…besides being nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains…
Tonight at 12:01am (EDT) this little town starts its July 4th parade, making it the FIRST July 4th parade in the country. They’ve been doing this for several years.
Will I be there? I doubt it, since I get up at 5am to go to work. But, I always plan to get to bed early and I often find myself still up past midnight…so who knows?
Anyway, I just had to share this mundane stuff with y’all.
Peace, Love, and The American Way,
TN*hippie
That area of the Smokies is beautiful. My grandfather lived in Pigeon Forge, and seeing the mountains, shrouded in that lovely mist early in the morning, was a sight I’ll never forget.
Thanks for the nice memory, hippie
Gatlinburg? I thought he was the guy who invented the mass-produced five barrel rotary bible. 
Seriously though, thanks for the info. I’ll have to remember to stop by there if I ever get the chance. 'Sounds fun.
Ranchoth
My Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle George Ferry live in Gatlinburg, or at least they did the last time I saw them when I was 8 years old (30 years ago).
I remember visiting them and going to the Museum of Atomic Energy, The TVA, and Cherokee, the early american settlement.
I’d love if you’d check the local phone book to see if there are any Ferry’s still listed. I’d love to talk to them again. You can e-mail me with any information.
The town is also mentioned in the epic song “A boy named Sue”
written by the unforgettable Johnny Cash, so the place has
more than one claim to fame. (Tee-Hee)
The song was performed by Johnny Cash.
It was written by the inimitable Shel Silverstein.
Gatlinburg also is home to Dollywood, a theme park built by Dolly Parton (is it still there?).
So there are other mountains besides the Smokies in that neck o’ the woods. 
FWIW, I thought of Johnny Cash the moment I saw the thread title!
But I busted a chair right across his teeth
And we crashed through the wall and into the street
Kicking and a’ gouging in the mud and the blood and the beer.
Johnny Cash is the best.
Close but no cigar. Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge, just a few miles outside of Gatlinburg. I ought to know I’ve had season passes to the place for 2 years now. (Going there for a few days next week actually.) And yeah it’s still there, getting bigger and better every year. It’s no Busch Gardens or Disney World but it’s fun for us po’ mountain folk who don’t have the money to travel so far.
Dolly has also recently built a water park next to Dollywood too. It’s call Splash Country. Haven’t visited it yet but hopefully I’ll get to next week.
Honey, I checked my phone book and didn’t see any Ferry listed. But it’s quite possible that there are some in one of the surrounding counties. I’ll continue to search if you’d like.
Janx – Thanks for reminding me. I’d forgotten that part of the song. Gatlinburg is mentioned in at least 2 other country songs…can anyone name them?
DAVE, fizz is correct about Dollywood. IMHO, it’s the only redeeming value of Pigeon Forge. Gatlinburg is tacky, but Pigeon Forge is the very definition of tackiness.
fizz is also corrrect about Shel Silverstein. Inimitable, indeed. I certainly wouldn’t attempt to imit him.
Thanks to all of y’all for responding to my immodest bragging about this sweet little burg. We’s right proud of the place. Now git yer asses down here and spend some money. If it weren’t for you tourists, this town would not exist.
Love to All,
TN*hippie
Isn’t Gatlinburg the only place to snow-ski in Tennessee? Maybe it’s just a place to ski in TN. From way out here in flat, snowless Delta-country Memphis, it’s hard to tell them apart.
Happy Fourth, everyone! I’m off to the baseball game!
I’m trying, I’m trying. Of course, Gatlinburg may not be a destination of choice for a student trying to survive in the land of the high(er) sales tax. At least my school will be open.
I don’t know…isn’t Gatlinburg home to several thousand wedding chapels, all conveniently located right next to tattoo & percing parlors? (after all, what better way to show your undying devotion by getting hitched at the Elvis Chapel O’Love and then getting matching tattoos?) It isn’t much better than Pigeon Forge…
I like Gatlinburg, though. It amuses me immensely. I’m quite glad I don’t live there, but it’s a fun place to spend the day every once in a while.
jessica
TN*hippie
Thank you so much for checking the phone book for me. You and I both live in very beautiful places (The Smokies and The Adirondacks, it doesn’t get any better). Happy 4th to ya.
Honey
I’ve been going to G-burg since I was a little //\etallitoddler, and I LOVE it. Me and the //\etallibabe spent a weekend there in May this year.
To those of you who are going, take my advice, rent a chalet on ski mountain. It’s the only way to go! It’s a little more expensive than a hotel, but it’s worth it and some of them are very reasonable. The peace and quiet factor is amazing. Ours was way out on mountain ridge and we never heard or saw a single car pass the whole time we were there, and yet you’re only a 5 min. drive from downtown. We had a jacuzzi in the bedroom and a hot tub on the deck. A good time was had by all, hehehehehhe!
I could talk about Gatlingburg all day!
They got Drive-Thru weddings too! For 60 bucks you can get married quicker than you can get your order at the drive through at Mcdonalds.
I see a plan forming in my head 
A beautiful mountian vacation, a pretty lady, loads of alcohol and 60 bucks I can finally lower my insurance premiums!
I have been to Gat once and ejoyed it was an interesting place aside from the damn Neon everywhere (not so much in the downtown area as towards pigon forge.
Nice neck of the woods to be living the Hippie
I always thought that Gatlinburg was like Dollywood, except owned by the Gatlin Brothers.
So, are those jacuzzi’s & hottubs cleaned after each party checks out?? Just wondering…
I’m the only person in TN, that’s never been to Gatlinburg. Although, my husband went with somebody else. Does that count?
Used to go every year when I was in high school. Family trip with the kid brother and all the go-karts we could take. Dollywood used to actually let you fire old guns (like Civil War old) as a game. Hard to aim with them suckers.
DaLovin’ Dj