Even though it brought tears to my eyes, I love this video. Going back in a few weeks and always wish I could have seen that area before commercialism took over.
Does anybody remember the Mountain View Lodge? It is now a large parking lot.They served dinner, in their beautiful dinning room, it was "family style" and as good as your mother's food. The lodge was so nice, it was made of large stones, it was high up top the side of a mountain, it had a large front porch, where you could sit under the shade of big trees, and watch the traffic and people going by. If anyone remembers this, or if you know who owned it, and why it was torn down, please share.Thanks.LInman.
Yes, Scott! I loved the Mountain View! My family visited Gatlinburg every summer when I was growing up, and although we never stayed there, we usually had dinner there once per trip. I loved the rocking chairs on the front porch, the pretty dishes that set the big round tables in the dining room, the hardwood floors. I cried when I heard they were tearing it down and swore I'd never go back to Gatinburg after that. I lived at nearby Cobbly Nob, where my parents bought a second home, and I guess there was a big fire that ripped through there. I wonder if it's still standing...I may never know. I'm so grateful for the many fond memories.
Thanks for this great little video of the history of Gatlinburg, enjoyed it and the pretty music with it. I don't mind that Gatlinburg has so many attractions and things to do, I just wish they could be in better taste. My family took many vacations there in the '70s. I remember when The Village area was established and have always thought it was a beautiful, atmospheric addition to the town. The same for the Mountain Mall, but sometime in the 90's things started getting crazy there with the attractions. Some investors came in that were too much about money and did a good job of nearly wrecking the place. Places like Ripley's Believe It or Not trying to see how garish and bold they can make their exterior to attract business, the Seaquarium that looks out of place and sticks out like a sore thumb, places like this put me off in a big way. I can't tell you how much I would like to see these places torn down., if only they could have been burned in the fire without hurting the good parts of town. There's no reason these kind of attractions couldn't exist in a more harmonious way, so they weren't eyesores and fit in with the natural environment. Ripley's was an interesting looking, intriguing place, back in the 70's that looked more like an emporium of the strange and unusual. it didn't overwhelm the city block and was the kind of thing that made the city interesting. Now, it's just gotten ridiculous. I blame city leaders for being money hungry and letting these developers get away with murder in the interest of attracting their business. I think it is only because of the natural beauty in the surrounding areas and maybe all that good Southern cooking, that people are willing to tolerate it. At one point, I really thought they had wrecked the town and tourists would stop going there. I'm surprised, but glad, that the town is still doing so well. Maybe someday there will be some leaders in charge that will try to change all this, and get rid of some of these more garish and outlandish forms of tourism.
Was there in 1989 - not what I expected - there were Pink Pigs from Severvile to Gatlinburg - all down the edge of the road. I was horrified and never went back! What a waste to junk up a beautiful natural area. .
MUSIC??? WHO selected that awful, spooky, sad, depressing music?You really need to edit the first part of this. The first song, OR WHAT EVER YOU MAY CALL IT...made me have a creeped out feeling. The film was great, if you can watch it, and get over that horrific noise, of a song, at the start....I STILL FEEL SPOOKED. NO JOKE. L.Inman S.C.
Loved the music! Turn it down or make your own video and then you can select any music you want. Then we'll complain that you taste in music sucks. Just saying.
Charles Lefeare It is too commerialized now. Wouldn't care to visit it again. We were there in 1993. It was very busy then can't imagine what it is like now.