January 28, 2019
National Park Resumes Regular Operations
We are sharing this news from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP).
With the enactment of the continuing resolution, staff at GSMNP resumed regular operations beginning Saturday, January 26. Many basic services were accessible to visitors on weekends and holiday periods throughout the shutdown period using a combination of partner funds and revenue generated by recreation fees. Visitor centers are now accessible seven days a week and reservation services for the frontcountry and backcountry are fully operational.
The Buckhorn Inn is only 1 1/2 miles from the entrance to the Greenbrier area of the Park.
Visitors may experience delayed openings this spring at some campgrounds, picnic areas, and seasonal roads due to a reduced timeline for seasonal staff hiring and project planning. An updated operating schedule will be posted on http://www.nps.gov/grsm as soon it is available.
Park Superintendent Thanks Community
“On behalf of the employees of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our partners and communities for their unwavering support over the last five weeks,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “In addition to the monetary support offered by our partners to provide basic visitor services, we were moved by the number of people and organizations who stepped up to organize litter pickups and the outpouring of generosity expressed to our employees through meals and gift cards.”
All staff, including biologists, engineers, education rangers, and administrators have resumed work functions critical for year-round park operations. Employees are glad to be back at work protecting resources and assisting visitors in having a safe and enjoyable experience. If you are interested in helping take care of the park, please visit http://www.nps.gov/grsm/getinvolved/volunteer.htm for more information on how to become a volunteer.
The GSMNP is a true treasure. We are fortunate to have such a beautiful, unspoiled area to enjoy. We applaud the staff for their year-round assistance in maintaining this natural resource.
January 21, 2019
Guests Share Experiences on TripAdvisor
We invite you to share your Buckhorn Inn experiences on TripAdvisor. The Inn seem to have many guests who love the Inn as much as we do. In this blog we are sharing a few of their recent reviews below. All of them have awarded Buckhorn Inn five stars out of five!
Dinner Guest Review from TripAdvisor
epbodo writes: Superb Mountain Getaway. We return to the Buckhorn Inn as often as possible. The location, a few miles outside of Gatlinburg, is perfect to avoid the tourist crowd and is convenient to many hiking and day-trip destinations. The rooms are always clean and well-kept. We usually eat dinner at the Buckhorn and we have never been left hungry or dissatisfied. Staff is always ready to accommodate special requests. The soups and desserts are extraordinary. Lee and John and all of their helpers are gracious hosts. To summarize in one short sentence: We love the place.
Overnight Guest Reviews from TripAdvisor
Donna V writes: Priceless! Another lovely visit to the beloved Buckhorn! This time with lifelong friends
The view from Bebb House is spectacular.
who fell in love with the Inn too! We stayed in the Bebb House for the first time and absolutely loved it! It’s so charming and cozy with lots of room to accommodate two couples. The full kitchen and two baths were perfect. The view from the beautiful living area is breathtaking and my husband kept a warm fire going which we all enjoyed! We dined in the Inn on Saturday evening and the prime rib was delicious! Heidi is the ever welcoming hostess and took care of us so well! Breakfast at the Buckhorn is always a treat with a sweet or savory choice each morning!
We missed seeing John this visit but Lee informed us he was celebrating his birthday with friends and family. The Mellors could not be more perfect as innkeepers! We have been visiting the Inn for almost twenty years and always look forward to our next stay with anxious anticipation!
Fancydance wrote: Girl trip. We had a girlfriend getaway trip. We are all critical care nurses, we work in a stressful environment. This trip allowed us time to relax and unwind for a week. Everyone was so kind and nice. We stayed in the Bebb House which offered beautiful views. The stay was relaxing. The Inn offered us peace and quiet. The staff always asked about our day, wanting to make sure we were pleased. The answers were always yes. Can’t wait to return next year.
If you enjoyed your trip to Buckhorn Inn, please provide a review on TripAdvisor to guide others new to the Inn. http://www.tripadvisor.com
January 14, 2019
Gatlinburg Goes for World Record in Number of Scarecrows
Did you know that Gatlinburg is set to attempt a world record for having the most scarecrows in one display? The record has been held since 2014 by an English city, Burton-upon-Trent, which is innkeeper John’s birthplace! Cincinnati held the most recent U.S. record. John also lived there. If Gatlinburg succeeds, we think John could hold a world record for living in the most cities that held the record for scarecrows! Sounds like we will have an exciting fall 2019!
Will Gatlinburg be able to bring the record back to U.S. soil?
The Battle for the World Record
Burton-upon-Trent’s record is 3,812 scarecrows in one display. Photos of their scarecrows can be seen at http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-28956395. The population of Burton is approximately 76,000. The display was erected on the National Forest Adventure Farm. According to the director, visitors brought many of the scarecrows. Some even made them on-site. In fact, guests added more than 100 scarecrows every day. Seeing thousands of scarecrows in one place is a stunning visual. Some of the mannequins had plain white cloth heads. Meanwhile others bore the faces of celebrities.
Jim Downs, director of events at the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, says that local businesses are encouraged to purchase scarecrows. Other ideas include having a scarecrow drive. Individuals could make a scarecrow in exchange for a donation to a local charity. Or residents could donate scarecrows. The population of Gatlinburg is about 4,100. Will being so much smaller than Burton impact our chances? According to an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel, Gatlinburg began the effort in the fall of 2018. Many local businesses displayed scarecrows and visitors were charmed. For example, Anakeesta had about 35 scarecrows, and The Holler had nearly 60. The two tallest scarecrows so far are 9-foot ones in downtown. In 2019 the efforts will intensify. The organizers feel that whether they ultimately succeed or not, they are doing something positive for the community. For more information, contact Jim Downs at [email protected].
January 7, 2019
Plenty of Winter Activities in our Area
Need a winter get-away? While summer is the peak tourist season, our area offers plenty to see and do.
Gatlinburg is gussied up through February for Winterfest. Literally millions of lights and displays make the area glow. This is a great time of year to stroll the downtown streets, admire the lights, and visit some of the shops and restaurants. Because there are not the crowds of summer and fall, now is the time to visit some of the local indoor attractions. You might want to check out Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and the Guinness World of Records Museum. The mild
When the leaves are down the views go on forever.
seasonal weather also makes it a great time to visit Ober Gatlinburg. The resort has eight ski trails with varying levels of difficulty for beginners, intermediate, and experienced skiers and snow boarders. Certified instructors are available and an on-site shop rents skis and other equipment. The view from Anakeesta goes on for miles! Enjoy a meal or a snack, try your hand at zip-lining, or enjoy the treetop walk.
Winter Hiking
In this area about half the days in winter have high temperatures at more than 50 degrees F, making it very comfortable for hiking. Fewer tourists means more quiet. The absence of the leaves opens new vistas. It is easy to spot the stone walls, chimneys, foundations, and other reminders of past residents of the area. If there is snow on the ground, spotting and identifying animal tracks adds to the fun of your hike. If the weather has been below freezing for a length of time, you will see frozen waterfalls, sparkling icicles, and azure blue skies. Please note that as of today the federal government shutdown is still in force. That means that for most national parks there will be no park-provided services such as restrooms, trash collection, facilities, or road maintenance. For information go to the park website https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.html. Before you start out, be sure to check the weather in the area you intend to hike. In addition to temperature and precipitation, wind is an important consideration. Limbs blowing down create danger. Our guests report that some of their favorite winter hiking trails are: Rainbow Falls, Porters Creek, Max Patch, and Andrews Bald. Please share some of your favorite hiking adventures!
Gatlinburg Weather
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