Gatlinburg
About Gatlinburg
Settled in the early 1800s, Gatlinburg was originally named White Oak Flats for the abundant White Oak forests blanketing the landscape. In 1856, the town name was changed to Gatlinburg, after a local rabble-rouser, Radford Gatlin, was bribed to leave town. The locals told him that if he left, they would name the town after him. Thus, Gatlinburg was born.
With the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains State Park in 1934, vacationing tourists began to supplement the area's economy. Progress was slow in the depression recovery period leading up to World War II. When the war ended, visitors returned in large numbers. Incorporated in 1945, Gatlinburg has since grown into a four-season vacation destination and conference hub. It has approximately 4000 permanent residents, but millions of visitors each year.
The small town of Gatlinburg and its surrounding area has expanded to meet the demands of tourists and permanent residents.
Why Gatlinburg?
Located at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary, Gatlinburg is known as the Gateway to the Smokies.
The park offers lovely scenery, majestic mountains, the most diverse flora in North America, and impressive recreational venues. Visitors to Gatlinburg are treated to an area of astounding beauty and have access to a great range of recreational, shopping, and entertainment attractions.
Gatlinburg is a fun place to live and work with its excellent selection of restaurants and activities. There is a lot to do, and your possibilities are even greater through access to the entertainment and amusement venues of Sevier County and Knoxville.
Gatlinburg is conveniently located on US441, 35 minutes from I-40 by 441 and TN 66.
Dining, Shopping, and Entertainment
*Greenbriar Restaurant pic
The area is one of the top vacation destinations in the country, and for good reason! Gatlinburg offers a wide range of dinging, eclectic shops, hand-made artisan items, and a plethora of entertainment options. The Village in downtown Gatlinburg and The Arts and Crafts Community offers incredible shopping and are the go-to places to find unique gifts. There are many local favorites that you simply do not want to miss out on when it comes to dining! These include Three Jimmy's, the Greenbrier, Pancake Pantry, Red Oak Bistro, Chesapeake's, Buckhorn Inn, and Blake Shelton's Ole Red Restaurant. Not only is Gatlinburg home to America's Most-Visited National Park, but many other attractions are always favorites among visitors and locals. Ripley's has several top attractions in town, including Ripley's Believe It or Not and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Other top attractions include the Sky Bridge, Ober Gatlinburg, and Anakeesta.