Ready For Karaoke?

Gatlinburg TN has so many places to visit and things to see, but there are some people who are creatures of habit. They like their football on Monday, burgers on Wednesday, and karaoke on Friday. If that’s you then come on over to Gatlinburg Tennessee.

Many times people will visit our cabin rental office in Gatlinburg, TN and ask “what’s there to do around here.” That is definitely a loaded question. When people are asking about the nightlife we usually let them know that Gatlinburg isn’t a late night town. However, you can find some unique dining establishments that serve up more than just beer and wings for a midnight snack, we have KARAOKE.

There are two restaurants in Gatlinburg that are open “late night”. Crawdaddy’s and Puckers both feature live karaoke for your enjoyment. Puckers is open to adults who are aged 21 and up and Crawdaddy’s is open to guests of all ages.

I thoroughly enjoyed my recent midnight visit to Crawdaddy’s. Our group wanted to play pool (which I’m horrible at) so we camped out at the only pool table in the house. Being the tired old bitty I am (just kidding) I had some coffee and headed over to the dart board where I quickly became engulfed in a game with my husband. I also found the karaoke highly entertaining. There were some pretty amazing singers that night (aside from one very horrible sounding guy who must have been love drunk. Why else would he publicly sing such an awful rendition of anything?)

Crawdaddy’s boasts the best balcony in town and has a menu that includes ribs steak and seafood. A special bonus to eating at Crawdaddy’s is that children dine for free with any purchase of an adult entrée over $9.99!

If you’re looking for an adult only crowd then Puckers is the place to go. The 21 and up only establishment has been voted Gatlinburg’s #1 sports bar 9 years in a row and also holds the title for best wings in Gatlinburg. And, of course, Puckers has KARAOKE.

Driving Safe in Snowy Weather

If you’re looking forward to coming to Gatlinburg for a nice ski down the mountain then you may end up driving here in the snow. Gatlinburg has seen enough snow this winter to need to warn people of the dangers of driving on ice. Anyone staying in one of our Gatlinburg cabins (or any other company for that matter) should know how to be safe driving in the snow. We’ve put together a few tips that can help you stay safe during your trip.

1. Never drive if you feel like you won’t have control! Don’t drive in poor weather conditions. That’s what trip insurance covers.
2. Keep an emergency kit available in your car. It most likely won’t happen, but if your car happens to get stuck while driving up the mountain in Gatlinburg TN and you have no cell phone reception what are you going to do? It’s a good idea to carry items that can help you like snacks, a flash light, and maybe some good snow boots to help you walk to the nearest shelter.
3. Make sure you have jumper cables.
4. Have all emergency information available to you and to someone not on the trip. Don’t forget your AAA card, health insurance card, and photo id.
5. Purchase an ice scraper for your windshield.
6. Bring some good snow coats (again just in case you have to change a tire and endure the snow.)
7. Fill up on gas and oil. Don’t drive on the mountain if you’re empty.
8. If you have the choice of two lanes, drive in the one that’s not beside the river, or edge of the mountain.
9. Wear your seat belt.
10. Don’t drive on cruise control.
11. Try to stop and accelerate slowly.
12. Don’t stop on an incline if you can avoid it. It is a lot more difficult to avoid sliding on ice when you have to push the acceleration.
    

So far Gatlinburg has seen several of very icy nights this winter. One of the reasons why we thought it would be a good idea to post this list is because we’re not known for having bad weather. We’re actually a pretty safe place to drive most of the time. However, this kind of reputation can cause people to not plan on bad weather. They forget to drive carefully and take more risks than they normally do. Please be safe this winter.

The Beginning Of Gatlinburg

William Ogle found his “paradise” in the mountains of East Tennessee teaming with wild food and game. He was determined to bring his family here. He found the best cold water spring he could find and deadened the trees around it. If other white settlers ventured into the area they would know the land had been claimed and would search somewhere else. William went home to raise crops and to prepare for the move. In the process of moving, he was stricken with fever and died in 1803. His widow, Martha Huskey Ogle, wanted to see the land of paradise, and she moving here in 1807. She came with her children, their spouses, and other family members. Other families moved to the area, making a community which they named White Oak Flats.

Radford Gatlin, his wife and a female slave moved to the area in the mid 1850’s. He began to buy property, and registered for a land grand of 5,000 acres. He opened a store in competition with a Mr. Ogle who already had a store. He placed an application with the federal government and was granted permission to open a post office in his store which he named Gatlinburg. Gatlin opened his own church which he called the New Hampshire Baptist Gatlinites. He continued to do things contrary to local customs, and began to anger the citizens. One day some milk cows invaded Mrs. Gatlin’s flowerbed. She began to beat on the cows, but was stopped by the owner of the cows. Mr. Gatlin intervened, and a fight began. A Mr. Ogle, who owned the cows, sued Mr. & Mrs. Gatlin for assault and battery. Many court cases occurred as each side sued and counter-sued. As a result, Radford Gatlin departed Gatlinburg.

In the early 1900’s logging became popular. Andrew Jackson Huff had several lumber camps in the area. Salesman came to the area to buy his lumber, but they had no place to stay. In 1916 Andy built the Mountain View Hotel. The lumbermen went home and described the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. The word spread, and tourists began to visit the area. Stephen Whaley and his son, Dick, built the second hotel in 1937, which they called the Riverside. R. L. Maples, Sr. built the third hotel, the New Gatlinburg Inn, in 1937.

Guest Blog Post by:
Theresa Williams, Genealogist
Sevier County Public Library System

Winter Weather Helps Ober

The recent cold weather that came through Tennessee and effected much of the United States put some in less than cheery dispositions, but for a select group of adventure seeking Gatlinburg, Tennessee visitors it is a dream come true. That’s because Gatlinburg is home to Tennessee’s only ski resort.

Ober Gatlinburg has been open since 1962 and has provided family entertainment to visitors from all over the world. The ski resort features 8 ski slopes and 6 snow tubing lanes. Not only is it a Tennessee skier‘s paradise, Ober Gatlinburg also features an amusement park with attractions located indoors as well as outdoors. The indoor section of the park includes an ice skating rink, arcade center, bungee run, and a simulated shooting range. The outdoor section of the park includes a chairlift, wildlife encounter, children’s playground, an alpine slide, and 2 water rides.

The cold weather jump started the skiing season earlier than expected and enabled Ober Gatlinburg to open all of their slopes on January 5th which included the infamous “Grizzly.“ This slope is rumored to be a 3,800-foot-long black diamond run that is extremely steep and narrow. It is a run that is only suggested for “expert” class skiers.

With all of the great activities available at Ober Gatlinburg, it’s a sure fit for any of our Gatlinburg cabin guests. For more information on Ober Gatlinburg call 865-436-5423 or visit their website at www.obergatlinburg.com. Weather conditions can rapidly change so please call ahead.

Inspired To Hike

The Cabins For You staff members have long been fans of Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, and this year it was tasked to me to visit the wonderful event. As I sat down to write what the experience had been like for me, I felt overcome with a sense of awe.

I was born a city girl. However, having moved to Tennessee I’ve begun to try and embrace nature and it’s many benefits. There is something highly rewarding about taking in the amazing view from a cabin in Pigeon Forge, breathing the clean air of the Smoky Mountains, and basking in all that is their beauty and grace. Although I have an appreciation of nature, this event inspired me to dig a little deeper and go a little further. I feel inspired to explore, and get more in tune with the breathtaking wildlife in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

The reason for such inspiration is the wonderful representation of wildlife in the Wilderness Wildlife Week display room. While browsing through the many display tables I was fortunate enough to meet an Eagle, four owls, a very dangerous snake, and some pretty interesting people. The history surrounding Gatlinburg, and the spirit behind the Smokies were all conveyed at this event. We hope to post more about all that I learned in the near future.

During Wilderness Wildlife Week one can expect to hear from around 100 experts on subjects from nature, to hiking, to animals, to plants, to photography, and beyond. A combination of lectures, displays, and interactive presentations make for a great experience for people of all ages.

I can now see why our Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge cabin guests have visited Wilderness Wildlife Week in the past. What a wonderful event! To top it all off, the city of Pigeon Forge hosts the event for free.

Enjoy the adventure!

Mikela
Cabins For You Staff Member

Walk on The Wild Side

Want to Take a Walk on the Wild Side? Pigeon Forge TN has an event for perfect for you and your entire family!

Gatlinburg Tennessee is home to some of the most interesting wildlife in Tennessee. The Smoky Mountains offer a perfect home for bears and birds alike, and many of our Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge cabin guests have enjoyed the experience of being right in the middle of them all. This week the city of Pigeon Forge, TN is hosting a free event entitled “Wilderness Wildlife Week” which is a great opportunity for visitors and locals to learn more about the Smoky Mountains and the animals that call Gatlinburg, TN home.

This year marks the 20th annual Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, and it is sure to entertain. The event features classes covering many topics including fishing, camping, rock formations, photography, snakes, the Smokies, weather, and much more.

This is a perfect opportunity for people staying in our Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge cabins to learn more about the wildlife in the Smokies.

Not only does the event feature spectacular classes for adults, there are also classes that are perfect for children too. A few children's events of high interest are:

• Friday 4:45-5:30pm- KIDS TRACK: Wings of America – Live Bird Show
• Saturday 10:00-11:30am- KIDS TRACK: Games for the Young at Heart
• Saturday 1:00-2:00pm- KIDS TRACK: Silly Safaris Show – Live Animal Show
  

Looking for something a little….different? Here are some classes to try:

• Thursday 8:00-11:00am– Basic visual Tracking
• Thursday 11:00-12:00pm– Snakes! Do They Really Do That?
• Thursday 2:00-3:00pm- Appalachian Funnies – a Clean Joke Contest for Young and Old
• Thursday 7:30pm- Slow Jam
• Friday 8:30-10:00pm- Learn to Play the Harmonica in the Key of C
• Friday 1:00-2:00pm- Unusual Camping Tricks and Gizmos
• Saturday 5:00-5:45pm The Perry’s Camp Murders- One of Sevier County’s Most Infamous Murders
  

A schedule of events can be found at Events.