You Can "Sing Your Way to a FREE VACATION"!!!!!!

And Simon WON'T be judging you.  The entries are starting to come in so get your video ready!  ALL you have to do is write and perform a song about our Great Smoky Mountains.  You can go a capella or with a full string section, you can rap, you can beatbox, you can do it opra style.  Just be sure you are having fun when you do it!!!!
You can do it for you and your family or for a family that you think really, really deserves a FREE vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Who could turn that down?!?!?!?!  And its easy to enter and easy to win!!

Here is what the winning entry will get:

 It's worth over $4,000.00!!  The prize package is 5 days and 4 nights in The Great Smoky Mountains.  But that is not all, along with accommodations you will get 2 adult and 2 child tickets to:

The Hatfield & McCoy dinner show

Dixie Stampede dinner show

Comedy Barn

Zip line tours

River Tubing

The Aquarium

The Titanic

Putt Putt Golf

Wonderworks

Tuckaleechee Caverns

Breakfast at Grandmothers Kitchen

Breakfast at Regan’s Pancake house

Dinner at Bullfish Grill

Dinner at Mama’s Farmhouse

Lunch from The Picnic Pantry

A Free Family Portrait

4 Great Smoky Mountains T-Shirts

The history of the Great Smoky Mountains DVD

And priceless memories!!!!

You just have to enter the contest and get here!

Here is all you have to do…….write and perform a song about the Great Smoky Mountains.  Be sure you don’t “borrow” any lyrics or melodies from another source!  Keep it clean, we're all families here.  Submit your entries to us at covecreekresort@gmail.com between the dates of March 1^st and May 1^st.  The winner will be selected by a panel of 5 judges and announced on May 15^th.  The prize package may be used between the dates of August 1^st 2011 through March 10^th 2012, excluding holidays.  See the contest rules here. 

We will post entrants that have made it to the final round (8 spots) on our blog.  You can enter as many times as you like, just be creative and have fun! 

Spring Break Family Visitors and Friends

Spring has finally visited the Great Smoky Mountains and with it she brought us a very busy few weeks.  First of all we enjoyed having the K-Town Good Sams Rally last weekend.  Everyone seemed to have a great time and we sure enjoyed their company.  I was told that this rally group is the most sought after to join, and I can see why......they are always smiling and laughing and carrying on.  I sat at my desk and just enjoyed hearing them play cards or picking their guitars.  We welcome you all back ANY time!!!

Then a few days later we hosted our Wears Valley Chamber meetings.  At the main meeting on Thursday evening we had a guest speaker, Jim McGill who is the founder of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce who hosts the Bloomin' Bluegrass & Barbeque on May 20th and 21st.  (Eating and Entertainment for all ages)

Our own Wears Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts Oktoberfest yearly.  This year the dates are October 21st, 22nd, and 23rd.  Be sure to put it on you calendar, it is a full 3 days of entertainment, crafts, music, contests, demonstrations, pony rides and it's free to attend!  Parking is by donation to benefit the Wears Valley Fire Department.  

Stay tuned for updates about "Sing your way to a free vacation" updates!!!!

Great Things Are Coming With Springtime......

I am talking about FOOD!  We have so many choices of restaurants with such great variety of menus here in the Great Smoky Mountains.  And here are a few secrets that we locals really appreciate:

The Johnson Family of Restaurants offers great discounts during January through March 4th and they have been doing this for a few years now.  It is a phenomenal deal and you can have a feast for what you would pay for fast-food.  All the specials are dine in only.

Alamo Steakhouse (I am putting my favorite first):
Buy one get one free lunch (M-F 11a-3p)
Buy one get one free dinner (Wednesday only)

Bennetts Pit Barbecue:

Buy one get one free lunch (M-F 11a-3p)

Mama's Farmhouse:

10.00 All you can eat dinner of 3 meats, 5 veggies, soup, bread, dessert and a beverage!(M-F)

Big Daddy's Pizzeria:

Buy one get one free lunch (M-F 11a-3p)

Buy one get one free dinner (Friday only)

See, I told you so!  Where can you get an all you can eat home-cooked dinner with all those choices and a beverage for 10.00!?!?  Unheard of!

And, if you happen to be visiting the area outside of the dates for these specials, you can visit their websites and get coupons for up to 15% off.  

And last but definitely not least.........We have heard that my husbands prayers have been answered.  We are getting a Buffalo Wild Wings!  I am sure we will be found there at least once a week as soon as the doors open.  We have been amazed that you really can't find a true hot wings restaurant close by.  We usually travel to Knoxville to Quaker Steak to satisfy our cravings.  Think of the money we will save in gas!

Frugal RV'ing, The Latest Trend!

From the Kansas City Star:

By SHARON HARVEY ROSENBERG AND MYSCHA THERIAULT

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

After months of shopping for an affordable tow-behind recreational vehicle, a manufacturer of custom cargo trailers caught our eye. When we pulled in to see if the cargo trailers could be modified for RV travel, the business owner gave us a bargain tour. The detour included frugal ideas for RV travel.

Alternatives: Horse and race car owners have altered custom cargo trailers to tow gear to events and to haul around a place to sleep on site. The average cost? Around 80 percent less than any other option we had researched. Cheaprvliving.com has information about other unexpected RV alternatives as well, including converted box vans and school buses.

Efficiency: Downsize your belongings and store them as efficiently as possible in order to conserve, space, gas mileage and sanity while traveling. Use accessories to organize your travel equipment. Wall hooks are ideal for securing bags, including sacks filled with bulky cold weather equipment. Other items can be clipped to the ceiling or spaced throughout the vehicle.

Networking: Partner up with other RV folks to share costs on activity and entry fees when you reach your destination. Group and potluck camping dinners are popular with the recreational vehicle crowd, and group activities turn make-your-own meals into a social event. Make new friends to develop a support network and sense of community that you may start missing after several months on the road. Rv.meetup.com lists RV networking groups in various locations. Find one near where you're heading to see if there's an event scheduled during your time there.

Public parks: State parks and private camping grounds often charge affordable overnight rates for RV travelers. Many camp sites are full-service facilities, with a variety of amenities and activities. Regional lists are available at campgrounds-by-city.com and rvparksusa.com. Campgroundsofamerica.com, for example, features a state-by-state list of national forests, state parks, RV parks and campgrounds. Floridaparks.com provides a detailed list of rental fees, park attractions and pet-friendly policies.

Rosenberg and Theriault are co-authors of the best-selling book "10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget," and founders of PoshFrugalityNetwork.com. Theriault is founder of TrekHound.com, a travel website, and TheLessonMachine.com, a website for teachers. Rosenberg is the author of "The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money."

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/31/2621821/the-frugal-traveler-rv-travel.html#ixzz1DCtWFVYf

Did you know Dolly is a avid RV'er? Sure enough........

Our favorite celebrity loves to take off in her RV.  Click here for the clip from the biography channel where she tells all about it.   The RV you see in the video clip is not her actual RV, but click here to see a tour of her class A from an avid fan.  We would love to have her stay with us! 

Gatlinburg in the snow last week

Top Entertainers to be at Country Tonite in 2011

Country Tonite has lined up an amazing year of concerts.  No need to go to Nashville, we'll have it all right here.  Be sure to get your tickets and come stay with us!

 

 

 

LORETTA LYNN

Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$44.50 + tax

For fifty years now, Loretta has fashioned a body of work as artistically and commercially successful—and as culturally significant—as any female performer you’d care to name. Her music has confronted many of the major social issues of her time, and her life story is a rags-to-riches tale familiar to pop, rock and country fans alike. The Coal Miner’s Daughter—the tag refers to a hit single, an album, a best-selling autobiography, an Oscar-winning film, and to Lynn herself—has journeyed from the poverty of the Kentucky hills to Nashville superstardom to her current status as an honest-to-goodness American icon.
Loretta Lynn's Official Site

---

RONNIE MILSAP

Friday, June 17, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$35.00 + tax

Ronnie Milsap ranks as the pre-eminent country soul singer of his generation. His track record speaks loud and clear: Forty # 1 hits, seven Grammy Awards and eight Country Music Association Awards. Together, they underscore Milsap’s position as one of the best-loved and most enduring artists in country music history. A few of his classic songs are “It Was Almost Like A Song”, “What A Difference You’ve Made In My Life”, “I Wouldn’t Have Missed It For the World”, and Tennessee’s newest state song, “Smoky Mountain Rain”.
Ronnie Milsap's Official Site

---

LORRIE MORGAN
and
PAM TILLIS

Friday, July 1, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$35.00 + tax

Lorrie Morgan was barely a teenager when she made her first major appearance in 1975 singing “Paper Roses” with her dad, country star George Morgan on the Grand Ole Opry. Since that fateful night, Lorrie has never looked back. Timeless country standards like “Five Minutes”, “Something in Red”, “Watch Me”, and “What Part of No” established Lorrie as a bona fide country star.
Pam Tillis has been a formidable force in country music since her first single hit the charts in 1990. She has racked up 14 Top Five hits including six that hit #1, and has sold over 6 million records. Her hits include “Don’t Tell Me What to Do”, “Maybe It Was Memphis”, “Shake the Sugar Tree”, and “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)”.
Lorrie Morgan's Official Site
Pam Tillis' Official Site

---

GEORGE JONES

Friday, July 22, 2011 @ 8:00pm
and
Saturday, July 23, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$44.50 + tax

Whether the times have favored honky tonk songs or lushly produced “pop” offerings, George Jones has continued to make his brand of country music, which has produced hits in every decade of the second half of the 20th century. In fact, Jones has had more charted singles than any other artist in any format in the history of popular music. Many consider this member of the Country Music Hall of Fame to be the greatest country singer ever. George Jones is truly a living legend.
George Jones' Official Site
We are happy to announce the addition of Wilson Fairchild as the opening act for Friday and Saturday nights with George Jones. The Reid cousins, who seem more like brothers, have sung together as Grandstaff for over 15 years. Along with their outstanding harmony, which is an inherent trademark from their fathers, Harold and Don Reid, members of the Statler Brothers, Wil and Langdon are prolific songwriters who have had over 30 songs published and recorded. In 2010 the duo changed their name to better express who they are. Wilson is Wil's middle name and Fairchild is Langdon's middle name, making up Wilson Fairchild. Click here to see their video "The Statler Brothers Song", a moving tribute to the men and their music.
Wilson Fairchild's Official Site

---

DON WILLIAMS

Friday, August 19, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$39.95 + tax

Don Williams was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. And rightfully so. With 17 Number 1 hits, Don has an amazing body of work. Some of his classics include "You're My Best Friend", "Tulsa Time", "I Believe In You", "I'm Just a Country Boy", and "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good". In 2006, during his "Farewell Tour of the World", Don played here in Pigeon Forge. That night he promised the audience that if he ever came out of retirement, he would be back. Mr. Williams is keeping his word. And we are thrilled to be one of the stops on this very limited tour.
Don Williams' Official Site

---

GENE WATSON
and
CONNIE SMITH

Friday, September 23, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$35.00 + tax

If you ask any number of country singers who their favorite singer is, a large number of them will respond: “Gene Watson.” Gene has scored over 72 charted songs, including 23 Top Tens and 6 #1 hits over his forty-year career. It is safe to say that most knowledgeable country fans would point to Gene Watson as one of country music’s best ballad singers in the same league as country icons George Jones, Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin and others who are the standard bearers for honest, traditional country music.
Connie Smith is often referred to as the “Rolls Royce of country singers”. Dolly Parton once said, “There’s only three real female singers; Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, and Connie Smith. The rest of us are only pretending.” With hits like “Once a Day”, “Ain’t Had No Lovin”, and “If I Talk to Him”, it is easy to understand why in 2002, Connie was voted in at number 9 on CMT’s Greatest Women of Country Music.
Gene Watson's Official Site
Gene Watson's Fan Site
Connie Smith's Official Site

---

RAY STEVENS

Friday, October 21, 2011
@ 3:00pm & 8:00pm

$44.50 + tax

Multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and two-time Grammy winner Ray Stevens just celebrated 50 years in the music business. With over 25 million albums and over 4 million videos sold throughout his illustrious career, Ray is still entertaining audiences. Some of his comedy classics include “The Streak”, “Shriner’s Convention”, “The Mississippi Squirrel Revival”, and “It’s Me Again Margaret”. Two other favorites are Ray’s Grammy-winning hits “Everything is Beautiful” and “Misty”.
Ray Stevens' Official Site

---

The Nashville Legends Show Featuring , Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius, Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely

Friday, November 11, 2011 @ 8:00pm

$35.00 + tax

This year’s Nashville Legends Show includes four of our favorite stars from The Grand Ole Opry. They will perform solos, as well as duets. This concert will include some of the biggest hits in country music history such as Jim Ed and Helen’s “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You”; Jeannie’s signature song “Don’t Touch Me”; and Jack’s classic, “There Goes My Everything”. Four country legends in one big show.
Jim Ed Brown’s Official Site
Helen Cornelius’ Official Site
Jack Greene’s Official Site
Jeannie Seely’s Official Site

Top 5 RV Recipes: Quick and easy to cook, with little counter space!

* I can’t take the credit…..my fav Paula Deen is responsible for this one. Though, it’s very flexible and you can mix things up a little. I use 2 cups of shrimp stock (make this myself from the shrimp shells and keep in the freezer) and 1 1/2 cups of sherry. The alcohol cooks out and leaves a rich flavor. Be sure to mix the stock and sherry together before you integrate into the base. You can also add curry to give it a sweet and savory edge.


Shrimp Bisque:

Ingredients
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 green onion with tops, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 glove garlic, minced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half and half
3 1/2 cups fish stock
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
8 ounces cooked shrimp or lobster meat, chopped
Homemade croutons, recipe follows
Directions
In a medium saucepan, add celery, onions and butter, stirring occasionally. When tender add garlic and mix together. Stir in flour and half and half. Let simmer for 5 minutes.

Stir in fish stock and parsley. Cook for 10 minutes until it thickens. Add shrimp meat and let simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through. Stir occasionally. Add salt, to taste.

When ready, serve with croutons.

“Yummo” as Rachel Ray would say. Perfect for winter and it only takes about 30 minutes!

*This one is handed down from my mom.  It is in an old cookbook that she had from her home-economics class in college.  It's a classic and we call them cow patty cookies.  Easy to make on the stove top, especially if you are in a travel trailer with no stove!  Great to share with fellow RV'ers next door or around the fire-pit.

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 c. milk

2 c. sugar
4-5 Tbs. cocoa

1 stick butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy, your choice)

2.5-3 cups quick cooking oats

In large saucepan, mix the first three ingredients. Turn on heat and add butter, stirring constantly. Slowly bring to a boil over medium heat. Go to a full boil for 2 minutes. If you don't reach a full rolling boil for 2 full minutes the cookies will be grainy.

Remove from heat and add 1 tsp vanilla, stir in peanut butter until fully incorporated.  Add 2 cups of the oats and slowly add more as needed.  The oats should be totally coated with not much excess liquid.  Quickly drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper.  Let cool about 30 minutes.  

We don't always let them fully cool, they are good warm by themselves or over ice cream.


 

* Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner!  This is a very flexible recipie that you can add peppers or a layer of beans.

Breakfast Hashbrown Mash

1 package shredded hashbrowns (if using boxed, rehydrate with water and drain)
Sausage (bulk, fried and crumbled) or Chopped ham or Crumbled fried bacon
One small onion chopped (or 1 tbls. dried onion)
One garlic clove (or garlic powder or salt)
1 8 oz package grated cheese (your choice)
6 Eggs beaten well
Vegetable spray or vegetable oil

This can be cooked in a skillet, Dutch oven or regular oven. Spray bottom of pan, put hashbrowns on bottom, place meat choice on top of hashbrowns, mix onion, garlic with eggs, and pour over hashbrown and meat mix. Top with cheese and bake 30 minutes or brown on stove top, cooking potatoes and meat first, then add egg mixture, turn once and when done add cheese until melted. Great served with homemade salsa or chili.

Preheat electric skillet to 300 degrees. Beat egg in large mixing bowl. Add all other ingredients and mix well to combine. Pour into skillet, cover and cook until edges pull away from side of pan and are slightly brown - 20 to 30 minutes. Bam!  How easy is that?!? *This one is from a favorite site of mine (click here) and this was featured when they were in the Great Smoky Mountains! Corn Casserole 1 large egg 1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn 1 can (15 oz) creamed corn 1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix 1/2 c reduced fat sour cream 1 stick (1/2 c) butter - melted Preheat electric skillet to 300 degrees. Beat egg in large mixing bowl. Add all other ingredients and mix well to combine. Pour into skillet, cover and cook until edges pull away from side of pan and are slightly brown - 20 to 30 minutes. *Last, but not least.  Another simple and easy main dish from another favorite site (click here). Porcupine Beef 1 lb. ground beef 1/3 cup uncooked instant rice 2 eggs, beaten 1 1-1/2 ounce envelope dry onion or vegetable soup mix 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet green or Jalapeno pepper 1 14-1/2 ounce can stewed tomatoes 1 12 ounce can or bottle of light beer 2 tsp. chili powder 3 Tbsp. Flour Mix together the ground beef, rice, eggs, dry soup mix and chopped pepper. Shape into 6 large balls. Combine tomatoes, beer and chili powder in a large skillet or 3-quart baker. Heat to boiling over medium heat or in a 350 degree oven. Carefully drop meatballs into hot tomato mixture; cover and simmer or bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Lift out meatballs and thicken sauce with 3 Tbsp. flour mixed with cold water, if desired. Serve in deep bowls with cornbread or crusty bread. Makes 6 servings. Thanks to the contributors, and ENJOY!

Welcome 2011! Upcoming Events For January and February

Night Magic Skiing Gatlinburg : Jan 02, 2011 — Feb 25, 2011 Ober Gatlinburg:  For more information click here.

Wilderness Wildlife Week Pigeon Forge : Jan 08, 2011 — Jan 15, 2011  The award-winning 21st annual event has something for all ages.  Seminars, lectures, walking tours, hikes, and hands on events all about the glorious creatures that live here in our Great Smoky Mountains.  For more information click here.

Titanic's Ice Sculpting Competition Pigeon Forge : Jan 22, 2011 The Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge will kick-off its first free, family themed, outdoor event with a major ice carving competition on Saturday, January 22 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Professionals and amateurs will sculpt 250 pounds of ice into a work of art.  Come early to get the best spots by the stage.  For more information click here.

Tennessee Winter Special Olympics Gatlinburg : Jan 30, 2011 — Feb 02, 2011 Watch and cheer as the Special Olympics athletes compete for the gold in their annual Winter Olympics day.  For more information click here.

Titanic's Sweetheart Month Pigeon Forge : Feb 01, 2011 — Feb 28, 2011 Valentine's Day will be celebrated all 28 days of the month! Wedding Renewal Ceremonies will be held on the Grand Staricase and officiated by the captian.  Reservations are required, space is limited. For more information click here.  Townsend's Winter Heriatge Festival Townsend:  Feb 03, 2011 - Feb 06, 2011 The Festival is a celebration of the human history, natural beauty, and cultural traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Lectures, classes, mountain crafts, mountain music, hikes, walks, tours, an award winning event that has something for everyone.  For more information click here.

Saddle Up! Pigeon Forge : Feb 24, 2011 — Feb 27, 2011 Saddle Up! is an award-winning 4-day event. A celebration of the American West that features concerts, Cowboy poetry, chuckwagon cookoff, and even Cowboy Church. For more information click here.

Night Magic Skiing Gatlinburg : Jan 02, 2011 — Feb 25, 2011 Skiers and snowboarders will be able to stay on the slopes well into the evening during Night Magic from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Ober Gatlinburg.  For more information click here.

Christmas Snow in the Smokies, and lots of it!

I clearly remember the last white Christmas we had before this year.  It was 1983 and it wasn't near the amount we recieved this year!  I was hoping to go home for Christmas but the weather had different plans.  We spent the day in Gatlinburg having fun.  Here are some pictures on Christmas Day and the day after.  Christmas Day had the least amount of accumulation and then on Monday we finally saw some beautiful sunshine! 

The day after Christmas, and more snow!

Monday and the much needed sunshine!

Another Attraction for Pigeon Forge!

Pigeon Forge is getting another great new attraction!  The Hollywood Wax Museum will invest $15 million to bring the museum back to life in Pigeon Forge.  Earlier in 2010 the old was museum located in Gatlinburg was closed with only the Branson, Mo location remaining.  The 30,000 square foot facility will be constructed where the Dinosaur Walk Museum now stands and is scheduled to open in the sring on 2012.


Tej Sundher, one of the partners in the business, said “Pigeon Forge will become our model wax museum because we’ll build it from the ground up with a third more space than we have in Branson,” he said. “That allows us to combine our most successful elements from 45 years of experience with our whole new wish list.”

The exterior will feature a scale model of the New York skyline with King Kong scaling a skyscraper, along with a model of the Hollywood Sign. A “Mount Rushmore” style facade with the faces of Hollywood icons John Wayne, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland and Charlie Chaplin will stand beside it.

The developers, Kuvera Partners, are willing to invest the money because they believe the area meshes with their plans. “We know that Pigeon Forge is a perfect match for this,” Sundher said. “We have a general manager who lives in Sevierville, and we are looking forward to bringing in attractions that will do great things for the area for years to come.”

See article at The Mountain Press

Top 10 Christmas Light Shows: Look How We Ranked!

Congratulations to us, we took the #1 and #4 spots.  We aren't too surprised!

Christmas Light Shows

1. Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland, West Knoxville and Bristol, Tenn. 2. Silver Dollar City, Branson, Mo. 3. Oglebay Festival of Lights, Wheeling, W.Va. 4. Smoky Mountain Winterfest, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, Tenn. 5. Trail of Lights, Austin, Texas 6. Magical Nights of Lights, Lake Lanier, Ga. 7. Holiday Festival of Lights, Charleston, S.C. 8. Enchanted Garden of Lights, Chattanooga, Tenn. 9. Louisville MEGA Cavern, Louisville, Ky. 10. Southern Lights, Lexington, Ky.

Source: America's Best Online.net

Two New Attractions Coming to Pigeon Forge!

We are thrilled to learn of two new attractions that will be soon arriving in Pigeon Forge! 

The owner of the Titianic Pigeon Forge, John Joslyn, will be opening Water Magic directly across the street from the Titanic attraction. 
John Joslyn said, “When we came to East Tennessee last April, we had evaluated a number of tourism markets.  We have experience in Orlando and in Branson – so we truly believed our concepts would succeed here.  We’ve surpassed our projections here in Pigeon Forge in almost every way, so it should come as no surprise that we want to build our next major attraction right here.  I can assure you, Water Magic will exceed any of your expectations – this one is simply going to blow you away.

“Water Magic will be one of the world’s most innovative and magical family-themed attractions.  Full of water but not a water park – Water Magic will introduce a new dimension in family entertainment for all generations.”

The attraction will be eco friendly by recycling water, generating electricity and producing its own HVAC system.  Just like the TIntanic, it will be a structure you can't miss.  We'll keep you posted as this incredible attraction takes shape.

The second new attraction is kind of bittersweet.  We will be saying goodbye to the Black Bear Jamboree and hello to the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud.  Fee Headrick Entertainment (The Mircale Theater, Magic Beyond Belief, and others)  is launching the new production in the Spring of 2011.  The show is loosely based on the true story of the famous Hatfield and McCoy feud. The audience will be divided into the Hatfield and McCoy families by special seating areas. The show will extend throughout the theater as the audience participates in the good natured rivalry. Dangerous and comical stunts will be performed throughout the show to add a special excitement. Singers, dancers, actors, musicians and specially trained stunt people will round out the cast. As with all Fee/Hedrick shows, this new show will have a family friendly atmosphere with a focus on fun.
“Our area is rich with Appalachian heritage,” said theater co-owner David Fee. “Mountain clans were a way of life here, and this show will showcase all that’s great about them!”
The building, which Fee and Hedrick purchased in 2002, will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation and transform in appearance into two neighboring hillbilly style mountain homes complete with a decorative moonshine still and barnyard animal areas. “We wanted a fun and whimsical look for our new dinner feud,” says Fee.
The theater lobby will also feature the largest moonshine still in the world – soon to be verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. “The Moonshine Still will be an interactive learning center that highlights the history of the mountain people, but interjected with lots of humor”, says Hedrick. “Our customers will have a better understanding of everyday life back in the hills, while making them laugh at the same time!”

We will keep you posted as these attractions develop!

Our Great Local Legend: Dolly!!!

It's not surprising that we have an affinity for Dolly Rebecca Parton.  The singer, actress, writer and philanthropist is the darling of our area.  Not only is she talented (writing over 3,000 songs in her lifetime) but she posseses a unique wit and charm.   She hasn't forgotten where she came from and continually gives to the communities of Gatinburg, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.  She began the Imagination Library to provide books for children from birth to kindergarten.  Her inspration for the Imagination Library was her father who couldn't read or write, not from a lack of desire, but from a lack of opportunity.  She stated that she wanted to “put her money where her mouth is – and with such a big mouth that’s a pretty large sum of money”, and so she did.  Tennacious, intuitive and gracious she continually gives to the community in ways that aren't announced or read about.  Her affiliation with Dollywood and Splash Country and her own Dixie Stampede creates thousands of jobs and is a major economic contributor for the area.
  
So, enjoy just a few quotes from our "Book Lady" Dolly listed below.  Let us know your favorite or send us one we may have missed!

 If you time your vist just right you may get a glimpse of Dolly, she regularly returns to her Smoky Mountain Home and stars in the yearly kickoff parade for Dollywood each spring.  

1. I still close my eyes and go home - I can always draw from that.

2. I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else.

3. If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one.

4. If you talk bad about country music, it's like saying bad things about my momma. Them's fightin' words. 

5. I look just like the girls next door... if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.
 
6. Storms make trees take deeper roots.

7. The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.

8. We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.

9. You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try. 

10. You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap!

11. I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde. 
 

Things we get to see and enjoy everyday!

The geese on the pond.  I just happened to be looking out the window from the Cherokee Room and saw one goose standing on the brim of the pond.  I got closer and found there was a gaggle!

This is our camp cabin...........not really:)

I don't know if you can see the double rainbow, but we did have one.  Right after the rain the first day of December.

Two days later after rain, this is why it's called the Great Smoky Mountains!  You can see we still had some color left.  This year the leaves started turning late and really hung on almost all the way to December. 

This was the week of Thanksgiving, the mountain tops covered in snow.  We didn't get any accumulation, but it looks like they did in elevation.   

On my way out the other night, stumbled upon this amazing sunset.

Today the sun is shining but it is still spitting snow, no accumulation is expected.  

It is really great to be here at the resort and get to see views like this everyday.  I find myself walking around with the camera a lot.  I hope this gives everyone a good idea of the resort and how amazing it is.  We look forward to seeing you!

Our 20 favorite quotes on Traveling........Enjoy!

1. The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine

2. I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I travel for travel's sake.  The great affair is to move.  ~Robert Louis Stevenson

3. A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours. 

-J.B. Priestly

4. Traveling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station. -Lisa St Aubin De Teran

 5.What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do - especially in other people's minds.  When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then.  People don't have your past to hold against you.  No yesterdays on the road.  ~William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways

6. To get away from one's working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one's self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change.  ~Charles Horton Cooley

7. And that's the wonderful thing about family travel:  it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind.  ~Dave Barry

8. Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness.  ~Ray Bradbury

9. I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.  ~Mark Twain

10. Just get on any major highway, and eventually it will dead-end in a Disney parking area large enough to have its own climate, populated by large nomadic families who have been trying to find their cars since the Carter administration.  ~Dave Barry

11. Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.  Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.  ~Mark Twain

 12. I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.  ~Caskie Stinnett

13. A passport, as I'm sure you know, is a document that one shows to government officials whenever one reaches a border between countries, so the officials can learn who you are, where you were born, and how you look when photographed unflatteringly.  ~Lemony Snicket

14. The traveler sees what he sees.  The tourist sees what he has come to see.  ~G.K. Chesterton

15. We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.  ~Hilaire Belloc

16. Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.  ~Benjamin Disraeli

17. All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time. – Paul Fussel

18.  A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. - LaoTzu

19.  A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles. -Tim Cahill

20.  Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by. - Robert Frost