Smoky Mountain Blog

Originally posted Nov. 6 2005 reposted beacuse of the many questions that we have been getting for the date of peak color change in the trees.

The Cherohala Skyway - Road Trips and Tennessee vacations.

What the heck is the Cherohala Skyway? I have never heard of it until today. It took me a while just to pronounce it correctly and come up with the proper spelling. Is it Cherahala? Cherahalo? Cerohala? Goodness. It took some brochure hunting to get the proper spelling down. Lets not dilly dally! I'm excited to tell my story.....

An old friend of mine is truly gifted by being able to truly cherish the smaller things in life. One of those worldly treasures that most of us take for granted is the landscape and scenery on road trips. Now, I’m not talking about Route 66, the Florida coasts, or Natchez to New Orleans. I’m talking about getting on your local highway and taking the boring drive over to the next town. I’m speaking of the most basic of basics when it comes to scenery.

For myself, I would be falling asleep while looking at tree after tree of the same boring pine, and my friend would be cherishing each one for what it was. In fact, most of the time there was always a sigh of happiness and enchantment by her.

This past weekend I ventured on a business/pleasure road trip of my own. The mountain road that we were on is the Tennessee Cherohala Skyway or the Tennessee National Scenic Byway, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. I’ll be honest. I hate road trips, and I don’t like to take long drives at all. I knew I’d be in for another tiresome pine tree viewing exposition. Joy.

My meeting was in Tellico Plains, nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
The long drive to Tellico Plains was unexpected, but I must say that the scenery on this trip was unimaginable. It turned our that my road trip coincided with the colors of Fall, and I had never truly realized how beautiful Fall could be.

I was born in New York, where fall is observable, and I lived in Florida - where in my opinion there is no Fall season. On my road trip driving through Cherohala Skyway, I was floored by every twist and turn of the road. Those of you who have never seen the fall colors will be in shock if you visit Tellico Plains, Tennessee – specifically the Cherohala Skyway. The explosion of colors and the natural placement of every tree on this trip were just unbelievable. I felt as though I was thrown into a sea of skittles candies.

The point is, fall is truly a wonderful season and around November 6th is the date you want to get out and visit Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Townsend and any part of the Smoky Mountains.

I have never seen so many things come to life on that road trip. It’s almost like I was in a magical land. I now see why it’s rated one of the most driven trails by motorcycle enthusiasts. They have no boundaries or blind spots in their vision. Their views through the twists and turns of the fall colors must be like a 3D-virtual reality drive. Remind me one day to buy a motorcycle and then take the same trip.

Back to my old friend. Think about this; if she saw the dullest of pines come to life in a spectacular way, how would she feel about the Cherohala Skyway? Unimaginable.

Some facts about Cherohala Skyway
The road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests thus the name "Chero...hala"

Tellico Beach Drive-In is located here - one of the most famous places in Tennessee according to my colleague JR.

I met the man yesterday who helped start head up the Cherohala Skyway. Charles Hall is a brilliant and dedicated man. At the time of the brief meeting he was showing us a rare Indian artifact and was like a kid with a sac of candy the day after Halloween. I look forward to meeting with him again.

This year I think the road from Maryville tn to Townsend tn will give the cherohala skyway a run for its money come mid to late October. If you're looking to go to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg and you’re coming from Knoxville, I would suggest going through Maryville (Alcoa highway) through Townsend and then wears valley. If you’re going to stay in a cabin in Gatlinburg or a Pigeon Forge cabin this would be a nice road to go through as well. It dumps right onto the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.

The scenery will be amazing. I’ll wait till the end of the month and let you know how it goes. If anyone else travels this road let me know. There were actually about 6 turkeys running along the side of the road when I went through.

I received a message today from someone looking for a specific art gallery in the smoky mountains. I think I can send them, you, on a hot trail,but I am not sure yet if this is the correct information. I say that because everywhere I searched, the artist’s web site could not be found. I tried calling his 1-800 number listed but it is no longer active. His site should be http://www.leerobersongallery.com but it looks like the artist let the domain name expire or let it go by accident.

Here is the message
::::::::
Please, I have been looking online for a way to contact Lee
Roberson's Gallery or a place that deals his artwork. My father and I
visited there a few years ago and my father saw a print that he
wanted. I would like to purchase it for him, and the only decent lead
I have found brought me to your site. If you would be so kind, I
would like to know if his gallery is still open or if there is a
place I might contact about the purchase I wish to make
:::::::::::

After a vast search on the internet and Townsend smoky mountain material, I ended up using the trusty archive.org. I went there to get an old version of the smoky mountain artist’s website. Please go here http://web.archive.org/web/20050304080246/http://www.leerobersongallery.com/ That may or may not be the correct information, but it is a hot trail to follow. If you find them please let me know here on this blog so that others can find the artists as well. Or if I find them I will add a new post to this post. Happy Hunting.

He makes 12 paintings a year. Here is one of them:

Are you one of those who tosses the soda can or burger wrapper out the window when finished with it? If you didn’t realize already, let me tell you. Your trash has to be picked up by someone, and if its not, the road just stays trashy. Hell, I'm not the cleanest person in the Smoky Mountains. I leave trash around my house at times and in my car as well. Who doesn’t? Don’t be a bone head. Dirty your own car. Dirty your own house. Not the Parkway in the Smoky Mountains. Get a dang trash can you Re Re. Don't use Gatlinburg’s roads or I'll have Karma come throw your waste back in your face.

Not your local candy shop

I started the day meeting with a client in the Village Shops of Gatlinburg. I was in Gatlinburg to consult on some e-commerce and online media development. The meeting went well - Thank you very much for asking. :) It’s so great to work in the field you enjoy and love. The meeting ended positive and just in time for lunch, or some Smoky Mountain Taffy logs and home made chocolate.

After leaving the meeting to get some mow. Yes, mow (pronounced like cow but with a M). Grub. Food. All the same. I passed by a candy shop, ole smoky candy kitchen. I was excited to have some taffy because I hadn’t had any fresh taffy logs since I lived in New York. I watched the taffy being mixed by an automatic taffy mixing machine. We have all seen one of those before. But what was exciting was to see the dozens and dozens of Smoky Mountain taffy logs being cut and wrapped automatically by another machine. Of course this made me hungrier. I had to stop in to get some. Everything in this candy kitchen is home made.

The taffies and chocolate are not like your local candy kitchen. There is so many people buying this ambrosia that the sweets all stay fresh. See that is the secret. Your local candy kitchen has little turn over, so the candy is not as fresh. I ended up getting a box of taffy and a bag of peanut brittle. The have cashew brittle too.

I called the ole smoky candy kitchen tonight and asked if they sell the taffy or home made chocolates on line. I was told that they are not interested in selling online. I don’t know the reason why. Maybe they may be afraid of progress? I bet it could also be too much work. Heck, I’d be willing to help them stream line it and sell it online. If anyone knows why they wo go the internet route let me know. I’d be more than happy to discuss e-commerce with them. I wonder how many people leave the Smoky Mountains wanting more taffy or home made chocolates. From what I saw today they run a tight ship. I got to watch them wrap the individual candies and chocolates between meetings with customers. So many chocolates so little time.

I wonder what all of the other shops are like….Eah…. I had to go get some Mow.

Hello. I did some research for a hourse riding camp in the smoky mountains. I have not been to any myself, but I would love to go one day. When I do, I'll post a blog about it.

All of the smoky mountain park’s horse camps are with the nationwide National Park Reservation Service (NPRS). Advance reservations are definately required by calling 1-800-365-2267 between 10:00am and 10:00pm Please keep your reservation number handy you will need it once you get to the horse camp.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/horsecamps.htm

Cataloochee Campground (NOT THE HORSE CAMP)
Open Mar to Oct
Details
First-come, first serve. This campground has 27 sites and sits at elevation 2,610 feet. Can accommodate RVs up to 31 feet in length. Campground has running water and bathroom facilities, but NO electric hookups or shower facilities. $17 each night. Group camping is also available. Reservations can be made either on line or by calling 1-800-365-CAMP.
The Cataloochee Horse Camp is a separate facility. Please see the "Horse Camp" listing below for additional information.

Open April to November

Reservations Online or by Phone at 1-800-365-CAMP

Details

There are five drive-in horse camps in the park. They are located at Anthony Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Roundbottom, and Towstring. All five horse camps can be reserved through the National Park Reservation Service by calling 1-800-365-2267. Reservations may be made up to five months in advance of your trip. Reservations are by site, with each site accommodating up to six people and four horses. Each site costs $20.00 per night, except Big Creek, which costs $25.00 per night.

Ok so cabins in wears valley outnumber restaurants in wears valley. I went to meet with a Wears Valley real estate company, and I had to starve on the way there and on the way back. Can anyone recommend a good restaurant there? Or should I eat before leaving Townsend and Maryville Tn to go into Wears Valley Tn? Or Do I just eat in Pigeon Forge before I turn onto Wears Valley road. I think I am going to start writing about restaurants in the area and about smoky mountain restaurants. If anyone has any comments on a restaurant please let me know.