5 Things You Can Only Find in the Smoky Mountains

When you visit the Smokies, there are a few things you will want to experience while you are here. Not only because they are amazing, but also because you will not find anything like them anywhere else. Here are 5 things you can only find in the Smoky Mountains:

1. Gatlinburg SkyBridge

After you ride the iconic SkyLift to the top of the Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, you will come face to face with the SkyBridge. Located 1,800 feet above sea level, the Gatlinburg SkyBridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America! It stretches nearly 700 feet across a deep valley. The views of the Smoky Mountains you can experience from the bridge will leave you speechless! The best part of the experience is when you come to the 30 feet portion that is made with a glass floor. This enables you to look down and see how far up in the air you really are! If the thought of the bridge makes you a little nervous, don’t be afraid. Guests can travel at their own pace and are free to walk back whenever they are ready. The experience of walking on the SkyBridge is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you will only find in the Smokies!

2. House of the Fairies

While there are a ton of hiking trails that are only available in the Smoky Mountains, one of the more unique ones is the one to the House of the Fairies. From 1928 to 1944, a man named Louis E. Voorheis developed a mountain retreat that spanned across 38 acres. His goal was to use this area to get away from crowds of people. He also enjoyed experimenting with water power, which led to him choosing a property that had two creeks running through the middle of it. Soon after he bought the land, he built a water powered mill and decorated it with planted flowers and trees. In order to see this amazing structure, you will need to hike on Twin Creeks Trail. As you make your way along the trail, you will see many buildings from the Voorheis Estate. One of those buildings will be the springhouse. That is the one that is known as the House of the Fairies! It got its name because of the moss that has grown up over the stone exterior and is something you need to see to believe!

3. Dolly Parton Statue

If you are familiar with the history of the Smokies, you probably know the effect that Dolly Parton has had in the area. She grew up in Sevier County and has done so much to help the area thrive. That is why she has her own statue located in front of the Sevier County Courthouse. It has become one of the premier must see things in the area for all lovers of Country music and Dolly Parton. The statue was unveiled on May 2, 1987 with Dolly in attendance. The life size bronze statue is of Dolly as a young girl sitting on a rock with her guitar in her hands. The next time you visit the Smokies, don’t miss out on having your picture made in front of one of the area’s most influential figures!

4. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum

While there are some interesting museums all across the Smoky Mountains, none are quite as unique as the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum in Gatlinburg. As you can imagine, this is the only museum of its kind in the world! After all, where else are you going to be able to find 20,000 different pairs of salt and pepper shakers? The main question people have about this museum is how it came to be. Well, back in the 1980s, Andrea Ludden needed a pepper mill. She was able to locate a few and placed them in her windowsill. When the neighbors started to notice, they assumed she was collecting them and brought over a few to add to the collection. Soon after, she began to realize they were all different shapes, colors, and sizes. That is when the idea hatched that eventually led to the museum that you can see today.

5. Pigeon Forge Snow

Pigeon Forge Snow is America’s First Indoor Snow Park. This is where you can take your family to enjoy a winter wonderland, even in the middle of summer. The temperature on the inside of the building is always between 60 and 70 degrees, so you don’t have to bring your parka along! There are a number of different activities at the amusement park, including snow tubing. They offer 12 lanes of tubing where you can race your friends and family to the bottom of the hill! Afterwards, enjoy the huge play area where you can work together to create the perfect snowman. Every member of your family will have a blast at Pigeon Forge Snow and it is an experience only available in the Smokies.

Now that you know about some of the things you can only find in the Smoky Mountains, be sure to check out some of the other fun activities to visit while you are in town! We hope you have an amazing time exploring the Smokies!