Jason Fishman, Author at Visit My Smokies

1543 Articles to Help You Plan & Better Experience the Smoky Mountains

Rhonda Vincent to Headline Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival in Smoky Mountains

Posted on September 5, 2018

A bluegrass band posing with their instruments.

05 Sep

Some of the very best bluegrass performers in the world are coming to Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains! This September, the Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival will return to Kodak, TN for another year of amazing music, food, and fun. The Grammy Award-winning band Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will headline the three-day festival, which will include performances from 15 different bluegrass acts. To help you make the most of your next vacation in Sevier County, Visit My Smokies has put together a guide to everything you need to know about the Dumplin Valley Bluegrass Festival.Continue Reading →

Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway Celebrates 45th Birthday

Posted on August 31, 2018

The Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway on a spring day.

31 Aug

One of Gatlinburg’s most iconic attractions is celebrating a big birthday this month! The Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway officially turned 45 years old on August 5th. First introduced in 1973, the Aerial Tramway is a gorgeous cable car ride that takes visitors from The Strip up to the Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park & Ski Area.Continue Reading →

Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Gatlinburg Reopens with New Design and Exhibits

Posted on August 30, 2018

outside of Ripley's Believe It or Not in Gatlinburg

30 Aug

After 9 long months of waiting, one of Gatlinburg’s most popular attractions is finally open again! Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium is back in action with a completely new design and a great collection of fresh exhibits. Still located in the same building in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, the newly remodeled museum continues the mission of Robert Ripley: showcasing anything and everything that is weird and wonderful.Continue Reading →

Apply to Be an Extra on Dolly Parton’s New TV Show

Posted on August 29, 2018

29 Aug

Dolly Parton is making a TV series, and she needs your help! Set to premiere on Netflix in February of 2019, “Dolly Parton’s Theater” is a brand new anthology series where each episode will be inspired by a different Parton-penned song. The show will start taping a World War II-themed episode in September, and the producers are on the hunt for extras to appear in a number of scenes.Continue Reading →

Armadillos Are Spreading in the Smoky Mountains

Posted on August 26, 2018

26 Aug

When you think about Smoky Mountain wildlife, armadillos are probably the furthest thing from your mind! Nevertheless, these armored critters are steadily increasing their presence around Pigeon Forge, TN and the surrounding area. Scientists first spotted armadillos in East Tennessee around five years ago, and they have been closing in on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ever since. Local reporter Jim Matheny recently covered this unusual phenomenon in a piece for WBIR News:Continue Reading →

Jessica Jane Peterson Launches New Gatlinburg Magic Show

Posted on August 21, 2018

The Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre in downtown Gatlinburg.

21 Aug

Visitors to Gatlinburg, TN now have another can’t-miss show to add to their vacation itinerary! Acclaimed illusionist Jessica Jane Peterson recently launched her very own Magic, Comedy & Variety show in the Smokies. Having appeared on Penn & Teller’s TV program and in a number of popular shows around Sevier County, it’s no surprise that Jessica Jane was named the 2017 Magic Entertainer of the Year by the TMT Entertainment Awards.Continue Reading →

The National Park Service Almost Turned Cades Cove into a Lake

Posted on July 24, 2018

A group of horses grazing in Cades Cove.

24 Jul

Frequented by over 2 million people each year, Cades Cove is the most visited section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With its picturesque fields, well-preserved historic buildings, and abundant wildlife, this breathtaking valley is a truly magical place. Back in the 1930s, however, Cades Cove’s potential as a major tourist destination went largely unrecognized. Believe it or not, there were serious plans to convert the cove into a lake!Continue Reading →

Gatlinburg Named the Prettiest Town in Tennessee

Posted on July 21, 2018

Stunning view of Gatlinburg in the Smoky Mountains.

21 Jul

We’re excited to report that one of our favorite Smoky Mountain cities has received a major honor! Architectural Digest recently compiled a guide to “The Prettiest Town in Every U.S. State,” and Gatlinburg was chosen to represent Tennessee. The Volunteer State is absolutely overflowing with beautiful buildings and breathtaking scenery, so Gatlinburg’s win is no small feat.Continue Reading →

New in Pigeon Forge: Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud – Now Open

Posted on July 17, 2018

17 Jul

Update: This show is NOW OPEN! Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge officially opens for the first show at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.

A classic Pigeon Forge show is making a triumphant return to the Smoky Mountains! This spring, the Lumberjack Feud will reopen with a new venue, new entertainment, and a new celebrity patron. Famous Southern chef Paula Deen will executive produce the show, adding another business to her growing number of ventures in the area. To help you prepare for your next vacation, we have put together a guide to everything we know about Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud in Pigeon Forge.Continue Reading →

Yee-Haw Brewing Company Opens Taproom in Pigeon Forge

Posted on July 14, 2018

The Ole Smoky Barn at The Island in Pigeon Forge.

14 Jul

We’re excited to report that one of Tennessee’s most popular breweries has launched a new location in the Smokies! At the end of June, Yee-Haw Brewing Company officially opened its taproom at The Island in Pigeon Forge. Visitors to the taproom will have the chance to enjoy a pint or a flight of the brewery’s signature beers and to pick up some awesome Yee-Haw merchandise. To help you make the most of your next vacation, Visit My Smokies has put together a handy guide to everything you need to know about the Yee-Haw taproom in Pigeon Forge.Continue Reading →