A Postcard from Gatlinburg, Tennessee
The colors are unimaginable...so many shades of orange and red in these fall trees. And its so quiet, we can actually hear the sound of one leaf falling. Breathing clear, fresh mountain air, we have more than enough energy for all the outings.
About Gatlinburg, Tennessee
If you are looking for an outdoors recreation area, with lots for kids to do as well, the mountain town of Gatlinburg is ideal. Located at the heart of the Smokies, Gatlinburg features breathtaking mountain views as well as a culture all its own. With peak visitor traffic in July and October, having your own vacation home here lets you beat the crowds any time of year. Nearby towns of Pigeon Forge and Sevierville offer close-by excursions for other activities.
By far, the most magnificent reason to have a vacation home in Gatlinburg is for the easy access to the Great Smoky National Forest. Declared an international biosphere reserve, its 500,000 protected acres house an immense diversity of plants and animals, many of which survived only here after the Ice Age. At various altitudes, each area has its own ecology worth exploring.
The home of Ripley's Believe it or not Museum, Gatlinburg is a great getaway for those who love plenty of wide open space. If you are looking for just a place to relax, consider one of the many serene mountain vacation homes nestled in the trees. Relaxing or active, you can enjoy four seasons of vacation living here.
Local History
Settled in the early 1800's, the early homesteaders were basically a subsistence community. While the original Cherokee inhabitants were eventually forced west, there is still a number of citizens with Cherokee ancestry here. During the civil war, the town voted 1,302 to 1 to remain in the Union. The first school was opened in 1910 when a fraternity committed to provide education to a community which had none available yet. The school is now a school of Arts and Crafts. The first hotel was built in the 1900s to accommodate the lumber industry. Once the national park was firmly established in 1940's, tourism created new grown in the town.
An Average Lifestyle in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
A good number of second home owners are families, looking for a fun place to take their kids outdoors. The area attracts hikers in the summer and skiers in the winter. Overall, the focus here is on vacation, and creative ways to entertain entire families.
Housing
Options: From cabins to chalets, condos to golf course living, all types of vacation homes are here. You can find a log home from $179,000 and a 5 bedroom estate for $1.9 million. The best thing about Gatlinburg is that there is housing in practically every price range, with excellent value and a good rental market as well.
Median Housing Costs: (Census 2000) $147,000
Things to Do in Gatlinburg
Winter Skiing
Whitewater rafting on Big Pigeon River
Hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Camping
Ride the skylift or tramway to the top of the mountains
Fly fishing
Golf on dramatic mountain courses
Horseback riding in the national park
Miniature golf
Swimming
Old fashioned Hayrides
Cultural Activities in Gatlinburg
Visit the Guinness World of Records Museum
Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum
Aquarium
Summer Sidewalk Musicians
Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Foundation
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Location
Sevier County, Tennessee in East Tennessee
Elevation: 1,300-1,500 ft
Size: 10.1 miles
Distance to other major cities
Knoxville, TN: 35 miles
Asheville, NC: 70
Atlanta, GA: 150 miles
Getting To Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Easy access by car from North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee.
By air to Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (34 miles) or Asheville Regional Airport (70 miles)
Weather
Annual Average Temperature: Jan: 34; July 70
Annual Average Rainfall: about 60 in, with snow in winter
Economics and Demographics
Population: 3,816, about 760,000 visitors annually (almost 1 million visit the National Park yearly)
Median Age, 2000: 46.8
Median Household Income: $37,606
Principle Industries
Tourism