Dolly Parton is many things: singer, songwriter, actress, and theme park proprietress.  But despite all these talents, perhaps her role as a philanthropist gives her the most joy. Dolly Parton never forgot where she came from.  She was once dirt poor in the Smoky Mountains.  Now, she has the resources to give back to her […]

No Hollywood soundstage can compare to the natural backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. The quaint communities and residents (extras!), rich with history themselves, only add to the scenery-as-storytelling motif. Update your queue with these four films that took advantage of the eastern Tennessee locale to create four very different movies. Movie: The Dollmaker Released: […]

Local dialect, euphemisms, and a pleasing musical twang only add more flavors to the already rich culture of the Smoky Mountains.  The folk expressions distinct to the Appalachian region of eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina are much more than just pronunciations and colloquialisms.  They contain a life and history of their own. The Dictionary […]

Pigeon Forge, located in the eastern portion of Tennessee, is known for its traditional Appalachian crafts, music and folklore. Visitors flock to Pigeon Forge each year to enjoy popular tourist attractions, like Dollywood, unsurpassed shopping and some of the best chalets, vacation condos, and cabins in Smoky Mountains. The Pigeon Forge area served as a […]