August 29, 2023
Listen Like the Locals! Live Music Abounds
Guests often ask me for recommendations on what the locals do for fun in Gatlinburg. One of the things that Jack and I enjoy is listening to live music. Some of the large venues downtown, like Ole Red and Jason Aldean’s, have live country music. But we, and many locals, prefer the wide range of performers at local haunts like Three Jimmy’s Good Time Eatery and Split Rail Eats. Let me introduce to three of our favorites.
Mark Meyer
If you attended the Buckhorn Inn’s Riverboat-themed New Years Eve party a few years ago, that was Mark at the piano entertaining us with ragtime and jazz. Mark studied music at Maryville College and the University of Tennessee. He plays classic rock, country classics, and original tunes in jazz fusion, rock and other styles. I especially love Mark’s repertoire of turn of the century ragtime—Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake, Joseph Lamb, and others. His jazz catalog includes standards by Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, and more!
Live music at Split Rail on September 8 will feature Mark and Friends!
Mark has been invited to do ragtime and jazz presentations for the Knoxville Jazz Society and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra League.
He sometimes appears with Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Taylor Brooks, sometimes as part of the Brews Brothers, and sometimes with Kirk Fleta (see below).
Kirk Fleta
Kirk is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. We were drawn to him because of his catalog of James Taylor and Neil Young. But we stayed because of his original songs, like “Bare Bones.” He sings with palpable passion — and endears himself to the crowd with his boyish charm. He plays “energetic acoustic rock with delta slide and flamenco overtones” according to his artist biography. Whatever—we like it! He comes by his musical talents honestly. We recently learned his grandfather was a world-famous Spanish tenor and his mother toured the world with her pop music.
Neesee Hurst
If you have read “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, you are familiar with the pianist Emma Kelly, the “Lady of 6,000 Songs”. Well, if Ms. Kelly knows 6,000 songs, Neesee Hurst knows at least 24,000! And she plays by ear!
Originally from South Carolina, Neesee is beloved by the local community. Not only for her wide selection of music, but for her warm and lovely spirit. She plays from 3:00 pm on Wednesday through Sunday at Three Jimmy’s. In the mood for Petula Clark? Steely Dan? Johnny Cash? Crash Test Dummies? Guns and Roses?Neesee plays it all and loves to take requests. If you are in the mood for a giggle, ask her to play “You Can’t Hide Those Thunder Thighs.”
We hope to see you enjoying local music with us!
August 26, 2019
Buckhorn Inn featured in Paula Deen’s Magazine
Be sure to look for the October 2019 issue of Paula Deen’s magazine Cooking with Paula. http://www.pauladeenmagazine.com The issue’s travel section features an article “Smoky Mountain Retreat: Good Eats and Great Views Await in Gatlinburg”. Author Whitney Durrwachter wrote:
We were thrilled to be included in the magazine article.
“For a refined, fine-dining experience, visit the Buckhorn Inn bed-and-breakfast (www.buckhorninn.com). Visitors can make reservations for the delicious four-course dinner, served daily at 7 p.m. in the inn’s dining room that features a cozy fire and views of the Smokies. If you’re a guest, you can also enjoy the delectable breakfast and the respite of the tucked-away cottages and lovely rooms for a relaxing mountain escape.”
Paula Deen’s Feature Includes Neighbors
For “sights and bites”, the article features Anakeesta and its Cliff Top Grill & Bar. The outdoor family park features sweeping panoramas and a myriad of ways to enjoy them. Once you take the enclosed gondola or open chairlift ride to the top, you can go ziplining,. Or if you prefer, you can enjoy the view from a walk through the tree canopy or a rocking chair by the fire. The Gatlinburg Sky Park with its 680-foot long suspension bridge is included. In addition to Buckhorn Inn, Pancake Pantry, The Park Grill and Split Rail Eats are recommended for dining.
Of course the shopping recommendations include the Paula Deen Store! But Savannah Bee Company, and Ole Smokey Moonshine Distillery are recommended stops also. You know that we love the many artists and artisans whose shops are located near us. The article touts the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community and give a special shout-out to Alewine Pottery.
We were delighted to see Gatlinburg promoted as a beloved vacation spot filled with attractions for all ages. As the article says, “from the excitement of exploring downtown to the relaxation of winding through the surrounding mountains, there is something for everyone in this Appalachian destination”.
March 12, 2018
Aquarium Is a Great Place to Visit
Have you visited Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg? Currently it is the top-rated aquarium in the United States. If you had planned to hike, but Mother Nature did not cooperate, then this is the place to spend a rainy day!
More than 100,000 exotic sea creatures live in the 1.4 million gallons of water.
Kathy Cuppy took this beautiful photo.
Buckhorn Inn guest Kathy Cuppy visited the Aquarium and shared her spectacular photos with us.
Underwater Tunnel is Highlight of Aquarium
One of the most unique features of the facility is the 340-foot-long underwater tunnel. It is one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. A motorized sidewalk carries you through the watery home of many unique fish and several species of shark. They are swimming within inches of you!
Another unique opportunity is the splash-with-stingrays! You will be able to get into the water at Touch-a-Ray Bay and swim with the stingrays.
For an up-close-and-personal tour of Shark Lagoon, you can take a glass bottom boat ride. You will be surrounded by the colorful and fascinating forms of marine life that call the Atlantic and Caribbean reefs home. Three inches of glass will separate you from a giant green sea turtle, 12-foot sharks, and 75 types of other colorful sea creatures.
You also have the opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. A guide will take you through the “staff-only” doors to see the control room, life support rooms, and the many ways the staff ensure the sea life remains happy and healthy.
It takes about two hours to tour the facility, which is easily navigable for wheelchairs and strollers. The city-owned parking garage behind the aquarium makes parking very convenient. This is a very popular local attraction. For that reason, we recommend visiting on weekdays when their are fewer visitors. For more information or to buy tickets, go to http://www.ripleyaquariums.com/gatlinburg.
January 2, 2018
Public Library is a Local Treasure
Have you visited the Anna Porter Public Library during your travels to Gatlinburg? From the windows one can see beautiful mountain views! It is a very welcoming place to pull up a chair near the fireplace for a cozy read. Visitors to our area are welcome to use the facility and may borrow books well as use the computers and wifi. Services include books, movies, audio books, magazines, ebooks, newspapers and internet access. The library has resources for geneologists and schedules adult art and craft classes with local artisans.
Gatlinburg is fortunate to have a wonderful public library.
We are particularly fond of the library’s regional history special collection. This collection includes more than 600 historical items detailing the cultural and natural history of Gatlinburg, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and southern Appalachia. A unique feature of the collection is the group of historical audio tapes, with transcripts, which were recorded as long as 40 years ago. They also have oral history video tapes that were recorded more recently.
Monthly Book Club at the Library
John and I take great pride in being founding members of the book club that meets at the library. We meet at 6:30 on the 4th Tuesday of each month for lively conversation. Our taste in books ranges widely and our diversity brings interesting viewpoints to the discussion. This month we are reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and early feedback indicates our members are enjoying it. Future books include: Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, and The Trial by Franz Kafka. If you are visiting, we would love to have you participate in our discussion. The full reading list and directions may be found on the website http://annaporterpl.org.
We suggest you visit the library the next time you are in our area.
September 4, 2017
Buckhorn Neighbor: G Webb Gallery
One of our favorite depictions of the Buckhorn Inn is by our neighbor, G Webb.
Prints of “Buckhorn Inn” are available in our gift shop.
The painting captures the timeless charm of the Inn, and includes our beautiful views.
The G Webb Gallery is on Buckhorn Road
Virginia born, G Webb grew up in Nashville, TN. By age 10 he already was an avid painter. In 1971 he opened his first gallery in Murfreesboro, TN. However, once he began painting the beautiful mountain scenery in east Tennessee, he knew he was “home”. His scenic watercolors convey a sense of the serenity he feels in this part of the country. G’s work focuses on landscapes, mountainscapes, mountain heritage, and historical sites. G and his wife Vickie are the proud parents of Cami Monet, a talented water colour artist in her own right. Their gallery on Buckhorn Road showcases the art of both father and daughter. You can find more details at http://www.gwebbgallery.com. Both original watercolors and limited edition lithographs are available at the gallery.
What is a Lithograph?
Lithography was invited in 1796 by the Alois Senefelder in Bavaria. Essentially, an oil-based image is put on the surface of a smooth sheet of limestone. Then a gum Arabic solution is applied to the surface. The solution only sticks to the non-oily surface. During printing, water is attracted to the gum Arabic parts and repelled by the oily surfaces. The oily ink used for printing does the opposite. A refined method of this technique is still used for fine art prints today. The process for fine-art prints was enhanced around 1816 and was used by such artists as Delacroix in the 1820’s. Goya produced his last series by lithography and during the 1870’s such artists as Degas began producing most of their art by lithography.
The G Webb Gallery is on Buckhorn Road, a short distance from the Buckhorn Inn. They are a proud member of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. The next time you visit us, we encourage you to spend an afternoon exploring the 8-mile craft loop. We have maps showing the locations of some of our favorite artist galleries and artisan shops.
August 21, 2017
Buckhorn Neighbors: Buie Pottery
One of the oft-asked questions from our guests is where we got the charming little pottery lamps on our tables in the dining room.
These pottery lamps add to our table scape.
These lamps were created by one of our neighbors in the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, Buie Pottery. Buie began throwing pottery when she was only 17 and has been enjoying “slinging mud” every since! She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Tennessee. She opened her studio and gallery in 1986. Her stoneware pieces are colorful, functional, and very attractive. http://www.buiepottery.com
These lamps were created at Buie Pottery.
A Primer on Pottery
It is one of the oldest human art forms. Some pieces have been identified as being from the pre-Neolithic period. Ancient vessels and figurines have been recovered from all over the world: China, Russia, Japan, Sub Saharan Africa, and South America. Pottery is durable, so shards and pieces have survived long after other materials have broken down. By examining these objects, archeologists learn much about the daily life of a particular culture.
Creating Pottery
Before the objects are formed, the clay must be kneaded to ensure that water is evenly distributed throughout the object. Then air trapped within the clay is removed. Then objects are formed from the prepared clay by hand-forming or by throwing on a potter’s wheel. The clay can also be molded or machine-shaped. The object is then heated to high temperatures in a kiln to remove the water. The resulting object is hard and strong.
Pieces may be decorated before, or after, firing. Some of the main means of decoration are painting, glazing or carving. Colored clays or other additives may be worked into the clay to create different textures and effects.
Watching a potter at work is fascinating. We encourage you to stop by one of the local artisan studios on the Arts & Crafts Loop the next time you visit us.
August 14, 2017
Buckhorn Neighbors: The Brown Farm and Its Bison Herd
I first became fascinated by bison when, as a child, I read Robert McClung’s 1960 book Shag, Last of the Plains Buffalo. The story of the magnificent beast’s struggle against drought, famine, and hunters made a lasting impact on me. Imagine my delight to realize that a herd resides only a little more than a mile from the Buckhorn Inn!
The bison herd now numbers seven.
Locals know Benny Hammonds as the longtime Gatlinburg-Pittman high school football coach. In 2013 he purchased 3 bison cows and one bull. A recent birth puts the size of the herd at seven now. To visit The Brown Farm, turn right onto Buckhorn Road from Tudor Mountain Road. Drive a little more than a mile (the road turns into #454) and you will see the farm on the left. There is no admission charge and there is parking. Be careful–the fence is electrified.
Status of American Bison
The American Bison (also sometimes called American Buffalo) is the largest surviving land animal in North America. During the 19th and 20th centuries the creatures were hunted nearly to extinction. An estimated 50 million bison were slaughtered for sport. They are no longer listed as endangered, but their future is not assured. According to the National Bison Association, http://www.bisoncentral.com, it is mainly through the efforts of small farmers, like Mr. Hammonds, that the animals are being preserved.
This baby bison came right up to the fence to greet me.
They may appear peaceful and nonchalant, but bison can charge without warning. Both males and females have horns and can use their massive heads as battering rams. They can gallop at speeds near 35 mph and typically weigh around 2,000 pounds, so you can imagine the momentum they can establish.
They are herbivores and prefer to eat grass and sometimes sedges. Early mornings and evenings are often the best times to see them be active. They rest during the day and graze during the morning and evening hours.
They like to roll in depressions in the dirt–a behavior called “wallowing”. Wallowing may help them cope with biting insects and to self-regulate their body temperatures.
We hope you get a chance to visit these magnificent creatures.
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