New Years in Gatlinburg Tennessee
I welcomed in the New Year 2008 from the streets of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Having never been in Gatlinburg for Christmas or New Years I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what all the fuss was about. During the drive there I took a wrong road in Chattanooga and had to take some back roads to get headed towards Knoxville. Along the way we passed a nuclear power plant. The Tennessee Valley Authority generates electricity from these nuclear reactors and also from a Hydro Dam about 40 miles from this location.
Looks like a Meetup group nailed Ron Paul signage to trees about every 15 miles or so going north bound and south bound on Interstate 59 from Birmingham Alabama all the way to Chattanooga Tennessee.
Got into Gatlinburg about 4:00 p.m. on New Years Eve. We heard through the grapevine that the town was expecting to have 40,000 visitors that evening. I can personally attest to over 10,000 on the streets. It was pretty wild for this little ski resort nestled in the heart of the Smokey Mountains.
Here’s the run down on the bar scene
Crawdaddy’s free but crowded - we walked in and walked back out, there was nowhere to sit. Hogs and Honeys was charging 30 bucks a person but you could only get to the balcony if you were first in line. Hogs and Honey’s didn’t open till 9:00 p.m. that night.
TGI Fridays has an upstairs bar, I overheard 70 bucks a person - they had room for 200 but had only sold 80 tickets by 9:00. The bar below hogs had no cover but was packed so we didn’t go in there either.
Elks lodge - 35 bucks a couple with three dollar drinks. Elks was warm, alcohol was cheap, and we were the only ones under the age of 50 - way under 50 - so we were getting some puzzled looks but everyone was cool. Figuring this was the best place to chill out till 11:00 we made the most of it. Very laid back atmosphere until about 11 p.m. when we became afraid that clothing was about to start coming off. The D.J. started cranking out the booty music and these spry sixty and seventy year olds hit the dance floor. All in all if was fun - they gave lots of free food and party favors - very nice group of people.
Then we hit the street - to watch the ball drop at the space needle and fireworks at midnight. The streets were very crowded as the pics show - over ten thousand that I saw - town was expecting 40,000. I’m really not sure how many were there, but the streets were very crowded. Fireworks were shot from the space needle and were impressive.
Hotel prices were cut in half New Years day (holiday season over). We stayed at Bear skin lodge and paid $270.00 for 4 nights with weekend nights being around $80.00. They accept military discount. I highly recommend getting a room on the river side of the hotel - some rooms have balcony’s which overlook the river. It was very nice. Our room was on the corner - 5th floor - with balcony, gas fire log place, large jacuzzi tub - a good sized room with high ceiling and a roomy fourier. It was a nice place - elevator is small and slow - we took the stairs on the way down. BearSkin also has a small pool and small lazy river - great for small kids.
The following night and day it snowed - with lows in the teens and highs in the upper 20’s. Snowed hard that night and stuck. Newfound Gap road was closed on the day it snowed but opened the following day in the afternoon.
Cades Cove Road was open that morning.
Places to eat
Breakfast at River Road Pancake house - appears owned by Chinese and served by Russian Immigrants. The food was decent for around 8 to 9 bucks a person - a lot of food, they had wonderful omelets.
The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge on the banks Little Pigeon River is a landmark. This restaurant/mill opened in 1830 and is a must see location. The meal was about 17 bucks per person - and a whole lot of country cookin. We were served corn fritters with butter, corn chowder and a salad - as our appetizers, before the meal even came out. By the time our chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls came out we were pretty much full already. Dessert was three options and we settled on apple cobbler. We took about 2 pounds of food out of this place - and all for about 17 per person. The food was decent, quantity was abundant. This was the cleanest restaurant I saw - the ceiling fan blades and lights above were completely dust free - impressive!
Calhouns was ok - standard rib and steak place with average prices. Service was good.
Smokey Mountain Brewery - they serve beers brewed on location and from other Smokey Mountain brewers. They also serve pizza hand made in the restaurant - with bar and seating upstairs it was a nice treat and will go back there.
TGI Fridays - well it was normal - good food and service.
The Peddler - expensive but the best service and steak in town. We had a bottle of wine, 2 entrees with New York Strip and baked potato and salad bar for around $100.00. The “butcher” brings his wooden cart to your table - a raw uncooked beautiful slab of new york strip sits on top of the cart - the butcher then proceeds to “peddle” his meat (convinces you to buy his steak) - he cuts the portion right in front of you and that exact steak is taken to the chef and cooked. Probably the best New York Stip I’ve had. The peddler is located right next to the Bear Skin Lodge and borders the same river as the lodge.
Cades Cove was beautiful as always. Deer were feeding right next to the road. The tops of those distant mountains were covered in snow. Another rare treat for us that occurred during this trip. Also the corn gristmill at the farmhouse was frozen solid. Giant icicles hung from the circular wheel.
Hikes I recommend
Abram Falls is a pretty tough hike and takes over an hour. The trail head is located within Cades cove on the western side of loop road.
Ramsey Cascade - 20 degree difference in temp from bottom to top - don’t discard your jacket. This hike is a strenuous 4 miles up and the largest waterfall in the Smokey Mountains. It’s a tough hike - each time you think you’re there …….you’re not.
Laurel Falls is close to Gatlinburg, the hike is short and paved. The falls are in two sections
Allum Cave Bluff Trail - 2.5 miles to the bluff - 5 miles goes up to Mt. Leconte. Mt. Leconte has cabins and lodge on top - VERY rustic. The cabins are closed during the winter. It’s a hike in hike out lodge - they get supplies by pack burros and helicopter, but the views are spectacular. We stopped about halfway up to eat at a ledge and the chipmunks came up to beg for food.
Chimney Tops are strenuous and dangerous - haven’t done this hike yet - that’s on our next trip.
Ober Gatlinburg. We ice skated and had lots of fun but, painful on ankles. Snow slopes were open once it got cold enough to make snow - the slopes are open when it’s cold enough to maintain the manufactured snow.?There’s like 8 slopes - it’s not Colorado but it sure isn’t bad. There were coffee and snack bars, restaurants, arcades, and shops. If you don’t drive up there early in the day you’ll have to take the air tram from Gatlinburg because the parking lots fill up around lunch.
Roaring Fork Motor Trail starts and ends in Gatlinburg - it’s very close to town and a great drive, however it’s closed during the winter.
Tags: gatlinburg, new year, smokey
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