Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are places I never need to see again after going last spring. My in-laws had been a few times and told us it was someplace we needed to see. I have never seen so many photo centers where you get old time western pics taken, crappy souvenir shops, go cart/mini golf places, and general tourist trap shit in my life. And traffic. So much damn traffic. And this is coming from someone who lives 2hrs from Niagara Falls and has visited more than once.
None the latest hardware was around of course, but the climbing ethos was to use as little as possible. My brother in law’s dad made first ascents in the Canadian Rockies and the Tetons in the 30’s, carrying one piton. Things change.
All the old women in my family love that place!! They could go 3,4 times a year! I use to live close to Helen Ga. and same thing.Traffic for hrs during the fall,and really nothing special! Tourist trap,gift shops,some restaurants,and people can't get enough of it!
TC is a growing left wing wacky ass city but the key to it all is that it is surounded by water and is at the bottom of a peninsula. So no matter how big or small the population is you can't drive on water and that makes everything travel wise difficult. I would suggest you visit Fishtown, Northport, Interlochen, Suttons Bay, etc. by boat or after all the fudgies and cone lickers leave.
If I ever heard anyone in my vicinity suggest going to PF/Gburg I would demand they leave and disown them… those are not the kind of people I can’t waste my precious time with… I hate that place and all they did was build the tourist trap that the tribe wouldn’t… now the tribe invests in the area… from across the mountains… the biggest Buccees in the world… yeah tribal investment property I have lots of kin on both sides of that shithole… most in Sevierville… it used to be as nice on that side than the NC side… now I refuse to go near it and cuss when just going to Sevierville
Not too far from Canada Creek Ranch, was/is Black River Ranch. similar set up but, rich people... paved airstrip, cabins, big lodge, thousands of acres for hunting, fishing, hiking, atv/snowmobiles etc... One of my former friends father, was a founding member. I went there a handful of times with him, bear hunting, turkey hunting, grouse, woodcock hunting. I never knew how to act around them, I always felt like I was being judged because, I was invited. I did get in good with the caretaker though. One time, 2 days before archery deer, I was sitting on a bear bait, I had elk, and deer wondering through, I passed up a huge 10 point whitetail. When he heard what happened, he told me well, if you ever were going to poach a deer off here, it would've been him, you are welcome here anytime. I did like the area though, and dreamed of a time, I could have a similar type area to recreate at. My friend was a rich playboy, with an allowance, never had to work, dreamed of being an outdoor tv personality but, didnt even know how to camp. We were turkey hunting another time on the property, stopped at the last grocery store, I am buying butter, onions, taters, tinfoil, etc... planning on catching trout, and a getting a turkey. He bought cheetos, chips, candy, nothing of substance, all the while making fun of my purchases. When we arrived he found the cook staff were gone, LOL! I set up camp, started fishing, and a camp fire. cleaned my fish, cooked taters, baked beans in the can, and the fish, over the fire. He was eating cheetos and looking pathetic. Feeling guilty, I offered him some, and he accepted. We didnt stay friends for much longer. Ski