Originally settled as White Oak Flats in 1835, Gatlinburg is located in a deeply wooded valley that is framed by the mist-shrouded mountain peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains. The town has a population of some 3,500 residents and plays host to approximately 4 million people each year as the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (see entry on Great Smoky Mountains National Park, page 400).
Rather less well known, Gatlinburg is also the most popular honeymoon spot found outside Las Vegas. More than 20,000 people “tie the knot” annually at one of Gatlinburg’s 15 wedding chapels. Visitors can also get spiritually blessed at the Christus Gardens on River Road, a parkland that features life-size figures of Christ in a series of dioramas including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” Understandably, the park is host to numerous Christian bus tours that frequent this site.
The town has a trolley that links the foot-weary traveler to all of the major attractions including the Guinness World Records Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
In the winter months, the Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area lures both locals and visitors alike to its moderate slopes and eight trails.
The Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway travels over 2 miles, from downtown up to the resort, providing a beautiful vista of the town. In summer, the area transforms into a hive of activity, with everything from bungee jumping to alpine slides.
Gatlinburg is 45 miles east of Knoxville’s McGee-Tyson Airport via I-40. Knoxville is also serviced by buses.
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