesque square with the Dolly Parton statue on courthouse lawn, there are a number of historic buildings located in direct vicinity of the courthouse.

Some of those specific buildings had nothing to do with local government. Places like Temple’s Feed Store where former County Commissioner Jimmie Temple married over 15,000 couples next to feed sacks and various household plants used to align the downtown area. Though the feed store is no longer there, people like Temple continue to conduct marriage ceremonies downtown. A variety of wedding chapels call historic downtown home and so does the town’s bus station which is located in Taulbee’s Restaurant.

Sevierville’s 108-year-old courthouse, located in the heart of downtown, is an excellent example of Victorian architecture. Built in 1895-96 for $22,000 and renovated in 1970-74 for $577,000, the courthouse is a direct reflection of the care and pride residents put into keeping the hometown feeling alive in downtown Sevierville. The latest addition cost $500,000 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the courthouse stands proud with 13-inch thick brick walls and a foundation made of limestone hauled from the old McCown place, the site where Vulcan Materials Company now stands. The Seth Thomas Clock in the courthouse tower originally cost $1,353 plus $42.55 freight.

These are just a few of the historic structures located downtown. Others, like the Harrisburg Covered Bridge can be found within a short drive from downtown. Just ask any of the locals that might be hanging around for directions…. They can point you to most places your looking for.

Sevierville Rates High in Citizen Survey

As if it didn’t know that it was a great place already, Sevierville was awarded high marks recently in public survey gauging the thoughts of its citizens.

Titled the National Citizen Survey, Sevierville rated highly in this initiative conducted by the city this past fall. High markings were given to Sevierville for the city’s overall appearance as well as several public works functions, such as street lighting, sidewalk maintenance, garbage collection, and snow removal.  Fire and police services ratings also came in above average in comparison to other cities who participated in the same municipality survey.

Sevierville got overwhelming marks for quality of life with most respondents giving the Smoky Mountains city reviews that showed them, 80% and above, very happy with Sevierville. In all, overall quality of life in Sevierville received a rating of ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ by 85 percent of residents taking part in the survey. More residents also expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the value and quality of city services they receive, as well as the overall direction the city is taking when it comes to those aforementioned areas.

The survey showed that Sevierville residents are more civic-minded, noting that residents commonly participate in religious activities and try to help out their neighbors – two encouraging statistics for people looking to move to the Sevierville area. The Sevierville Community Center is also used more often than like centers by the average citizen nationwide.

Traffic flow was identified as the area of greatest concern among respondents to the survey. Sevierville is continually working to make immediate adjustments and systematic internal improvements to the traffic flow system within the city limits, and is also working cooperatively with the state and neighboring cities to improve traffic flow as travelers move throughout the area, knowing that it is a popular tourist area throughout the year.

Sevierville to Host Recycling Event

Got any old computer hardware just sitting around the house and you just don’t know what to do with it? Well, Sevierville will take it. Then they’ll recycle it during a FREE recycling event this Saturday.

Just come by Sevierville City Hall, 120 Gary Wade Blvd, from 8 am -2 pm Saturday, March 23 to take part. Not only will the city be collecting used computer devices, they’ll also be taking any items you’d like to donate as well as paper and any documents that require shredding. The Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC) will also be in attendance at the event to collect hazardous materials.

Sevier County, the city of Sevierville City, TDEC, Keep Sevier Beautiful, and Goodwill have all partnered in order to create awareness for recycling items responsibly and the importance of it.

By recycling, especially used computers and old electronics, it saves the environment from pollution and contamination, and helps keep waste out of the local landfills. Most computers contain hazardous materials, such as mercury and lead, so letting professionals take care of the disposal process ensures everyone’s safety.  Here in the Sevierville and Smoky Mountain region, initiatives like the DellReconnect recycling program have generated over one million pounds of recycled computers and accessories in the month of January alone.

Sevier County

Formed on September 18, 1794, Sevier County came about from part of neighboring Jefferson County. The county takes its name from John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee, who played a prominent role during the American Revolution as well as the settling of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Since its establishment in 1795, the county seat has been located in Sevierville, which is also named for John Sevier, and according to records is the eighth-oldest city in the state of Tennessee.

Prior to the late 1930s, Sevier County’s population, economy, and society, most of which revolved around farming and agriculture, was like any other county in the rural South. However, with the designation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the early 1930s, Sevier County’s outward appearance changed drastically. Today, tourism supports the county’s burgeoning economy and looks to be going that way in the future. The Smoky Mountains have become more of a destination in recent years and Sevier County and its towns and cities have all pushed for it whole-heartedly.

The Sevier County Courthouse in downtown Sevierville houses most of the county’s departments and service offices. The county mayor as well as other county officials including circuit court clerk, clerk and master, county clerk, property assessor, register of deeds, highway commissioner and trustee all work out of offices in the building. Services including vehicle tag renewals, property tax, business tax, driver license renewal, marriage applications, notary applications, beer permits, land records, traffic citations, and the like can all be addressed at the downtown courthouse. The count election commission also holds office downtown.

Sevierville Real Estate

A Sevierville real estate professional can make all the difference when searching for your next home or vacation property. Sevierville and the Great Smoky Mountains region offers plenty of new construction and older homes to choose from. You’ll surely find something that is to your likely, or could be with a little work, in the Smokies. We suggest starting out in Sevierville, a larger and growing town, then branching out larger areas like Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and even Knoxville if you’re into a bigger city environment.

The Sevierville area has a lot to offer the home or vacation rental owner. Not only is the Great Smoky Mountain National Park located just down the parkway, area attractions like Dollywood, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, numerous golf courses, parks, and shopping destinations like the Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall dot the area. And again, ad in the majestic mountain backdrop and there is something provocative and attractive to everyone who come searching for a place to call home in the Sevierville area.

In this market, there are typically around 3075 homes listed for sale in the Great Smoky Mountains area of Tennessee at any given time. Between the low home prices and the even lower interest rates, homes are more affordable now than ever. It is definitely a buyer’s market here.

Located about 3 to 3 and a half hours from Nashville, Tn and about 20-45 minutes from Knoxville, Tn, the Sevierville area is a prime locale in East Tennessee. Lying at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, it’s one of the most traveled to parts of the state. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park annually attracts nearly 10 million visitors to the area. Vacation rental companies, tourist attractions like dinner shows and outdoor adventure businesses thrive in this environment with new companies popping up every year.

Real Estate companies in Sevierville:

Burchfiel – Kile Enterprises
803 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local: (865) 453-3315

Century 21 MVP – Clemens Haneke
209 E Main St
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local: (865) 300-6214

Countryside Real Estate, LLC
1016 Dolly Parton Pky Ste. 2
Sevierville, TN 37862
Toll Free: (866) 458-3033
Local: 8654283033

Fannon Real Estate Services
635 Wall St. Suite 3
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local: (865) 429-0130

Great Smoky Mountain Association Of Realtors
1109 Glennhill Ln
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local:(865) 453-1248

R.M. Moore Real Estate Co.
124 Court Ave Ste 200
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local:(865) 868-1600

Remax Prime Properties
316 Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Toll Free: (866) 428-1828
Local: (865) 428-1828

Sevier Title, Inc
134 Court Ave
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local: (865) 428-2381

Smoky Mountain Real Estate Appraisers
706 W Main Street
Sevierville, TN 37862
Local: (865) 453-2963

Thompson-Carr & Associates
PO Box 6714
Sevierville, TN 37864

Did we miss out on someone? If so, leave us a comment and we’ll be sure to consider them for our next update. Happy house hunting!