Branson on Steroids

“Smoky Mountain Jamboree” in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was the second of three FROG rallies that we hosted for Mike’s brother Bob and sister-in-law Cindy as she continues her treatments on her way to wellness.  Bob and Cindy are looking forward to being back on the road in early spring; Mike and I have had the opportunity to meet many friendly FROGS as we stepped in temporarily to host several rallies that had already been scheduled.

We found it interesting that our next door neighbors at home were planning a trip to Pigeon Forge at about the same time that we were scheduled to be there.  Once we got there, our coinciding travel plans were no longer a surprise as apparently the entire population of the United States had planned a trip to the Smoky Mountains in October!  If you’ve ever experienced the crowds in Branson, Missouri, picture it with a lot more visitors because of the National Park…it truly does feel like Branson on steroids.  October is the peak season in the park due to the magnificent colors of fall, and the traffic jams attest to it.  The traffic was unreal.  One day it took us forty-five minutes to go a mile and a half.  We left early one morning to go up into the park -apparently not an original idea as it took an hour and a half to reach the park entrance - a mere seven miles from our campground.   Realistically, there isn’t much that can be done to ease the congestion.  There isn’t room to widen the road because it is bounded by theatres and restaurants in Pigeon Forge and creeks, rivers and mountains as you approach the park.  Besides, the point is to protect the beauty and the integrity of the park. Once you enter the park and start up the mountains, traffic seems like a small price to pay for all the majestic beauty.

October is the busiest month of the year at Great Smoky Mountain National Park because
of the beautiful leaves. We were told we were there about a week early for the peak colors. 



On the "loop drive" around Cade's Cove on an overcast day. The traffic was so heavy on
this one-way, 11-mile drive that it took us a little over 5 1/2 hours to complete the loop.

The blue haze does, indeed, give the appearance of smoke over the mountains

 

Barn in the old Cade's Cove settlement.  The overhang was used to store equipment. It also
allowed a wagon to be pulled under the roof to load hay into, or retrieve hay from, the loft.

One of several original churches and cemeteries in Cade's Cove. Note that it is
built on poles of different heights to accommodate the slope of the ground

The Greg-Cable house in Cade's Cove.

Another homestead in the Cade's Cove area

John Cable's Mill. The mill is still operated by the National Park Service and grinds
corn meal and wheat flour that is sold in the gift shops in the Cade's Cove area

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park draws twice the number of visitors as any other national park.  Surprisingly, the Grand Canyon is a distant second in terms of visitors.

A long line of traffic enters the park at the Gatlinburg Visitors Center

The parking lot is full, and cars park on both sides of the 7-mile long road from Newfound Gap to
Clingman's Dome, the highest peak in the entire Smoky Mountains, at 6,643 feet above sea level.

So many people...lines stretch for a block, just to use the restrooms at Clingman's Dome.

The park exists thanks to a group of conservationists in the 1920s who worked together to save the last remaining old growth trees east of the Mississippi.  A unique coalition was formed including Tennessee and North Carolina state governments, the federal government, John D. Rockefeller Jr. and private citizens to raise money to purchase land.  The Park was established in 1934, and much of the work on infrastructure – roads, trails, walls, and “comfort stations” was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).  In 1940 President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smokey Mountains National Park at a CCC-built overlook at Newfound Gap, which provides stunning views of both Tennessee and North Carolina.

This stone "stage" was built by the CCC for the park dedication ceremony. President
Franklin Roosevelt conducted the park dedication ceremony on this stage in 1940.

 

The Tennessee/North Carolina state line runs right across the top of Newfound Gap

 

The view from Newfound Gap, looking east into North Carolina

The Smokies were given their name by the Cherokee who called them Shaconage, meaning ”the place of blue smoke.” The natural bluish haze is the result of hydrocarbons released by vegetation.  The diversity of flora, fauna, and fungi is amazing.  In fact, the United Nations has designated the park as an International Biosphere Reserve.

Newfound Gap early in the morning.  That is fog hanging low in the valley below us

Hiking up the steep final half-mile to Clingman's Dome, the highest spot in
the Smokies at 6,643 feet.  The valley below us is still shrouded in fog.

The observation tower at Clingman's Dome is accessed by a long, circular ramp

View from the observation tower at Clingman's Dome

It was windy and cold the morning we were on the observation tower, but the
views were awesome.  Our backs are to the north, where Pigeon Forge is located

Abundant rainfall, averaging 85 inches annually, and mild temperatures contribute to the park’s diversity.  Some 900 billion gallons of water flow through the park’s river system and eventually drain into the Gulf of Mexico.

The Little Pigeon River, high in the mountains.  This bubbling
stream can become a raging torrent after a heavy rain.

The Appalachian Trail extends from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer
Mountain in Georgia, and runs right over the top of Clingman's Dome

Yvonne is proud of the fact that she hiked the entire width of the Appalachian Trail

One evening we discovered how rain in the mountains can cause flash flooding downstream.  Several of us were in Pigeon Forge enjoying the dancing waters fountain at The Island, a new entertainment complex, when we received a phone call from Rex McCarter, the owner of Riverbend Campground (and a wonderful gentleman and terrific host.)  He told us we had better return to the campground because rain in the mountains was causing the Little Pigeon River to rise, and some of the RVs might need to be moved to higher ground!   We jumped into the truck and, as Mike drove, I started to make phone calls – many to no avail.  We realized we needed to remind folks to 1) carry their phones with them; 2) make sure they are turned on; and 3) answer the phone even if you don’t recognize the number that is calling.

Riverbend Campground, Pigeon Forge, TN...our base camp for the FROG "Smoky
Mountain Jamboree" rally.  Many thanks to Rex McCarter, the owner, for all of his kindness.

 

Our camp site at Riverbend Campground

 

The Little Pigeon River as it runs past the campground. On the night that the flash flood
occurred, the river reached the concrete pads that you see on the left side of the picture.

In the end, only three RVs needed to be moved and Rex graciously found those campers sites on higher ground.  The water receded almost as quickly as it rose.  Within a few hours it was no longer a threat, and by the next morning it was nearly back to normal.  Everyone was very gracious in assisting their neighbors, nobody was hurt and none of the RVs were damaged, but I’m sure that in the future, we’ll all be more alert to the possibility of distant weather having a local impact.

Did I mention heavy traffic?  This is on Pigeon Forge Parkway at Apple Valley Road.

 

The entire Pigeon Forge area was decorated with fall scenes like this.  Note the wheels on
the wagon are round hay bales.  The horse - and many other animals in other displays
around town - is constructed with a metal frame stuffed with corn stalks.

The Island is a fairly new entertainment center in the heart of Pigeon Forge, so named because the Little Pigeon River splits and goes around it on both sides, making it truly an island.  The Margaritaville Café is there, and in October, Jimmy Buffet opened a section of his new hotel.  The Island also boasts several purveyors of moonshine, featuring free samples of the myriad flavors that they sell.  The current number one selling flavor is apple pie. (If your moonshine is apple pie-flavored, is it really moonshine?)  Sweet treats more your style?  Select your favorite yummy cupcake from The Sweet Shop of the South, the winner of season six of Cup Cake Wars.  I can personally recommend the Bohemian Wedding Cake.  (I can also tell you Mike's favorite flavor of moonshine, but we won’t go there…).

Yep, lots of traffic.  This is on Pigeon Forge Parkway near the Titanic Exhibit...note
the two smokestacks of the ship on the horizon, directly above the blue Chevrolet.

In the center courtyard of The Island is the dancing waters extravaganza with synchronized lights and music. It was designed by the same individual who created the dancing water fountain at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.  A landmark feature of The Island is the gigantic 200-foot tall, brightly lighted Ferris wheel.


Margaritaville Island Hotel, across the street from the Margaritaville Café

200 foot tall Ferris wheel at The Island

FROGS everywhere...even the characters on this kids' ride at The Island

Mike and Yvonne at The Island

The Dancing Waters fountain, designed by the same person who designed the
fountain at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, "performs" on the hour and the half-hour

The FROGS had great fun at a number of music and variety shows. Most shows included an eclectic mix of entertainment, from animal acts to jugglers to magicians, as well as musical numbers.  The music represented a wide genre from country to Broadway.  Each show included some type of salute to military personnel.  Lighting and special effects were an integral part of each show.  The Hatfields & McCoys show was a dinner theatre.  We also attended the Country Tonite show, the Smoky Mountain Opry, and the Comedy Barn.  I found it surprising that the venues allowed you to take still photographs during the performances, as long as you didn’t make video or audio recordings of the acts.  All the shows were fun (albeit just a little hokey at times) and there was something of interest for everyone.

The Hatfields & McCoys Dinner Theater is a fun place

 

Smoky Mountain Opry.  On display in the lobby are costumes worn by many
famous performers, including one worn by Elvis Presley 

 

The Comedy Barn

 

FROGS love to eat, and group dinners at local restaurants Calhoun’s and Johnny Carino’s were very popular...and the meals at both restaurants were delicious.

Between the beauty of the mountains, the fun evening entertainment, and the chance to meet new folks and re-connect with old friends, Pigeon Forge provided us with more new Road Stories. 

 

  
a