Walden Creek Stables – Horseback Riding Sevierville TN

Man horseback riding in Sevierville TNAn easy way to make the most of your trip to the Sevierville area is to combine one of the area’s greatest attractions with the national park. That’s right, we’re talking horseback riding Sevierville at a place like Walden Creek Stables, one of the Smokies’ premiere horseback riding attractions.

Walden Creek Riding Stables in Sevierville, TN is a true Smoky Mountain adventure rolled up in a great time for you, your friends and your family. Located at the footsteps of the Great Smoky Mountains, at Walden Creek Stables in Sevierville, you have more than 500 acres of trails to ride on and more than 100 horses to choose from.

Never been horseback riding before? No worries – there are 50 cowboys at Walden Creek Stables who can teach and guide you during your riding adventure.

This Sevierville horseback riding experience offers a wide variety of rides ranging in length from 1 hour to an overnight excursion. Reservations are recommended in order to avoid a lengthy wait and to ensure the ride of your choice. Walden Creek Stables also features designated Wild West Show nights where you’ll be able to enjoy hay rides, cowboy shootouts, trick riding, live entertainment and bonfire cookouts.

For the ultimate experience horseback riding in Sevierville, be sure to start making your plans today!

Where Can You Find 600 Live Animals in Sevierville?

You don’t have to look twice at the title, you read it right the first time. Yep, 600 live animals in one place, in Sevierville, TN. It’s called Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo and it’s a great place to take the family for an exciting day in the Smokies.

A tropical rainforest isn’t the first thing you probably think about when vacationing or taking a trip to the Smokies, but you can now add it to the itinerary. From snakes, turtles, and crocodiles to kangaroos, lemurs, and hedgehogs, there are species here so abundantly found in rainforests you won’t believe your eyes.

In all, the Rainforest Adventures complex houses more than 600 animals which represent 150 species including reptiles, mammals, bugs, birds, and amphibians. And all in a tropical environment, for East Tennessee at least. On average, the building temperature is set at 80 degrees.

The Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm except December 25. Children 2 years and younger are admitted free, children 3-12 years of age are $6.99, adults 13-54 years of age are $11.99, and seniors are $9.99. If you are a Zoo Member, besides admission, you receive discounts on birthday parties and purchases in the gift shop. Groups of 10 or more and school groups also receive a discounted rate.

RainForest Adventures has been open since June 2001 and in that time has welcomed millions of visitors into its facilities. The RainForest Adventures has thrived since its inception and become a destination for those coming to the Smoky Mountains. It’s lauded as one of the finest small zoos in the country to this day with hundreds of animals representing 140 different species.

Check out their website to get a FREE discount coupon to Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo.

Rainforest Adventures Discovery Zoo
109 NASCAR Drive
Sevierville, TN 37862

Ripley’s Old McDonald’s Farm Mini Golf

If you’re looking for a place where pigs actually do fly, let me point you in the direction of Sevierville, Tennessee. More specifically, to Ripley’s Old McDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf Course. Here you’ll find 54 spectacular holes of interactive Smoky Mountain family fun!

This unique, putt-putt adventure is a fantasy only Ripley’s could create! You’ll find dozens of interactive displays, water features that span the course, and fun, lively barnyard characters throughout the course. Step inside the barn and you’ll find the latest, state-of-the-art arcade games. Perfect if rain happens to get in the way of golfing, or if someone in your party would rather just enjoy the games inside. Check out the candy factory while you’re inside too. Especially if you love sweets!

Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf is the perfect afternoon getaway for a family visiting the Smokies. Oh, and by the way, you did read it right earlier, there are 54 holes offered at Old McDonald’s Farm in Sevierville. You could play 18 holes, or if you’re still in the putt-putt mood go for 36 holes! All the while, you won’t be able to take your eyes off the many crazy barnyard and Smoky Mountain animals that call this course home including raccoons, bears, chipmunks, skunks, cows and opossums. And don’t forget about those flying pigs!

To top it all off, Ripley’s Old McDonald’s Farm Mini Golf was recently voted by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the 14 Wackiest Mini Golf Courses in America.

Try your hand at a hole in one down on the farm at Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf in Sevierville. Check out their hours of operation and buy tickets online.

Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf
1639 Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
(865) 428-1699

Tennessee Smokies Baseball

The Tennessee Smokies minor league baseball team begins play in April at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tn, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Based out of Knoxville, Tennessee, the Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A minor league affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs.

The team’s ballpark, Smokies Park, is located between Knoxville and Sevierville, Tennessee in the small town of Kodak, just off Interstate 40. The park officially opened in 2000, and seats up to 8,000 fans.

The team’s nickname, “Smokies”, refers to the mountain range for which the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is aptly named. The Great Smoky Mountains are known and often seen clouded in a hazy mist that gives the appearance of smoke rising from the forest. The Cherokee Indians long ago gave the mountain range the name “Shaconage” for the blue-gray haze.

As for area’s minor league team, the Smokies were the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals prior to 2005 and before that the Toronto Blue Jays. However, when the Cardinals purchased the El Paso Diablos, which had been the Arizona Diamondbacks’ AA affiliate, the Diamondbacks retained the Smokies as their new AA affiliate. On September 21, 2006, the Chicago Cubs reached a two-year player development contract with the Smokies through the 2008 season. The contract was renewed before the 2009 season and renewed again following the 2012 season.

Prior to 2000, the team was based in Knoxville, Tennessee and called the Knoxville Smokies for many years before moving and changing its name.

For scores, schedules and other information about the Smokies, visit their website here.

Wears Valley Zipline

Want to soar through the Smoky Mountains without the use of a plane or helicopter? Try ziplining at Wears Valley Zipline and see the Smokies in its most natural state. Fly through the trees like one of birds as you zip down through the Smokies’ lush canopy.

It’s a myth that it takes driving into the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to experience the majestic views you see on postcards and the like. When you arrive at Wears Valley Ziplines, they bring the view to you! Let them prove to you. Their ziplines are some of the newest in high adventure in the Smokies. Wears Valley Ziplines is easy to find, they’re just four miles from the parkway in Pigeon Forge, between Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley.

Wears Valley Ziplines has such great views because they’re located on 43 private, unspoiled acres, and they’re vantage points are really something brag about. In fact, you’ll need to park in the parking area right on Wears Valley Road and let them transport you to the mountaintop office via four-wheel-drive shuttle.

Once you’re at the office, you may not be in a hurry to go ziplining, because you’ll see (weather permitting) majestic views of the Smokies range, including Mt. LeConte right from the front porch.

Though, once you begin your zipline tour, you’ll be amazed by the great views as you make your way along – a mile and a quarter’s worth of zipline fun. Wears Valley’s longest line measures 2,000 feet-nearly a half-mile-and gives you nearly a full minute to hang out and look at the surrounding mountain terrain as you speed through the air. Another of the lines is 300 feet above ground level and gives you a real bird’s-eye view of the surrounding terrain.

So if you’re looking for the best place to see mountain views and also zipline, Tennessee is where you’ll find it at Wears Valley Ziplines.

Sevier County Courthouse

The year 1896 was not only the centennial of the State of Tennessee, it was the completion date of Sevier County’s courthouse.

The former courthouse, built in 1856, was considered unsafe in 1892, so members of the county court decided that it would be best to build a new courthouse.  The current site, owned R. B. McMahan and his wife, Sarah, was deeded to Sevier County that year. Due to previous fire, officials wanted the new courthouse to be built in a location away from other buildings in order to keep the courthouse safe.

Kenneth McDonald of Louisville, Kentucky designed the new courthouse and the building was constructed by C. W. Brown of Lenoir City, at a cost of $21,000.

Measuring 85 feet by 70 feet, the courthouse is 3 stories tall, with a foundation made of limestone blocks, 24 to 30 inches thick. Hand-shaped limestone makes up the exterior walls to the first floor. In those days, the blocks were purchased and brought in by horse drawn wagons. Local brick masons made the bricks that make up the walls ab0ve the first floor.

Of course, once you see the courthouse, your eyes go immediately to the tower, which rises 75 feet above the structure. It rises 130 feet from the ground and is made of wood columns 10 inches by 10 inches rising from wood trusses. The tower’s large Seth Thomas clock carried a price tag of $1,353.45. Once manually wound, today it’s electric and is struck every hour. George G. M. Nichols, aka Sevierville’s “Tinner”, constructed the courthouse’s metal dome.

Age and overcrowding became an issue again in the 1960’s with some voicing a desire to tear it down and build a newer, more modern building. County historian Joe Sharp spearheaded the effort to preserve the current structure and won by a vote of 13-11.

However, the building did take on remodeling work in August of 1971. Complete demolition of the interior of the existing building, a reworking of the clock tower, installation of an elevator to serve three floors, cleaning and patching the exterior walls, and a complete new plumbing and electrical system were a few of the major renovation items. Still, the exterior character of the building was left intact, but renovations provided for the necessary modern needs the insides required in order for it to serve a modern world. It was officially dedicated in April of 1975 and cost nearly $1.4 million.

In 1976, the National Register of Historic Places recognized the Sevier County Courthouse. It was the first courthouse in Tennessee placed on the register.

An annex was added in 1990 at a cost of $1.4 million followed a passing vote and dedicated in 1993.  The dome and clock tower were also restored that year.

Five Oaks Riding Stables

If you truly want to get out and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains and all they have to offer, take a horseback ride in the Smokies at Five Oaks Riding Stables. Five Oaks is one of the premiere stables in the Sevierville area and have years of experience with horses and guiding tours in the Smoky Mountains.

If you’re the type of person that loves nature and horseback riding this is the place to plan your next Smoky Mountain adventure. Five Oaks provides access to their own 70 acre nature park that affords rider with a great, safe place to ride that the horses know and provides riders with beautiful mountain views like that of Mount LeConte that you’ve never seen before.

Five Oaks is made up of a number of historically based trails. An old, authentic moonshiners still comes into plain view along part of the trail. It’s almost more than just a horseback ride. Each rider has their own personal experience with the Smoky Mountains whether it’s a look at the history or a glance at its majestic beauty. Still, it is the inhabitants of the Smokies that receive the most attention, despite the dramatic beauty of the landscape.

five_oaks_riding_stables_sevierville_tnFive Oaks Riding Stables has been offering their horseback riding services to visitors and locals of the Smokies for over 27 years. Located in Sevierville at the footsteps of the beautiful East Tennessee Smoky Mountains, Five Oaks has trails in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville that meld to the skill level of riders of all ages. Around 60 horses make up Five Oaks’ stable and they make use of two different trails: the first is a 4 mile trail lasting about 1 hour, and the second is a 6 mile trail lasting 1 ½ hours.

If you don’t believe us by now, come take a horseback ride for yourself at Five Oaks in The Great Smoky Mountains. Five Oaks Riding Stables is one of Sevierville’s major attractions. For more information on deals and specials  call Five Oaks at 1-877-741-8070.

Sevierville attractions

Sevierville, TN attractions run the gamut from the spectacular to the downright odd and interesting and most are but a few miles from one another. With so many people visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park every year, there can be quite a lot of down time for visitors coming to the area. Sevierville is happy to accommodate visitors looking for that once-in-a-lifetime attraction while they’re in town.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of attractions to choose from in Sevierville and most are family friendly. Sevierville sees families from all over the world travel to the Smokies every year, the businesses that last in Sevierville are the ones that cater to all age groups and these following attractions do just that. Visit a few of them on your next trip and find out for yourself.

NASCAR SpeedPark
Who doesn’t enjoy racing around a track NASCAR-style in the Smoky Mountains? NASCAR Speedpark features 8 action-packed tracks as well as an indoor climbing wall, playground, racing simulators, bumper boats, an arcade and the Thrill Zone with 5 new rides for kids. They’ve got all the game you could want. Drive the track the first day then come back the next and do something totally different. At NASCAR Speedpark, you’re driving the fun.
1545 Parkway
Sevierville, TN

Forbidden Caverns
Cool off in the summer beneath the Great Smoky Mountains! No, really, at Forbidden Caverns. Explore the underground caves of the Smokies in this 1-hour walking tour and discover magnificent, sparkling formations, natural chimneys, grottos and a crystal-clear underground stream.
455 Blowing Cave Rd
Sevierville, TN

RainForest Adventures
Discover an indoor RainForest Zoo featuring over 500 live animals including tropical birds, tortoises, cobras and giant pythons. RainForest Adventures is home to exotic creatures from the world’s rain forests as well as some amazing animals native to the Smokies. Live shows daily.
109 NASCAR Dr
Sevierville, TN

Scenic Helicopter Tours
Take an aerial tour of the Great Smoky Mountains, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg on a Scenic Helicopter Tour.
113 Helicopter Ride Blvd
Sevierville, TN

Smoky Mountain Deer Farm & Exotic Petting Zoo
Explore a unique barnyard environment on 140 acres in a beautiful mountain environment. Visitors can Walk among, pet and feed over 100 tame deer as well as see and pet many other animals including, zebra, camels, kangaroos, wallabies, miniature horses, emu and donkeys. Other available activities: pony rides and horseback riding on guided trails.
478 Happy Hollow Ln
Sevierville, TN

Other Sevierville attractions:

Eagle’s Landing Golf Club 1556 Old Knoxville Highway Sevierville, TN
Five Oaks Riding Stables 1628 Parkway Sevierville, TN
Governor’s Palace Sevierville, TN
Great China Acrobats 1304 Parkway Sevierville, TN
Cirque de Chine 179 Collier Drive Sevierville, TN
Muscle Car Museum 320 Winfield Dunn Parkway Sevierville, TN
Outdoor Adventures Of The Smokies Parkway Sevierville, TN
Reel Theatres 713 Winfield Dunn Parkway Sevierville, TN
Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini-Golf 1639 Parkway Sevierville, TN
Smokies AA Baseball Stadium 3540 Line Drive Kodak, TN
Smoky Mountain Helicopters Incorporated 1101 Winfield Dunn Parkway Sevierville, TN
Smoky Mountain Links 3426 Winfield Dunn Parkway Kodak, TN
Tennessee Museum Of Aviation 135 Air Museum Way Sevierville, TN

Deer Farm

For all you nature lovers out, there’s nothing like getting up close and personal with some of nature’s furry inhabitants. With that, any trip to the Smoky Mountains isn’t complete without a quick jaunt over to Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo & Riding Stables in Sevierville.

This great stop just outside the Great Smoky Mountains is 143 acres worth of fun. Pony rides are a favorite as their fenced off trail affords kids a gentle ride with a one of Deer Farm’s sweet, caring ponies. You’ll never forget those photos as a child riding around on ponies and having the time of your life. Deer Park also offers horse rides for our bigger kids and adults. Trot along on Deer Park’s well-maintained trails with the help of an experienced trail guide. Pony rides run $6.99 and carry a 100 pound weight limit. Reservations are required for horse rides. It’s $17.95 for 30 minutes, $20.95 for a 45 minute horse ride, and $23.95 for a 60 minute ride.

After taking a horse ride, or a pony ride, or if you don’t want to take a ride at all and just visit Deer Park’s petting zoo, be our guest. Deer Park’s petting zoo features a range of animals from reindeer – perfect this time of year, deer, goats, camels, zebra, exotic cows, sheep, and much much more. The petting zoo is open year round from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Admission price for adults is $10.99, children ages 3-12 $6.99, children 1-2 $0.99, and infants $0.09.

Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo & Riding Stables is a barnyard experience like no other in the Smokies. It’s great fun for both kids and adults of all ages and makes for a great trip for large groups, church and business retreats, or just a quick getaway.

Deer Farm Exotic Petting Zoo & Riding Stables
478 Happy Hollow Lane
Sevierville, TN 37876
865-428-DEER

Harrisburg Covered Bridge

The Harrisburg Covered Bridge in Sevier County, located just off Old State Highway 35, spans the East Fork of the Little Pigeon River.

The Harrisburg community has maintained a bridge at this locale since the mid-1800s. Once known as the McNutts Bridge before washing away in 1875, and committee was formed by the county and local citizens contributed to its replacement. The Harrisburg community provided the wood and labor for the replacement structure. The county donated $25 and $50 was raised privately.

Elbert Stephenson Early was hired by the county to build a covered bridge as several members of his family moved to the Harrisburg area of Sevier County in the 1870s. Many of them were skilled carpenters, millwrights, and engineers. They built Murphy Chapel and several residences in the area. In 1877, Elbert Early purchased half interest in the Newport Mill, adjacent to the Harrisburg Covered Bridge.

In the late 1800s, the Harrisburg community grew, and with its several mills, blacksmith shops, a school, a doctor, and a post office, prospered. However, in 1915 the county built a new road that bypassed Harrisburg and the community disappeared.

Over the years, Sevier County has actively maintained the bridge, keeping it open for traffic as many other covered bridges were replaced. In 1952, Bill Baker and a county road crew stabilized the bridge which included the placement of a concrete pier at the center of the truss. As a result, this span functioned as two timber stringers. By the 1970s, the bridge was deteriorated and facing possible demolition when the Great Smokies Chapter and the Spencer Clack Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) raised funds to repair and maintain the bridge as well as seeking listing for it on the National Register of Historic Places. The Harrisburg Covered Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 for its significance as a rare surviving example of a covered timber truss bridge.

In 1983, the bridge had deteriorated and faced closure, but the county renovated the bridge with new flooring and replaced some of the timber beams, allowing the bridge to remain open but posted it with a 3-ton weight limit.

Through a grant from the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program, Sevier County rehabilitated the Harrisburg Covered Bridge, extensively repairing the bridge in 2004. It was reopened for traffic, with a 15-ton weight limit later that same year.