Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies announced Thursday an expansion that will include a habitat for about 20 African penguins. The new multimillion dollar exhibit is scheduled to open in mid-March and is located at the site of the former Veranda Restaurant.
The black footed African penguins average about 2 feet in height and weigh around 5 to 9 pounds. The African penguins, with shorter feathers than the Antarctic penguin, are from a warm climate that will allow for them to be displayed in an indoor-outdoor facility.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, located in downtown Gatlinburg, was named the top aquarium in the nation last year by Trip Advisor, the online travel website.
As more and more people spend their Christmas in the Smokies, the number 1 question is: What restaurants will be open Christmas Day? Thanks to our local Chambers of Commerce and The Mountain Press, we have the following list.
Sevierville
· Applewood
· Ball’s Supper Table
· Longhorn Steak House
· Moe’s Southwest Grill Gatlinburg
· Bear Creek Grill (4PM)
· Blaine’s (2PM)
· Eleanor’s Restaurant
· Hard Rock Café
· Howards
· Legends by Max
· Linberger’s
· McDonalds
· Papa John’s
· Park grill
· Park vista
· Peddler
· Ripley’s Aquarium restaurant
· Smoky’s Sports Pub
· The Lodge at Buckberry Creek Pigeon Forge
· Buddy’s Bar-B-Que
· Calhouns
· Corky’s
· Denny’s
· Flapjacks
· Golden Corral
· Happy Days Diner
· Hardee’s
· Kinkaku
· La Carreta
· Louie’s Grill
· Mama’s Farmhouse
· No Way Jose
· Papa John’s
· Shoney’s (Dixie Stampede location)
· Star Buffet Chinese
· TGI Friday’s
· Thai Thani, Oishi
· Wood Grill Buffet
We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year from The Resort at Governor’s Crossing.
Local ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg, opened this weekend for this years ski season. With the recent colder weather here in the Great Smoky Mountains, the ski resort has been able to make snow and has five of their eight slopes open with 15-25” bases reported. Ober Gatlinburg is accessible by car or by taking the Aerial Tramway from downtown Gatlinburg. The tramway happens to be one of the largest in the US. Click here for further information on Ober Gatlinburg.
We have an updated photo from the Campbell Overlook south of Gatlinburg. Some color change is starting to appear in the lower elevations. The second photo is taken from Newfound Gap from the overlook at the parking area.
We are beginning to see color changes of some of the leaves in the Great Smoky Mountains. The following photo is from the Campbell Overlook just south of Gatlinburg, about 12 miles from Newfound Gap. In this wide angel shot taken 10/7/09 you can see some reds and oranges in the upper elevations on some of the ridges.
Fall Foliage at Campbell Overlook 10/7/2009
Weather permitting we will post a photo from the same location next week.
Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg are gearing up for the upcoming car shows the next two weekends. The 37th Annual Shades of the Past show will be held at National Parks Resort Lodge and Smoky Springs Ranch on Sept. 11th & 12th. The Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center will host the annual Grand Fall Rod Run the following weekend, Sept. 18th-20th.
We will try to post some pictures of early arrivals for the car show later this week. The Resort still has units available for these two weekends. Via Veteran’s Boulevard, none car show enthusiasts have easy access to Dollywood.
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg will hold a photography exhibition celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The exhibit is titled “In View of the Smokies: Celebrating 75 Years”.
The exhibit will run Aug. 21st through Oct 10th, Mondays through Saturdays 8:30AM to 4:30PM. Arrowmont is located at 556 Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg.
The former Christus Gardens in Gatlinburg, which was closed in 2008 after 49 years of being one of the areas most popular attractions, will reopen this fall as the Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens. Developers have been acquiring Christian items from around the country for exhibit. Many local artists are also involved in this new attraction.
Located at the original Christus Gardens location on River Road, plans call for a “soft” opening this fall with the grand opening in the spring of 2010.
Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg each have fireworks displays scheduled for the evening of July 4th. Pigeon Forge’s will be held downtown at Patriot Park while Gatlinburg states the best viewing will be on the downtown streets between light number 3 and the sky lift. Both events are scheduled for just after sunset.
For those looking for last minute accommodations The Resort has just a few remaining units available for this upcoming holiday weekend.
Many visitors to the Smoky Mountains have already done their research when planning sightseeing trips. They think about Cades Cove or driving up to Clingman’s Dome and they forget about one of the closest to Sevierville, the Roaring Fork Motor Trail & Historic District in Gatlinburg.
The Roaring Fork Motor Trail begins just past the Rainbow Falls Trailhead on Cherokee Orchard Road. This one-way road will slowly climb Piney Mountain topping out on an overlook of the mountain’s northern slopes at about 3000 feet elevation.
As you begin the decent of the mountain you will pass the Trillium Gap Trailhead before entering the Roaring Fork Hollow. After crossing the bridge over the Roaring Fork (a stream that’s source originates from the northern slopes of Mount LeConte) you will enter the Historic District featuring the Jim Bales Place, older brother’s Ephraim Bales Place, and The Alfred Reagan Farm.
These historic homesteads feature cabin, barns, corn cribs and a “tub” grist mill, many of them being the original buildings. Guest can enjoy a pleasant morning or an afternoon observing these historic buildings of days gone by.
You may reach the Roaring Fork Motor Trail by turning east at either traffic lights 6 or 8 on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg and you will exit at traffic light 1A on the East Parkway. Map of the city of Gatlinburg
All reasonable offers considered!
rate offer is per night, minimum 2-night stay.
Enjoy 2 or more nights in a
luxury condominium at the
Dollywood Package Rate
and for each night stayed
receive one adult 2-day
admission ticket to Dollywood.
Click here for more details.
- Nestled in the Heart of the Great Smoky Mountains -
The Resort at Governor's Crossing - 225 Collier Drive, Sevierville, Tennessee 37862, Toll Free: 1-800-497-5749
