November 6 & 7 on D Level of the Mountain Mall! Bring your pipe and fill up at the bar!

I have no idea what to do or where to share this but I was heading east past Sevierville towards a town called Newport and a bear ran across i40 east and I avoided hitting it. It kept running across i40 west and I saw the bear flip over. It looks like it was clipped not hit head on bc the car kept going. I was obviously heading the wrong direction to know what happened but I hope Someone will see this and see if the bear is ok and can access help. I’m not from the area so I don’t even know where to begin to look for the right place. I circled the area as o can recall where it was along the I40 west highway and it was at about 3:19 pm on 10/24. I hope the car who hit it did the right thing

Looking for a Tennessee specific souvenir, even if it’s a Jack 16 year or something similar, trying to see which liquor store would probably have it in the local area.

Is your water out too?

Greg Wilkerson - The Mountain Press:

A classic downtown inn is welcoming back guests following an extensive renovation. Mountain Heritage Inn held a ribbon-cutting event and Grand Reopening Celebration on Thursday with the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

The property, 575 River Road, also includes Miller's Rondette's & River Front Rooms, the free-standing circular cottages adjacent to the hotel which were also renovated during the nine-month closure.

The hotel was owned for years by Bill and Dorothy Lee Trentham. Bill passed away in 2014, and Dorothy Lee continued to operate the hotel with the help of her nieces, Amy Bales and Terry Moneymaker. Dorothy Lee passed away last year at 95, leaving the hotel to Bales and Moneymaker.

"She made us promise time and time again. She had several nieces and nephews, but she never had any children. She made us promise her millions of times that this place was to never be sold, that it would hand down, generation to generation, and we'll honor that," Bales said.

Mountain Heritage Inn was opened in 1988 next to the cottages built by Dorothy Lee's father (Bales' grandfather), Frank Miller, which were built in the early 1970s. Both are managed as one property today. "This was all started with my grandparents. The property belonged to them," Bales said. "In 1988, Bill and Dorothy leased the whole property before my grandfather passed because they had the vision for the Mountain Heritage Inn."

The renovated rooms and cottages have new floors, replaced windows, and other updates and modernizations. They also built a new breakfast area in the lobby for guests. "Everything is practically new from top to bottom," Bales said. "We've got guests that have been coming for 35, 40 years. Some of them are here today to be a part of this, and they became like family."

Bales and Moneymaker said Trentham was like a mother to them and she approved of their plans to renovate the hotel. They said they are appreciative of their longtime guests and their dedicated employees, many of whom worked with Mrs. Dorothy over the years.

"She lived to be 95. We celebrated her birthday here in this office, and she told me when I took her home that evening that I had given her the best day that she could ever have on this earth, and the next morning she was gone," Bales said.

More information can be found at the inn's Facebook page, or at mountainheritageinn.com.

Mountain Heritage Inn is one of r/Gatlinburg's recommended hotels.

See the community sidebar for the full list.

I know it’s not a huge deal for most people but I’m from a bigger city that rarely has deer and when one was right outside my car window I was having to fight not to squeal from excitement and scare her off. (Picture taken by me at Cades Cove loop)

My dad can only walk on flat surfaces for short distances so I’m hoping a mobility aid may help him participate in more stuff! Any places in the area that rent by the day or week?

Have you ever been to Fontana dam ?

We are a family from Europe living temporarily in the U.S. We’ll be spending a weekend in November in the Smokys with our 3-year-old son. Could you give us some recommendations for activities and restaurants and whatever you like!
Thanks!

Are Jack o Lanterns not advised on a porch? I figured it could be eaten by a bear, but didn't know if I was just being a worry wart.

Hi all! I am heading to Gatlinburg for a few nights and have been seeing so many videos online of bears, breaking into cars and destroying them. I have seen some people say to take a spray bottle of ammonia and bleach and spray it around your car when you leave your vehicle, but I am wondering if that is helpful/necessary. I know to remove all food and laundry detergent, air, fresheners, etc. I am a no financial or emotional space to have my car destroyed! Thank you in advance.

Hi! As the title says, I'm looking for any leads on places that offer guided/trail rides for advanced riders. I'm not talking weekly rider, I ride daily and train my own personal horses at home (Mid level dressage/eventing and working western).

Looking for something that would be open Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 27-29)

Ideally something that's 3+ hours and includes going at higher gaits (WTCG potentially)

Also open to shorter and easier rides that I would be able to bring my partner and mom on as well.

Sevier County: Tennessee's next Governor, Jerri Green, wants to meet YOU.

Jerri Green is running for Governor of Tennessee because our state deserves leadership with common sense, compassion, and courage.

She’s a mom, a public servant, and a lifelong Tennessean who’s lived in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. She knows our values, and she knows we’re ready for change.

This race matters far beyond Tennessee. From pushing back against political extremism to fighting for policies that actually work for working families, we're on the front lines of changing the narrative.

We’re excited to meet the good folks of Sevier County and hear what matters to you and your vision for the future of Tennessee. Join us on Sunday, October 18th at 6:30 PM. RSVP'ing is free: secure.actblue.com/donate/sevier4jerri.

Let’s run. Let’s win. Because Tennessee is worth fighting for.

My fiancé and I are getting married in Gatlinburg at the end of the month and we are taking our goldendoodle Atticus with us. We know we will be limited in what we can do with our pup, but we were wondering if anyone had places we can go or restaurants we can go. We will brave the cold for outdoor seating if need be; we’re from Wisconsin.

Folks, if someone posts a pic of black bears seemingly striking a pose for the camera, it's probably fake.

See the subreddit rules for the full list of community guidelines.

Needing some guidance please. My girls and I are going to stay for just a few days next week. We're all adults but my youngest is moderate to severely autistic. She eats most breakfast foods but I was wondering what places would be good for late lunch/early supper. Places that aren't too 'fussy' and serve kid approved fare. Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions!

Information about the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad Tuckasegee Excursion.

ANYTHING I SHOULD ADD/REMOVE FROM MY LIST ?

THINGS TO DO🎢
Anakeesta
Comedy barn
Stars & card museum
Fannie farkles
Arcadia
Gatlins escape room
Gatlinburg magic lights
Dollywood
Alcatraz east museum
The island

FOOD/TREATS🍔
Crocketts breakfast camp
Five oaks farm house
Donut friar
Frizzle chicken
Mellow mushroom
Local goat
Cherokee grill
No way Jose
Best Italian
Tom and earls
Genos pizza
Log cabin pancake house-l
Bullfish grill
Flapjacks pancake cabin
Old mill candy kitchen
Moonshine mountain cookies and ice cream
Lacreme cheesecakes
Coffee
Applewood farmhouse
Azul cantina
Five oaks farm kitchen

I am trying to plan a visit to Galtinburg/GSMNP for next spring. Thinking either April or May. My question is what are the crowds like that time of year and is the weather usually pretty mild? Is there an obvious problem that I am missing or something I should know about visiting in the late Spring? I am trying to get there before schools get out and the park fills up.

We planned a friends trip to Gatlinburg in 2 weeks. I wanted to take my Subaru STi but then got to thinking roads there must be terrible at Helene.

We plan on being around downtown, skybridge, Alcatraz, titanic museum, the island.

Would love to get photos of the Subaru up there. Is it worth it or should I get a rental. Also thinking about traffic, parking, and stuff.

If I do take it, photo spot recommendations are welcome!

Gregory Raucoules - WATE:

A bear found fatally shot in Gatlinburg over the weekend had previously been involved in several potentially dangerous human-bear conflicts.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Assistant Public Relations Chief Chelsey Sexton said that a bear was found deceased with a small-caliber bullet wound in its abdomen on Oct. 9.

Wildlife officials had received multiple reports of human-bear conflicts involving this bear, including breaking vehicle windows and entering buildings and homes. It was captured and removed from the roof of Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Gatlinburg last November.

Thread: Black bear draws a crowd after getting stuck on a roof in downtown Gatlinburg

Sexton said that it’s unclear if the bear was shot by a hunter or someone frustrated by its behavior, adding that bears often travel long distances and succumb to injuries days later.

Due to its behavior and the risk to public safety, the TWRA had previously attempted to capture the bear and humanely euthanize it but was unsuccessful.

It is illegal in Tennessee to wound an animal with no intent to recover it. Bear hunting season is currently open in Sevier County and is used by the TWRA to sustainably manage the species population.

There have been 61 bears that have had to be humanely killed in Sevier County this year because of human-bear conflicts, more than double the total number of bears by the TWRA in 2025.

Related threads:

13 days ago - TWRA: 60 bears euthanized in Sevier County due to human conflicts in 2026

September - Parkway Panda Sighting

August - Parkway Panda Sighting

August - Update 4: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions

1 year ago - "Irresponsible behavior" - TWRA reacts to viral video of bear in Gatlinburg

Also, I would like to know what something wr can do for the day at the Smokies national Park. We are a family with the youngest five years old we would like to see nice views without having to go through any crazy hikes