The towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge both have interesting histories. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge To be in a Different State From around 1784 to 1788, eight counties that would one day be part of East Tennessee formed their own independent territory called Franklin. This small area applied to be the 14th state in the … Read more
1. William Ogle Visits “The Land of Paradise” William Ogle traveled to the future site of Gatlinburg, TN, a place he called “The Land of Paradise” in 1802. He was from South Carolina. He, his wife, Martha Jane, and seven children, has a vision of a bright future. He cut and hewed logs for a … Read more
Bears in the Smokies Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the largest protected areas in the eastern United States where black bears can live in wild, natural surroundings. Bears inhabit all elevations of the park. Though populations are variable, biologists estimate that roughly 1,500 bears live in the park. This equals a … Read more