Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Smoky Mountains Tennessee

I done dat. Booked one of the little cabins and stayed for the night.

Wife and I have done Leconte about 5 times, stayed at the lodge a couple times. She has hiked it by herself a couple more times.

It’s only a 4 hour drive for us an we used to go 1/2 dozen times a year. For several years. Since high school.

But we are hikers. We have done countless trails, her more so. All the good ones at least.


Hard for me to do in the last 5 years, prednisone, roofing AND all that hiking has smoked my knees.

Gatlinburg is overrun with Moonshine and Wine tasting places now. I don't really mind but I think it does take away from the family friendly environment. They used to have a store dedicated to Mayberry with a mix of John Deere stuff. Seems like its changed a bit. Also, last time I was there I noticed how "diverse" it has become. I blame Bubba Wallace .... Police were telling people to turn down their car stereos on the strip, which for me , was a first to see. Glad they were though since I'm in the get off my lawn stage of my life.

I do admit to buying a healthy supply of blackberry moonshine while I was there.

I love going though. We've kicked around the idea of buying a cabin there and renting it out when we aren't there because we go usually twice a year. Never followed thru , I was scared of the headache of renting. Been going there regularly for 20 years now.

Thanks for the tip! I didn’t know what we were doing had a specific name. For the drive there I’m putting together a route that will be scenic and off the interstate as much as possible. We are taking two days each way so give or take 8 hours a day in the truck.

It was a complete mofo getting reservations.

Like the opening phones of the new york stock exchange. One little old lady doing all the bookings.

I had to get family and friends all calling at once at 9am to cock block some other callers

I swear to god it was like trying to call a radio station when are giving away a 1000$ or fuggin Kid Rock tickets

Mrs slumlord was not happy with the food. Said we got better chow in school lunchroom.

Just drink your Reisling and stfu

No chit!!!!!

They have expanded the gun section[moved it to the lower level].
Pretty good selection from what I could tell a couple weeks back[it was a struggle getting close to counters].
I noticed 3 different wimmens all buying LCP type guns with the help of their husbands. Sign of the times.

In which bar in Gatlinburg did "Sue" fight his dad?

over the years I've got to the point where if I rent a cabin I try to stay off of 321 east of Gatlinburg so I can get to the food city to stock up.The "artist" community area. That seems to provide the most flexibility to me. I can come in from Cosby, or coming in I can take Kings Branch/Glades and if I want to go into the park I can go 321, and then get on River Road, which is still slow but much faster than the main strip.

Last time we went, Waze routed us a new way in - we went thru downtown Knoxville and I guess took 321, it wasn't called 321, I don't remember the name, most of the way along with some small 2 lane roads to pop out where you turn to go to Wears Valley. I had never done that before and I'm not sure it was much of a time saver but it was nice to come out below Sevierville.

I stayed in the hikers bear cage a few times when I couldn't get a cabin.
Place is polluted with black bears, gotta kick them outta the way to go out and take a leak.

321 side yes

We do exactly the same

Feel free to drop me a PM or email or phone call if you need any pointers...

Goofy family stuff is always a blast...

Did the midwest trip about 7-8 years ago... 6 or 7 Highpoints over 2 weeks...

Homemade moccasins for the boys, Stormy Kramer, even Rocky Mountain oysters for unsuspecting children...

Goofy is GOOD!

I tried to sleep in double springs gap shelter. With chainlink

People pissin so much in the corner it wreaked. I packed up my stuff and hiked to a capsite halfway down prong trail towards elkmont. In the morning i seen a sign at my campsite ssid it was closed due to heavy bear activity. Lol
No wonder i was the only one there. Lol

By all means do this. Wildlife is a guarantee. If you’re lucky you’ll get to see some touristos trying to commit suicide by bear, or perhaps even trying to sacrifice their children to the Great Bear God. Great Bear God smile big when tourist bring camera and sacrifice.

Dayum they got babe and paul out by Geno’s place in the Modoc

I'd like to see the Smokies!

Ever stay at the Wonderland Hotel in Elkmount?
Sat on the porch a few times.

We've given up on CC.
Might give it a try in mid January......on a Tuesday.
If we want to see wildlife we head over to Cataloochie or even Cherokee for elk.

Smokey Mountain Knife Works is now a pretty fair gun shop, and their prices for new guns are decent. When ammo was widely available, they had plenty of it at good, sometimes low, prices. They are a major Sig Sauer retailer.

They've really eclipsed Bud's across the street as a gun store, IMO, but Bud's has an indoor gun range and rentals.

I would say that wildlife at the Cades Cove Circular Parking Lot is common, but not guaranteed.

If there's a bear and cubs near the road, you'll only see them if you're at the front of the line of vehicles that has come to a complete halt. If you're back aways, around a curve, you're going to be sitting for a while, wondering, and, depending on your personality, maybe seething inwardly with rage.