Tag: tennessee

Honda Goldwing Spring Fling

Roaring engines, whether from automobiles or motorcycles, have definitely carved out a place amongst the tourism industry in Sevier County. It’s a loud and fast growing group of motorcycle enthusiasts that all come together in April for the Tennessee Goldwing Road Riders Association Rally & Show. Honda Goldwing motorcycles riders bill get this spring get together as their “Spring Fling”, usually commencing at the Sevier County Fairgrounds.

In recent years it’s been put on in connection with the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort where attendees can attend seminars and discussion groups on the lifestyle, participate in parades, win prizes, and discuss all things Honda with other Gold Wing enthusiasts. Past years themes have included Davy Crockett Days at the fairgrounds.

Tennessee’s Gold Wing Road Riders Association is the largest single-marquee social organization for owners and riders of Gold Wing motorcycles and serves as hosts for the Spring Fling. Of course, the Honda Gold Wing is their common denominator and they each know everything there is to know about the open road cruiser, the lifestyle, everything. Seminars on everything from stress management to listening and communicating on the road are a large part of the weekend schedule. Vendors have booths and tables set up for the conference that everyone can peruse. Some of those products – bike gear, motorcycle-related clothing will be available for purchase throughout the weekend.

This past year, Goldwing Riders competed for the grand prize of a Bushtec Performance Sport Trailer, a $1,000 second place prize and two chapter prizes worth $250 each. Cash prizes were also awarded to talent show winners in the categories of comedy, serious, and the outside Tennessee combined category.

The weekend typically centers around the following events:

  • The Sevier County Fairgrounds hosts a   Campfire Stew that is billed as just some great country fun. Visitors can sit in their lawn chairs, listen to the music, and dance in the field. The fun of the Chapter Challenge commences as Gold Wing Chapters vie for the title of “King of the Frontier.” For the Chapter Challenge portion, make sure ‘dirty’ clothes and shoes are a part of your wardrobe. Chapters can have more than one five-member team and teams may be all male, all female, or co-ed.
  •  Each and every one who takes part will have their skills tested in a variety of ways. It’s always a fun, but messy event.
  • The annual Bike Light Show circles the fairgrounds/vendor area and gives everyone a chance to get decked out on their ride.
  • The Tennessee Couple of the Year 2011 selection. Each chapter nominates a man and woman for couple of the year, and you really don’t want to miss this opportunity. Each chapter is encouraged to come out and support their chapter Couple of the Year.
  • The Frontier Rodeo is one of the newer draws to the event. Complete with cowboys riding bulls, timed horse races, and rodeo clowns, this is one of the more popular gatherings, always packs the house and recently has been a free event for a number of attending Gold Wing riders.
  • Come in your riding best, as well as Sunday best for a number of Best Dressed competitions. Categories include Best Dressed-Parade, Best Dressed-Show, Best Dressed-Riding, and Best Dressed-Theme.

Of course, there are numerous bike shows scheduled throughout the weekend, and whether you’re planning on staying around the fairgrounds, or out as far as Gatlinburg, you’re bound to see some of your Honda Goldwing brethren cruising the Parkway. Talent shows are a big part of the weekend as well with various cash prizes being handed out at different competitions. The biggest of those competitions happen at the weekend finale. After a day filled with activities including field events, bike show (onsite at the fairgrounds), seminars galore, and more, the closing ceremonies will feature announcements for chapter awards, TN member of the year, Chapter educator of the year, as well as grand prizes.

Directions to the Sevier County Fairgrounds:

Traveling on Interstate 40 from Knoxville, Asheville, or the Tri-Cities, take Exit 407 towards Sevierville (the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) approximately 8 miles. Take a right over the river onto the bridge leading to the Wilderness Resort at the Smokies. Take a left at the 1st light over bridge. The Sevier County Fairgrounds is approximately 2 miles on your left.

WonderWorks

If you’re taken aback by the upside down house that rests beside the Pigeon River in Pigeon Forge, you wouldn’t be the first. WonderWorks, a combination arcade/science museum, is one of handful of Pigeon Forge attractions that not only stand out because of their rave reviews, but because of their outward appearance.

Constructed to look like it landed upside down in Pigeon Forge, WonderWorks is arguably the most unique building in the Great Smoky Mountains. It’s located right next door to the new Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud. WonderWorks bills itself as an amusement park for the mind, featuring over 150 interactive exhibits. It’s 55,000 square feet of fun for the whole family… And don’t forget to stick around for Terry Evanswoods’ thrilling magic show, sure to delight the mind and play tricks on the eyes.

Take your time and enjoy WonderWorks for all it’s worth. It’s a go-at-your-own-pace attraction where you can try out every single exhibit as many times as you want! Get your fill of each of the exhibits while you’re there, there are no limits. It’s a great place for families looking to keep their kids enthralled and entertained for hours! On average, people can spend two hours just going through all the exhibits once. Feel hurricane winds, the shaking of what an earthquake feels like, flip upside-down on a bicycle-like contraption, see how hard you can throw a baseball, design a own virtual roller coaster and then ride it, try laying on a bed of nails, and more! WonderWorks is a must-stop in Pigeon Forge, TN.

Inversion TunnelA word to the wise, it can get crowded, so pick a good time to go when you do. Try early mornings or late after dinner. I would avoid Fridays and Saturdays unless you’re prepared to deal with an influx of people.

A few more tips:

  • Don’t eat anything too heavy beforehand. There are rides that spin and flip, so try to eat after you go on any of the rides.
  • There are a lot of photo opportunities at WonderWorks (bed of nails, spacesuit), so pack your camera.

Terry Evanswood’s “The Wonders of Magic at WonderWorks” is rated as a 5-star attraction on Trip Advisor and was voted No. 1 of 62 Pigeon Forge attractions. They advise guests to: “Discover the Wonders of Magic at WonderWorks. Prepare to be dazzled by one of the world’s greatest magicians. Terry Evanswood, don’t miss this opportunity to participate in one of this areas true greats. His show is so amazing you will be asking yourself, “How did he do that?”

If you have tips that you would like to share about Wonder Works in Pigeon Forge, TN then please post a comment below!

Website

Phone:
865-868-1800

Address:
WonderWorks
100 Music Road
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

When Ripley’s announced they were going to put an aquarium in Gatlinburg, there were two questions that everybody asked:  Where? & When?  Well, they built it in the center of town, right off River Road at traffic light 5.  It is impossible to miss this complex that has become as much a part of the scenery of Gatlinburg as the Aerial Tramway to Ober Gatlinburg.  Opening in late in 2000, this attraction is more than a decade old and has become one of the most visited family attractions in the Smokies.

With an aquarium, you expect to see tanks full of fish.  Ripley’s has designed an aquarium that allows you to roam from tank to tank, making sure that you are able to see fish in as natural an environment as possible.  The aquarium boasts over 10,000 aquatic animals, some of which you can even hold and touch.  This is a world class aquarium, bringing you salt water animals from all over the world.  As you walk from tank to tank you explore places as diverse as the Amazon Rain Forest, the Pacific Ocean and coral reefs.  Each exhibit has been painstakingly designed to give you a sense of being close to the action – of being in the water with the fish.

Two of the exhibits are hands-on.  The Discovery Center lets you explore different aspects of the seas and get even closer to some of the fish you have been seeing.  Included in this area is a flowing water exhibit that allows you to pick up and handle a horseshoe crab, one of the oldest and most unchanged animals on the planet.  Being able to reach into the shallow water and touch these oddities of the undersea world is both unique and exciting.  As you near the exit of the aquarium, you will find yourself at Touch-a-Ray Bay.  This location lets you gets hands on with small rays and shark in a safe environment.  Divers and aquarium staff are on hand to teach you about the animals you are touching and make sure that everyone gets a chance to get hands on.

Ripley's Aquarium of the SmokiesOne of the most unique features of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is a trip through the underwater tunnel which brings you through the world of a coral reef with a huge mixture of animals.  You stand on a moving walkway that passes through this amazing world.  Sharks soar past, inches from your head.  Sea turtles glide gracefully through the water and all this time you are moving slowly through a tunnel enjoying the amazing scenery and the spectacle around you.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is a must do activity in the Smoky Mountains.  Thousands of visitors go through their exhibits each season, making this one of the most visited attractions in the area.  A well designed and maintained attraction with an experience that will stick with you for years to come.  Make the aquarium a stop for you and your loved ones on your next trip to Gatlinburg.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
88 River Rd
Gatlinburg, TN
865-430-8808

Panther Creek State Park

One of the many great state parks in Tennessee, Panther Creek State Park is located in Morristown, TN in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains.  This park is made up of more than 1,400 acres and houses many opportunities for outdoor activities and lots of fun.  Water sports, camping, boating and little history thrown in to boot make this an extraordinary park to visit while you are in the Smoky Mountains on vacation.  Or maybe, you live in the area and you have never ventured out to the numerous state parks in the area – what are you waiting for?

Panther Creek and Panther Springs have an interesting story behind their names.  Supposedly, the area was originally scouted by one Colonel Bradley of Virginia.  While he and his men were exploring the area, he spied a panther or a mountain lion near the spring.  He took careful aim and shot the animal which fell into the spring.  Thus he named the creek and the spring after the animal that he shot on the banks of the river.

Panther Creek State Park borders the Cherokee Reservoir.  This man made body of water was created by an impoundment of the Holston River on its way to its confluence with the French Broad River – where the Tennessee River is formed.  The Cherokee Reservoir provides a wonderful playground on the placid water.  Panther Creek State Park is about 35 miles from Knoxville and about 45 miles north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Panther Creek State ParkWhen you get to Panther Creek State Park you will find that many of the activities focus around Cherokee Lake.  Boating, boat rentals, a bait shop and more are located right on the shore of the lake.  While you are there, you might as well spend the night in one of the 50 campsites that are located around the lake.  The campsites are full service with electrical hookups, grills, picnic tables and more.  Many people come to Cherokee Lake looking to hook into a big fish.  Bluegill, catfish, crappie, bass and bream can be found in the cool waters of the lake.  Or maybe you want to go for a swim.  The campground has a swimming pool on premises with a high dive and a wading area for the little kids in your family.

If you are looking for a change of pace or just a great weekend excursion to the foothills of the Smokies, Panther Creek State Park has a lot to offer those looking for a day of fun around the lake or for a week long getaway.  Fish, camp, swim, boat and basically get outdoors spending plenty of time in the fun and the sun at Panther Creek.

Capitol Theatre

Downtown Maryville, TN was once the thriving center of the community.  Over time, like almost all downtown areas in small towns, the  area that used to be jumping with activity fell out of favor as commerce in general moved toward other areas of the city.  One thing in downtown Maryville remained the same however, the beauty the quaintness and of course, the Capitol Theatre.

The Capitol Theatre was built in 1934.  It took over the location that had been the home of JC Penny before this point.  The Capitol was the largest of three possible locations to see movies in downtown Maryville.  Seating 1000 people, the Captiol was a jumping place up until the time it closed in the 1970s, as the downtown area felt the effects of commercial businesses moving.  From the 30s through the 70s, people flocked to this theater.  Showing both motion pictures and live performances, the Capitol Theatre was THE place to go for decades.  Closing in the 1970s, the building went through a lot of tenants over the years, in more recent years, the Capitol has seen a bit of renovation and is returning to its former glory.

Now, the Capitol Theatre is a special events venue.  From wedding receptions to corporate engagements, the Capitol can now be rented out to cover all of your party and event needs.  The Capitol Theatre offers lots of amenities that you will not find at other places:

  • stage
  • retractable silver screen
  • dance floor
  • catering kitchen
  • flexible seating
In addition the staff at the theater can help you plan you revent and fins an additional need syou might have while you are getting your gala or reception ready.  The Capitol Theatre has now become the place to have your event.  The Capitol Theatre is also helping to revitalize the downtown area of Maryville.  Surrounded by unique shopping experiences and restaurants, the Capitol has changed with the times but it has also kept that same feel that it had back when it was founded.
Capitol Theatre
127 West Broadway Ave
Maryville, TN
865-980-1966

Three Rivers Rambler

The Three Rivers Rambler is a train excursion that runs along to the Tennessee River.  This 90 minute train ride starts from the waterfront near downtown Knoxville and takes you on a ride through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.  You will pass a lot of the history that has formed not only Knoxville but parts of the country as well.  The end of the trip is a visit to the Three Rivers Trestle.  The Rambler runs on selected weekends and has become a huge draw for the Neyland Drive area of Knoxville,

The Trains

Depending on when you decide to take a ride on the Rambler, you might be pulled by Lindy – the 1925 steam engine or the slightly older 1890 steam engine that they are unveiling in the summer of 2012.  There are also times that they use diesel engines to pull the coach cars. These give you an entirely different feel to your train ride as the power of the diesel engines pulls you down the track.  While you are onboard the Rambler, you will be sitting in one of the two coach cars that date back to 1932.  The various cars of the train are connected and allow you to roam to the open air section fo the train or to the merchandise cars where they sell soft drinks and water; this is also where the restrooms are located.

Three Rivers RamblerThe Trip

The 90 minute ride on the Rambler takes you from the waterfront on Neyland Drive past downtown through the foothills of the Smokies and past lush pastoral landscapes and lots of history.  As you progress north from the boarding station, you will pass the farmlands that were the first settlements in the area, quarries that actually supplied some of the stone that helped to build Washington DC and many other points of interest.  While you travel along, feel free to ask questions of the staff members on board.  They are very knowledgeable and they have been asked your questions before.  They know the route and will be glad to share their knowledge with you.

The Trestle

The highlight of the trip is a visit to the Three Rivers Trestle.  The Rambler takes you to the point where the Tennessee River really begins.  The French Broad, after winding its way out of the mountains, and the Holston combine to form the Tennessee River.  The Tennessee then continues on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. You actually get to see the point where this new river, the Tennessee, is formed.  A highlight that lets you see a stretch of river that powers homes, moves the economy along and of course provides hours of recreation.

The Three Rivers Rambler offers a different way to experience the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.  You can sit back and enjoy the hour and a half ride through the outskirts of Knoxville, TN while you learn about the history of the city, the area and the country.  You also get to view the start of the one of the largest waterways in our country.  Try the Three Rivers Rambler out as a day trip the next time you visit the Smokies.

Three Rivers Rambler
2560 University Commons Way
Knoxville, TN 37919
865-524-9411

Gatlinburg, TN

Gatlinburg, TN is a typical little mountain town but what they have to offer visitors to the area is anything but ‘little.’  With shopping lining both sides of the Parkway, attractions at every corner, you can visit Gatlinburg and never leave the mountain.  Nestled right against the Smoky Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg beauty only slightly surpasses its adventure.

Though the Cherokee hunted in the flats around the present day city of Gatlinburg, the first European settlers to the area came due to South Carolina native William Ogle.  Though Ogle never lived in the area for very long his relatives did end up coming to the area and settling in the Cartertown area of Gatlinburg.  1856 saw the first post office being formed in the Radford Gatlin general store.  Though the people of the area didn’t care for Gatlin they liked his name and kept it after they ran Gatlin out of town.

The logging industry in the late 1800s kept the town going but the real boon for the town was when the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded.  The National Park being located on the boundary of the Gatlinburg brings millions of visitors through the town each year, this has made Gatlinburg a central location for people visiting the Smokies.

Stats

Most Recent Posts

  • Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies - When Ripley’s announced they were going to put an aquarium in Gatlinburg, there were two questions that everybody asked:  Where? & When?  Well, they built it in the center of town, right off River Road at traffic light 5.  It is impossible to miss this complex that has become as much a part of the … Continue reading "Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies"
  • Gatlinburg, TN - Gatlinburg, TN is a typical little mountain town but what they have to offer visitors to the area is anything but ‘little.’  With shopping lining both sides of the Parkway, attractions at every corner, you can visit Gatlinburg and never leave the mountain.  Nestled right against the Smoky Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National … Continue reading "Gatlinburg, TN"
  • Lodge at Buckberry Creek Restaurant - Fine Dining in the Smokies Recently, on an anniversary date with my wife, we decided to try something new: the restaurant at the Lodge at Buckberry Creek.  This establishment had been recommended to us by friends and they told us that it was the best dining experience in the Smokies. I have lived here since … Continue reading "Lodge at Buckberry Creek Restaurant"
  • Ober Gatlinburg Set to Open Friday for Snow Tubing - *Ober Gatlinburg is scheduled to open their snow tubing park Friday, November 16th, 2012. The idea that good skiing can only be found in the northeast or out west has been debunked by places like Ober Gatlinburg in the recent years. With the number of great changes every year to the current resort, things look … Continue reading "Ober Gatlinburg Set to Open Friday for Snow Tubing"
  • Arrowmont - Gatlinburg’s Arrowmont truly is a school of art education set against one of most ideal artistic backdrops – the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Arrowmont’s school of arts and crafts is a tool for anyone to make use of who wants to expand their art education. One- and two-week courses highlight the curriculum and artists the world … Continue reading "Arrowmont"
  • Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre - Quicksilver Nonsense! Are you looking for the oldest live show on the Tennessee side of the Smokies?  Look no further than Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre (SFAT)!  Since 1977, they have been producing and staging brand new works of musical comedy, year after year after year.  They are located in one of the most intimate venues … Continue reading "Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre"
  • Gatlinburg Trail - 1.9 miles in length Starting Points – Sugarlands Visitors Center or River Road in Gatlinburg near traffic light 10 Points of Interest – Footbridge over the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River & CCC homesites Difficulty – 1 Are you looking for an easy trail?  Are you wanting to hike but not end up … Continue reading "Gatlinburg Trail"
  • Christ in the Smokies - One of the perennial attraction sin Gatlinburg, for years, was Christus Gardens.  Several years ago, Christus Gardens closed and it was thought that the location where it had been for years, was going to become a set of condominiums.  Well, that deal fell through and the management team of Christus Gardens opened a new attraction: … Continue reading "Christ in the Smokies"
  • Newfound Gap Road Re-Opens Early Following January Landslide - Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) which runs from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC reopened Monday, April 15 2013 following a three month closure. The road was closed due to a January landslide that washed away a 200-foot section of pavement. Work on the road was actually completed a month ahead of time, and as a reward for … Continue reading "Newfound Gap Road Re-Opens Early Following January Landslide"
  • Gatlinburg Golf Course - Best Municipal Golf Course in all 50 States – Golf Digest With all the majestic beauty surrounding you when you visit the Smokies, it is no wonder that people choose to come to the area to spend some time on a golf course.  The majestic sweep of the mountains draw the eye to the beautiful … Continue reading "Gatlinburg Golf Course"

University of Tennessee Football

Go Vols!

Looking for some fun in the Smokies on a football weekend.  Plan your visit for a home game weekend and get those tickets early.  plan to sit with over 100,000 of your closest friends and cheer on the UT Volunteers (or their opposition) at one of the best football venues in one of the best football towns in the SEC.

Now, UT and other college football communities get a bad reputation for their over-zealousness but if you are coming through town on a Friday afternoon before a home game, there is something that you are going to notice:  lots of ORANGE.  The fan base in and around Knoxville is incredible.  They support their time and the town gets decked with orange from one end to the other.  Bank tellers, fast food restaurants and anything that doesn’t move gets festooned with orange.  As the approach of kickoff draws nigh, the town empties as people gather at the stadium or at their homes to watch the Vols take to the field.

The stadium itself is something to behold.  Neyland Stadium is named after General Robert Neyland,  Neyland was former athletic director and coach of the Vols.  The stadium was founded in 1921 and it is s till on that same location, though it has grown considerably over time.  In 1962, the stadium was renamed Neyland Stadium and it is currently one of the largest college football stadiums in the country.  Attendance has been tracked since 1964 and since that point, it has averaged 68,925 fans per game.  The largest crowd to ever fill the stadium was on September 18,2004 when 109,061 people arrived to watch the Vols beat Florida, 30-28.  Right now, Neyland Stadium is the third largest college stadium behind Michigan Stadium and Beaver Stadium.  Sitting in this large outdoor venue is one of the most exciting ways to take in a college football game.

Tips for going to UT Home game

  • Come Early and Expect to Leave Late
  • No Outside food, snacks or drinks
  • No alcoholic Beverages.
  • Gates open 2 hours before kickoff and not before
  • Bring your RV and tailgate before the game
  • All attendees must have a ticket regardless of age to enter the stadium
  • Parking is free in downtown Knoxville but your are going to have to walk or you are going to have to ride Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) buses to get tot he stadium

Prohibited items

  • Cans, bottles or coolers
  • Radios without headsets
  • Open Umbrellas
  • Video Cameras
  • Stadium seats with arms
  • Large bags of any kind
  • Weapons of any kind (this includes pocket knives)
  • Artificial noisemakers
  • Smoking
  • Strollers

Next time you come to the Smokies during football season why don’t you plan to go to a home game at Neyland stadium?  Sit in one of the biggest football stadiums in the country, watch a great team and experience the fun of SEC football in the Smoky Mountains.

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant

Life is Short, Eat Fritters First!

The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant (AFR) sticks in your memory after you have been there once and it is easy for it to become a place that you frequent a lot of you live here in the area.  For me, the Applewood Farmhouse will always be tied to the memories of working at the Louise Mandrell Theater.  The Applewood Farmhouse is located across the river from what used to be the Louise Mandrell Theater (now the Smoky Mountain Opry) and when I worked there, we ate at AFR a LOT!  The fritters became a staple part of all of our diets and of course, the food was eaten almost once a week at lunch, not to mention the number of tour groups that we sent to them over the years.  Add to that the fact that they were located right across the river and we had a restaurant that almost became our hang out.

Each and every meal that is served at the AFR is served with fritters.  They come to the table piping hot, served with butter to spread on them or to dip them in.  An apple fritter is a thing of beauty and when it comes with great food that they compliment to a ‘t,’ well you just can’t beat a fritter.  There were times at the theater when someone from Applewood staff would show up with a basket of fritters for us to munch on during the day.  That almost always guaranteed that we would end up across the river at lunch.

And the food they serve is as good as the fritters.  Their menu is full of southern comfort food.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served each and everyday throughout the week.  From fried chicken to chicken pot pie, from pork chops to beef liver, the menu is diverse and wonderful.  Full of the flavors of home and the tastes that you might have had at your grandmother’s house, the food takes you back in time.  The food becomes not only substance but a way to remember those days gone by.

In fact, just visiting the restaurant is a step through time.  It is housed in an old farmhouse, hence the name.  When you walk to your table you trod decades old boaords in the floor that have seen thousands of feet throughout the year.  This used to a be a farmhouse that was a stop on the way to Gatlinburg.  People in those forgotten times would stop at the farmhouse to spend the night, to get a bite to eat.  Now, for people visiting the area and for countless locals, this is a place to stop in for a bite to eat.  This is a place to spend a lunch hour or dinner after work.  This is a restaurant that is a first stop or that one special night out when you come to town for vacation in the Smokies.  The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant is calling you back to another time, stop in for a visit.

Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant
240 Apple Valley Road
Sevierville, TN
865-428-1222

Harrisburg Covered Bridge

There has been a covered bridge in the Harrisburg Community of Sevier County since the mid 1800s.  The bridge was used by the locals to cross the East Prong of the Little Pigeon River and connected the two separate parts of the community.

Originally, the Harrisburg Covered Bridge was named the McNutts Bridge but in 1875, the bridge was washed away during a storm and was completely destroyed.  Later that same year, a Sevier County Court established a committee to oversee the construction of a replacement bridge.  $50 was raised privately and $25 was donated by the county.  The people of the Harrisburg community donated all of the lumber that was needed and the labor.  The people of Harrisburg built the bridge and made sure they would be able to get back and forth to town easily and that they would be able to further grow their part of the county.

While other covered bridges around the country were being torn down, the people of Sevier County kept the Harrisburg Covered Bridge up and going.  IN the 1950s, the bridge was renovated, but by the 1970s the bridge had fallen into disrepair and was nearing the end of its life.  At this point in the bridges history, the Great Smokies Chapter and the Daughters of the American Revolution raised the money to keep the bridge up and to make sure that it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, you can still go visit the Harrisburg Bridge, take some pictures and drive through a bridge that has been around since 1875.  The bridge is 83 feet long, 14 feet wide and has 11-1/2 feet of clearance.  A true wonder of not only architecture but also of a people that wanted to keep their history alive.  Pencil the Harrisburg Covered Bridge into your next trip to the Smokies.  Drive a a little out of the way.  Head down Dolly Parton Parkway and follow it to Old State Highway 35.  Once you turn left on 35, follow the signs, the bridge is just a few miles down the road.  Get out and take some pictures and spend some time in real, living history.