Appalachian Trail Thru-hikers to enjoy “Trail Magic” Welcome to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Easter Sunday

Fontana, North Carolina – HeySmokies.com will greet thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail as they enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with some “Trail Magic” to celebrate the Easter holiday on April 5, 2015.

As part of the Appalachian Trail’s 90th Anniversary this year, the HeySmokies.com team will serve a complimentary Easter picnic to individuals who are currently hiking the entire length of the 2,189 mile-long footpath that runs from Georgia to Maine.

“Trail Magic is something no thru-hiker expects, so when it happens it’s quite a welcome surprise,” says Brad Knight, co-founder of HeySmokies.com, “This is just a great way to pay it forward for the Trail Magic when I hiked.” Knight completed a six-month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 1997.

Northbound hikers enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just after crossing over Fontana Dam in North Carolina. They will traverse 71 miles through the National Park’s high country to exit at Davenport Gap in Tennessee. The highest point on the Appalachian Trail is at Clingmans Dome at 6,643 ft.

“We expect to feed anywhere between 20 and 50 thru-hikers,” says Knight, “we coordinated with Jeff Hoch, the owner of The Hike Inn, to scout out a great location on the trail just a few miles before they reach Fontana.”

Although millions of people hike sections of the Appalachian Trail each year, only about a hundred hikers actually complete the entire trail. Most thru-hikers begin the trek in early spring at Springer Mountain, Georgia to walk north with the seasons.

Spring Breakers Site Sasquatch in the Smokies

Spring breakers from Panama City, Florida report a Sasquatch siting in the Smokies on April 1, 2015. This recent encounter has the local population on edge as fears escalate. The Sasquatch, a large half-bear / half-man creature, was believed to dwell only in the Pacific Northwestern U.S. until recently.

That belief changed early this spring when park visitors reported a large “creature” walking up-right near populated areas. Officials urge the public to keep a close eye on children and pets until the creature can be positively identified.

“Dude, it was big,” says spring breaker Jeff Spicoli. The mystery has intensified as it has been documented that all wildlife have fled the areas where the encounters occurred.

“I thought it was strange all the animals just left the area,” says local ranger I.B. Lyon, “then I noticed the huge footprints. It was a big foot no doubt about it.”

Lyon further explains,” I went back to the Jeep to call it in on the radio and my vehicle was gone. It was like someone just picked it up and carried it off. Those big foot prints were everywhere!”

He was there all alone in the Smokies wilderness and no way out. And somewhere deep in the forest Lyon heard a growling sound…

Continue reading…

Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge Hosts 3rd Annual Book Signing Fair


Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge hosts their 3rd Annual Book Signing Fair beginning March 13 through April 12.

Our fascination with all things Titanic have provided us with hundreds of books on the subject. Now is your opportunity to check out some of the latest books and meet the authors!

You’ll have the opportunity to meet the incredible Lowell Lytle, author of Diving into The Deep. Lytle holds the distinction of being the oldest and possibly the tallest person to dive 2.5 miles deep in the North Atlantic Sea to see the wreckage of the Titanic first-hand. His inspired character portrayal of Captain E. J. Smith has entertained generations and is not to be missed.

Here’s the rundown of the authors with whom you’ll have the chance to meet:

Friday, March 13 – Sunday, April 12 (times vary)
Lowell Lytle, Diving into the Deep

Tuesday, March 24 & Wednesday, March 25 (10:00 am – 5:00 pm)
Cheryl Mure and Cassandra Jones, Ahoy Titanic

Continue reading…

Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort to host 2nd Annual Recycling Games on March 1

Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Keep Sevier Beautiful are kicking off Keep America Beautiful’s flagship event, the Great American Cleanup, with their own 2nd Annual Recycling Games at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 1.

As part of this exciting event, Wilderness at the Smokies is offering special one-day tickets to their WildDome Waterpark for only $15 per person. You can splash and play from 1:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Ticket prices are for both adults and children ages 3 and over. Proceeds from the day will be donated to Keep Sevier Beautiful and the Sevier County Food Ministry.

The 2nd Annual Recycling Games will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and will offer fun and games for the whole family. The first 500 kids to sign up to participate in the games receive a special goody bag.

“Our goal is to bring fun opportunties for environmental education and positive behavior changes to a local level,  and to engage our community to take greater responsibility for our beautiful area,” says Keep Sevier Beautiful’s executive director Laura Howard.

Other sponsors for the event are Tanger Outlets in Sevierville, Hard Rock Cafe in Pigeon Forge, Food City, ALCOA, The Mountain Press, Pepsi, and the Sevier County Food Ministry Thrift Shop.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Recycling Games event visit www.facebook.com/events.

Continue reading…

Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort Opens New Slope “Yeti’s Run”

It’s been quite some time since Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort developed a new slope, so this season’s opening of the new Yeti’s Run has been quite welcome for skiers and snowboarders.

Yeti’s Run, an advanced rated slope, splits off to the east from the top of Black Lift. The new run is 635 feet long and 45 feet wide and allows for more options down the slope as it reconnects with Mogel Ridge, Grizzly or Upper Bear Run. Yeti’s Run, with 100% snowmaking capabilities,  is equipped with lights for skiing and snowboarding after dark and will allow more space for special events at the ski area.

This 2014-2015 season is Ober Gatlinburg’s 53rd year offering a variety of snow sports and other activities in the Great Smoky Mountains.

In addition to snow tubing in winter, you and your family can skate at Ober’s Indoor Ice Rink, experience the Wildlife Encounter, or have fun in the Arcade.

Summer offerings include an alpine slide, scenic chairlift, chair swing, water raft rides, mini-golf, and a maze. Opening this spring will be their new Mountain Coaster.

For more info on hours and rates, click here or call Ober Gatlinburg at 865-436-5423