Christmas in the Smokies 2013

Just in time to get to some of the other Christmas events going on starting this month, here's what you can look forward to in December.


Christmas in Wears Valley
Now - 12/31/2013

Don't forget we have a new Christmas celebration here in Wears Valley! Every weekend at the Wears Valley Ranch, we're having traditional Appalachian Christmas items like hayrides, carolers, storytelling and much more! www.christmasinwearsvalley.com.


Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas
Now - 1/4/2014

Nowhere else in the entirety of East Tennessee will you find an area that brings the Winter Wonderland to life like Dollywood during their Smoky Mountain Christmas. Lots of Christmas shows, parades and performances, a Santa's workshop, and most incredible lighting displays throughout the park you've ever seen. Definitely a must-see on your list! www.dollywood.com

Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Parade
12/6/13

The Fantasy of Lights Parade is a wondrous sight to behold and many who come to see it have been making it part of their holiday tradition for over a decade. All of your favorite characters and seasonal icons march down the street, from Alamo Steakhouse on Highway 321 to Stoplight #10 at the end of the downtown parkway in Gatlinburg, will be appearing and marching down the street for your entertainment. www.gatlinburg.com.

Bill Landry at Cove Creek RV in Wears Valley.
12/7/13

Bill Landry is famous in East Tennessee and some parts beyond as the host of "The Heartlander Series" and for his storytelling appearances throughout the area. Now he's bringing his stories and his books to Wears Valley for a performance and a meet and greet to sign some of his books. Bill Landry will be appearing at 4:00PM, Saturday, December 7th, Cove Creek RV on the main street through Wears Valley. www.christmasinwearsvalley.com

New Years Eve
12/31/13

Both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are indulging in New Years fireworks this year, Gatlinburg will hold their traditional entertainment of music and revelry downtown and then fireworks shooting off from the Space Needle, but Pigeon Forge will also be having New Years Eve shows and apparently fireworks at several places as well. You'll need to visit www.gatlinburg.com and www.mypigeonforge.com for more information on those.


We look forward to 2014 and we hope to see you before then! www.covemountain.com.

The Smokies Reopens For One Week

We wanted to wait on our monthly blog post for when the colors were starting back up again, and this week is the week! A cold front is coming up later this week and the colors are sweeping through the mountains more and more each passing day.

Also making for good news this week is this: http://www.wbir.com/story/news/local/sevierville-sevier/2013/10/15/smokies-park-reopening/2989559/. Meaning the Smoky Mountain National Park will open back up between October 16th to October 21st. If you've been waiting for the right time to come out for your Harvest Festival trip, this is it!

Reserve with us today at www.covemountain.com and add major layers of luxury and comfort to your trip too!

Harvest Festival 2013 - The Start of the Color Change

We don't want cry wolf, but it's been confirmed that the color change has already started in Pigeon Forge and we could see the full Autumn Bloom as early as two weeks ahead of schedule. Visitors hoping to get a colorful Autumn trip to the Smokies might need to make arrangements to come sooner than later.

Luckily there will be plenty of special events waiting for you should you come within the next few weeks. Just a sampling of the festivities going on in town around then include:

Pigeon Forge:
10th Annual Old Mill Heritage Day (September 28, 2013)
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/old-mill-heritage-day/

Rotary Club Craft Fair (September 28, 2013)
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/pigeon-forge-rotary-club-craft-fair/

MountainFest (October 1-7, 2013)
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/mountainfest/

Dollywood's National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration (October 2-November 2, 2013)
http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events/national-southern-gospel-harvest-celebration/


Gatlinburg:
Fast Cars 'n' Mason Jars (September 26-28, 2013)
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=123

Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg (September 27-November 3, 2013)
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=80

Fine Arts Festival (October 4-6, 2013)
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=29

Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair (October 10-27, 2013)
http://www.gatlinburg.com/events/details.aspx?id=10


If this looks good to you, come out and spend the Autumn season with us at Cove Mountain! Close to Pigeon Forge and Townsend without much of the traffic and two camera memory cards worth of views guaranteed! www.covemountain.com.

Last minute Summer Fun Suggestions

Let's face facts, it's nearly August, and the moment that month hits the calendar, the summer time blues start singing. We're all feeling it, but we need to remember there is no real world basis for this, the Smokies have a whole other month (technically slightly more than a month and a half!) of Summer thrills to enjoy before breaking out the rake for Autumn.

Here are some awesome ideas for making the last vacation hurrah of the season really worth something:

* Wonderworks
This upside down labyrinth of scientific insanity is no joke - you might not be the same person coming out as the one that went in! All KINDS of crazy interactive fun stuff: a bicycle that rides in upside down loops, natural disaster simulators, a rollercoaster experience you build yourself and a real life psychic duel chamber. Only at www.wonderworks.com.

* Hollywood Wax Museum
The Wax Museum has grown and the expansion required a move to Pigeon Forge, what was once an awesome attraction inside a block of buildings is now a skyscraper under attack by King Kong aside a new Mt. Rushmore with Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne and more. Come see the greatest Wax Museum this side of Tussauds! www.hollywoodwaxmuseum.com.

* MagiQuest
A fantasy role-playing game has come to life in Pigeon Forge next to Mellow Mushroom on the parkway - an interactive medieval magic fun zone where dragons, pixies, wizards and such, like a video game you can actually travel inside of! www.magiquest.com.

                          

* The Island
The Island is live, large and in charge in Pigeon Forge! Ride the Smoky Mountain Wheel and get an INCREDIBLE eyefull of the mountains. New shopping experiences, restaurants, and family fun stuff abound in this active section of the city and you should definitely check it out next time you get a chance. www.islandpigeonforge.com.

* Townsend Wye
The main attraction in Townsend is their famous Smoky Mountain river where people come from all over the world to swim, wade, tube, and enjoy! Totally free to visit and an excellent place for families, picnics, wedding pictures, nature photography or imagery... anything you can imagine!

* The Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
Consider visiting the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Museum in Townsend, Tennessee. If you love Appalachian culture, this is the place to learn and see as much of it as you can. The Heritage Museum is very family friendly and will provide an excellent stop for anyone, for any reason. Prices are very reasonable and they have a lovely gift shop with all kinds of books and interesting souvenirs. www.gsmheritagecenter.org.

And, of course, an awesome, luxury cabin rental here at Cove Mountain! See our cabins at www.covemountain.com.

Murder Mystery Dinner Show

There is a lot of entertainment to go around in the Smokies, but those of you who aren't really into Country, Bluegrass and Southern Gospel may find your offerings a bit more limited - which is one of many good reasons to check out the "Murder Mystery Dinner Show" in Pigeon Forge.

Rather than just watch a classic, dinner-theatre style "Whodunnit?", the Murder Mystery Show let's you interact with it. You've heard of this kind of show before and you know you've always wanted to try it. Let the excellent talent at Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Pigeon Forge make your night in the Smokies the most unforgettable one on your vacation!

See more on them at http://www.murder-mystery-theater.com/.

Independence Day 2013

 It's that time of the year everyone looks forward to from the start of June to the 4th of July and we want to invite you out to Wears Valley and Pigeon Forge to spend it with us in the Smokies!

Pigeon Forge is where you want to be for that magical day and Patriot Park is where all the action is going on. The entire park becomes a family picnic and fun park. Inflatable attractions for the young'uns, food tents, cooling down stations, and the entire Old Mill complex to enjoy. There is a huge soundstage erected at the North end of the park where there will be entertainment and music almost nonstop throughout the day with special guests Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers performing throughout the evening.

Then, between 9:30-9:45PM, the big show will start. For more than 15 minutes, the fireworks will explode over the park in an amazingly colorful display you'll remember for years. Well worth the visit to the Smokies to enjoy!

Come stay with us at Cove Mountain and you'll only be between 15-20 minutes from the action in Pigeon Forge. Enjoy a full day of fun out and about and then come back to a luxury home-away-from-home to rest those aching feet in our hot tubs, enjoy our swimming pool or anything else you can imagine in a luxury home.

See our website at www.covemountainresort.com for all our cabins. We hope to see you soon!

GSM Outfitters in Wears Valley, Tennessee.

A brand new business has opened up in Wears Valley, and as their neighbor just down the road, we're happy to welcome GSM Outfitters to the area! If you're looking for the right gear to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be it hiking, fishing, kayaking, etc. you'll definitely want to visit them beforehand.

Their press release is as follows:

"GSM has been started by Heather and Michael Shepperd. We were married on June 14th 2010. One of the many things we have in common is a love for the outdoors. When we met, my soon to be wife was getting ready for a backcountry trip with an organization call BOW (“Becoming an Outdoor Woman”). Their trip would be in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I was also getting ready for a trip to Tennessee. Once in Tennessee I planned to hike Ramsey Falls for the second time. I decided to invite Heather to come with me.

I have been coming to Tennessee my whole life. My mother was born here and as a kid we would come for vacations and stay on my great uncle Wayne’s farm. I have always had an appreciation for this state. Beautiful county and nice people make for a perfect place, in my opinion. Heather agreed to join me on the trip. Once here, she had the same love and passion for this part of the country that I had always known.

Following that trip, almost every vacation or long weekend revolved around the Smoky Mountains. We have traveled and hiked various trails in and around the Smoky Mountains from Cades Cove to Cherokee, North Carolina. We never seem to grow tired of waterfalls, lush forest, mountain trails, butterflies, bears or Tennessee. It took no time to decide that when we retired Tennessee would be our home. We started saving money to facilitate the process. Just over a year ago we had a 3 hour brainstorm meeting at our kitchen table to try to figure out a way to purchase a vacation home in the mountains sooner rather than later. We tightened our belts for several months, cashed in stocks and did everything we could to squeeze every nickel.

In October we made a purchase of a home in Wears Valley.

The thought of living in this area became a vortex we could not and did not want to escape from. We were obsessed with the thoughts of daily life in the mountains and the experience that would be more than a vacation.

Sadly in January my mother passed away. In the last year of her life she had moved from Michigan back down south. Once she passed away something clicked inside of me. I did not want to spend abbreviated periods in the place that felt more like home than the place I was born in. Sometime during this confusing mix in our lives Heather and I decided to go all in and pursue our passion of a life in Tennessee combined with our love of the outdoors.

That is when we decided to open GSM Outfitters and make this magnificent place our home. Please come in and see us at GSM if not to shop than to share in your mountain experience. If you are not able to make it into the store please join us on facebook at GSM Outfitters LLC or visit our website: www.gsmoutfitters.com.

Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass 2013

If you don't mind a little drive through Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, you can take part in one of THE best events going on in Sevier County for the late Spring season.

The Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass event in downtown Sevierville, in the historic shopping district around the Sevier County courthouse, is going on tonight until 10:00PM and all day Saturday, May 18th, 2013. As the name implies, it is a non-stop meat and music marathon with bluegrass performances by Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe, Tony Rice, Bobby Hicks and more, all kinds of awesome barbecue foods, and even The American Grillmaster Experience and the Great American BBQ Tour will both be on hand to share tips for everything barbecue. Artists and crafters will be there selling some cool wares, jams, jellies and even guitars as well.

You can find out more about Bloomin' BBQ and Bluegrass at http://www.bloominbbq.com/WhatsNew.aspx.

Special Events for April 2013

For those of you wanting to keep up to date on the latest news and goings-on in the Smokies, here's what we have to offer you:

* Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales (April 5th August 10th)
* Welcome Home Vietnam Parade (April 16th, additional events 15th-18th)
* Grand Spring Rod Run (April 19th)
* Festival of Nations at Dollywood (Ends April 22nd)
* Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage (April 23rd-27th)
* Gatlinburg Winefest (April 27th)

You can see more on these events at www.mypigeonforge.com and www.gatlinburg.com.

Also, today, Newfound Gap Road is finally opened back up so you can go all the way through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on to Cherokee, NC. http://www.wbir.com/news/article/264940/2/Newfound-Gap-Road-reopens-after-three-month-closure.

If any of these items sound good to you, then come on out to the Smokies for a weekend of Spring bliss, and add luxury to that bliss when you stay with Cove Mountain.

See our houses at www.covemountain.com.

Spring Events for 2013

March is here! The Smokies are so close to Spring we can already taste the sweet airs drifting between the pine, fruit and floral scented hills - and with that return to warm, aromatic atmospheres we also see the return of the Special Event seasons in Sevier County.

Here is a starting selection of activities coming up throughout the next month.

Gatlinburg Improv Fest
March 8th - March 9th, 2013

Sweet Fanny Adams, one of the longest-running theaters in town and a model of academic dramatic influence in town, hosts this weekend festival for improvisational comedy enthusiasts in downtown Gatlinburg. Lots of performances and even workshops for developing your own talent further will be expected. See www.gatlinburgimprovfest.com/ for more information.


A Mountain Quiltfest
March 12th - 16th, 2013

The city of Pigeon Forge hosts a very popular festival in which over 20,000 visitors participate in many classes and seminars, and view some of the most gorgeous quilts in the country. More than 60 classes and seminars will be featured and a vendor mall will be onsite for enthusiasts to purchase supplies. http://www.mypigeonforge.com/events_quiltfest.aspx


Dollywood's Festival of Nations
March 23th - April 22nd, 2013

Dollywood opens every season with the most exciting Spring festival you'll find in East Tennessee - the Festival of Nations gathers many of the countries of the world to Dollywood where many cultures will add to the entertainment of the park. Africa, India, China, France, Poland and more will all be there and providing some of the best shows you will see all year! http://www.dollywood.com


Easter Sunrise Service at Ober Gatlinburg
March 31st, 2013

The Sunrise Service is a Christian lead Easter service at the top of our
provided. Tram rides start at 5:45 AM in downtown Gatlinburg and are
omplimentary to visitors for this event. http://www.obergatlinburg.com


Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales
April 5th - August 10th, 2013

Ever wanted the Smokies to be filled with the old timey music and legends
that it used to have way back in the day? Come to Gatlinburg for Smoky
Mountain Tunes and Tales and you can experience Gatlinburg celebrating
Appalachian Culture the way it used to. Music, stories, dancing all
throughout the city on evenings. http://www.gatlinburg.com

Stay tuned with us as always here at Cove Mountain for news going on in the Smoky Mountains. See our houses at www.covemountain.com.

Valentines Day and "Saddle Up!" 2013

February in the Smokies is going to create some unique environments for those of you hoping to visit, and we would like to provide you the perfect vacation cabin rental for either or any occasion this month.

The first is an environment of romance as February 14th is, of course, Valentine's Day, and we have a wide range of 1-bedroom houses that are perfect for a visiting couple. May we recommend "Alone At Last", "Dogwood", or the appropriately named "Lover's Lookout"? Then you can compliment your visit with a gift basket from Romantic Gift Baskets in the Smokies. It will be an amazing time for the both of you!

And then, later on in the month, between February 21st and February 24th, we have the 13th Annual "Saddle Up!" Wild West festival in Pigeon Forge. Western fans local and guest rejoice as a cavalcade of Western entertainment, singing, dancing, poetry, chuckwagon breakfast, Cowboy Church and much more will be spread out all across the city (admission fees may apply).

You can bet after a weekend of western singing and dancing, a relaxing vacation house to go home to at night will be just what you need. See our other houses at www.covemountain.com.