About this city
Also known as: The Gateway to the Great Smokies
Tucked beautifully inside a narrow, scenic mountain valley directly at the foot of Mount Le Conte in eastern Sevier County, Gatlinburg is a world-renowned resort city celebrated globally as the premier official gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Established in the early 19th century as a quiet mountain logging hamlet called White Oak Flats, the town's destiny was permanently altered in the mid-20th century following the creation of America's most visited national parkland. Today, the town presents an energetic, classic alpine village vacation atmosphere, fully packed with mountain-view skylines, eccentric independent artisan craft shops, and high-capacity tourist zones. Operating as a high-capacity hospitality powerhouse, Gatlinburg coordinates its deep Appalachian folklore and pioneer heritage with world-class family amusements, ski resorts, and moonshine distilleries.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 2–4 days
Ride the glass enclosed enclosed ski-lift cable cars to the breathtaking observation decks and glass mountain skybridge at Gatlinburg Skylift Park. Walk through the giant, high-tech translucent underwater sharks tunnels at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Sample authentic high-proof peach moonshine at the historic Ole Smoky Ole Smoky Distillery.
