Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum

In 1886, a group of investors from Pennsylvania formed the Little River Railroad and Lumber Company, which logged huge portions of what is now the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Today the site is preserved as museum that shares with visitors the area’s history of logging through photographs, papers, tools and other artifacts. Visitors can also view one-of-a-kind locomotives and logging machinery and learn about the railroad’s operations. The original Walland Depot was moved to the site to house all the artifacts and alongside the depot platform a replica of the Elkmont Post Office was constructed and houses the gift shop.

 

To learn more information about the Little River Railroad and Lumber Trading Company Museum, visit the official site at http://www.littleriverrailroad.org/.

Harry and the Train

We love having visitors in the mountains! Check out the video from this blog to see a traveler’s account of the beginning of the Little River Museum in Townsend, Tenn.

Sugarlands Visitor Center

During your vacation around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, be sure to stop by the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Before you decide on what trail to hike or where to picnic, you can pick up a park map and have your questions answered by a ranger. There is a 20-minute orientation film that provides an in-depth look at the diverse plant and animal life within the Smokies. Inside the visitors center you can also view historical exhibits about the wildlife you may see in the park. During the summer, the visitor center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The center is located 2 miles south of Gatlinburg on US- 441. For more information about the visitor center and others throughout the park click here.

 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

You’ll be in for a fright at Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in Gatlinburg, TN. This scary attraction offers an exciting adventure with a mysterious past. Children under six are not permitted and an adult must accompany children 6-11. If you feel brave and want to test your luck, visit Ripley’s Haunted Adventure.

Guiness World Records Museum

 

The Guinness World Records Museum, is a great place to visit with your family. Seeing how people around the world have broken daring, unbelievable, and humorous records will make for an entertaining visit. These world records are brought to life with exciting exhibits, interactive games, and trivia. For more attractions in Gatlinburg click here.

The World’s Most Unusual Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not in Gatlinburg, TN

 

Come see Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, where you can view a variety of uncanny and amazing events. Robert Ripley was an artist, a reporter, an explorer and a collector in the early 1900s. He visited over 200 countries and wherever he went he always looked for the unusual. After 35 years of exploring and collecting Ripley had quite a collection of unusual artifacts and other oddities. These objects, pictures, and stories are distributed to Ripley’s Believe It or Not museums around the world. In Gatlinburg, you have a chance to see one of these fascinating museums that inspired the hit TV show, Believe It or Not. It’s a place you have to see to believe!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum is just one of the many attractions you can visit when staying in Gatlinburg. For a complete list of attractions and activities click here. 

America’s First Indoor Skydiving Experience Located in Pigeon Forge, Tn near Gatlinburg

 

Flyaway is America’s first vertical wind tunnel designed to give you a chance to experience the thrill of human flight. Single sessions and personalized coaching programs are available, and no experience is necessary. Classes are conducted every hour and half-hour. Flyaway is one of the few indoor skydiving stimulators in the U.S., and the perfect place to break the bonds of gravity and body fly. To contact Flyaway call (877) 293-0639 or click here. 

Treasuring The World – The Rare Bible and Book Museum

Treasuring the World, the Rare Bible and Book Museum is not widely known, but holds a unique selection of artifacts, rare Bibles, and books that prove an interesting chronological history of the Bible’s progression into the English language. Admission is free, but they do accept donations. The museum is located near the Great China Acrobat Theater.

Hollywood Star Car Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

If you’re visiting the Gatlinburg area this holiday season and need to get out of the cold, visit the Hollywood Star Car Museum in downtown Gatlinburg featuring some of the best cars from Hollywood movies, TV, and real life music superstar cars that you are sure to remember! They have classics from The Dukes of Hazzard and the Beverly Hillbillies, as well as new Blockbluster hits, such as The Fast and the Furious and Gone in 60 seconds. This is a great activity for the whole family, and a great way to spend time together this holiday season.

Go see the Stars: Hollywood Wax Museum, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

The Hollywood Wax Museum in Gatlinburg is one of three in the United States. The sets and stars of the museum are so realistic and magical, that you will want to touch the figures! You will be able to stand beside and have your picture taken with stars such as Julia Roberts, Katherine Hepburn, Tom Hanks, and the celebrity list (both old and new) goes on. These wax figurines are so detailed and life-like you can’t help but wonder how difficult they are to recreate. It can take up to four pounds of wax from 56,000 bees just to make one head! And the final product would not be complete without the help of sculptors, hair stylists, eye and teeth specialists, make-up artists, costume and set designers, and special effects technicians. The museum is located on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, call (865) 430-1800 to plan your visit. This is the only Hollywood Wax Museum on the east coast, so while your visiting be sure to make a point to go see the stars!