Tag Archives: Gatlinburg

The wildfires destroyed homes, personal belongings and businesses. But they also burned people’s vehicles, making it difficult for them to get to their jobs. A local man saw a need and spearheaded an effort to give donated vehicles to wildfire victims. Michael Reifsnider is an electrician by trade, but a compassionate person at all times. He saw the loss of ...

Local governments requested federal funding for demolition of damaged structures and debris removal from both residential and commercial properties affected by the wildfires. Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center and Sevier County are currently coordinating with state and federal agencies to establish a debris-removal operations plan in response to the recent wildfires. As part of this plan, county and city officials ...

A reconnaissance flight by the Tennessee Army National Guard was able to locate the missing single engine airplane within Great Smoky Mountains National Park at approximately 4:43 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. The plane was found on an unnamed ridge between Cole Creek and Bearpen Hollow Branch. Paramedics on board were hoisted down to the crash site and confirmed ...

A search is underway for a plane that left Jacksonville on Monday bound for the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport and disappeared over the Smoky Mountains. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an alert to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at about 7:35 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016 after a family member reported the plane did not arrive as expected. The ...

The giving spirit is visible on the roads across Tennessee and North Carolina this holiday season with Friends of the Smokies license plates. Sales of specialty plates in Tennessee and North Carolina play an essential role in raising funds for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This year, the specialty plates generated nearly $815,000. Since its launch in 1999, the program ...

Thanks to the generosity of Food City, their customers, associates and more, the company presented checks to the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Gatlinburg Relief Fund totaling $750,000 to aid fire recovery. “Our company has been privileged to operate in the Sevier County/Gatlinburg area for more than thirty years and we certainly want ...

The laidback, welcoming atmosphere of Margaritaville will soon be coming to Gatlinburg as plans for the Margaritaville Resort in the Smokies and LandShark restaurant were announced on Friday. Margaritaburg, LLC, a consortium of local investors, will build Margaritaville Resort in the Smokies at 539 Parkway in Gatlinburg. Developer and restaurateur Bob McManus serves as president of Margaritaburg LLC, affiliates of ...

Target partnered with Sevier County Law Enforcement Agencies to provide dozens of deserving children with a Christmas Shop With a Cop experience they will likely never forget. The Target store located at 5405 Washington Pike in Knoxville recently reached out to the Sevierville Police Department, asking what they could do to help Sevier County children who have been affected by ...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials will lift the campfire ban on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Campfires and open grills have been banned in the backcountry since Nov. 1 and throughout the park and frontcountry areas since Nov.15. Beginning Friday, visitors can have campfires and use grills at established frontcountry and backcountry campsites and picnic areas. Recent rains, along with ...

Sevier County businesses and their employees impacted by the recent wildfires can begin applying for grants from the Gatlinburg Relief Fund on Tuesday. The Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation first announced it was establishing the fund Dec. 1, just days after wildfires burned through the area, to directly benefit families impacted by the wildfires. SmartBank is managing the fund and ...