Buck & Bear Lodge - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

10/14/2024

Fall colors are starting to show in the Smoky Mountains! Have you booked your dates for this fall? We have availability in November! Send us an email to inquire about open dates!

10/04/2024

We’ve gotten lots of questions about how things are in Gatlinburg after the storm.

Gatlinburg and the National Park are open and welcoming visitors. Your visit is valued and supports the local economy and the people who work in hospitality, since many of them live in affected areas.

Frequently asked questions addressed in the post below.

Thank you to those who reached out to us after Hurricane Helene. While Gatlinburg was fortunate not to be affected by the flooding, we know the impact on our neighboring communities has, understandably, raised questions.

We've responded throughout the week but wanted to answer the most common ones we've received in one spot.

You can find up-to-date road information, donation opportunities, and current national park conditions here: https://bit.ly/3XNGPfL

Answers to frequently asked questions:

Was Gatlinburg flooded?
No, Gatlinburg was fortunate not to be affected by the flooding from Hurricane Helene.

Is Gatlinburg open?
Yes, we are welcoming anyone who can safely travel here.

How are the roads?
We have up-to-date road information and suggested alternate routes at the link above. While most routes into Gatlinburg are unaffected, some roads east of us are closed. We recommend checking the link to find the safest option for you.

How can I help the communities affected by the flooding from the hurricane?
We have donation opportunities at the link above, including fundraisers, drop-off locations, and efforts from local businesses.

Can I visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Yes, U.S. 441 and many other popular locations on the Tennessee side of the park are open. However, some areas on the North Carolina side are closed. Be sure to check the link above for the current closures and conditions in the park before you visit.

12/18/2023

11/03/2023

Gatlinburg has definitely changed…

04/22/2023

Gatlinburg is good for a lot of things, but a sometimes overlooked preparation of the experience brings us back to childhood. Finger foods are an important piece of our early life, predating our deft usage of utensils. So it’s little wonder why the things we can grasp in Gatlinburg bring a clearer...

07/24/2022

Spiders: Unsuccessfully trapping hikers since, like, forever.

We’ve all walked through a spider web at some point. Are there ways to avoid a web on a trail? Not really, but we can offer a few tips that may lessen the shock.

🕸 As you walk, use a stick to make first contact with any potential webs. This way you can avoid using your face.

🕸 Invite a tall person to join you and walk behind them. After repeated web encounters, encouragement and compliments may be needed to keep this person in front. (Also, act surprised after each web encounter. You might want to say, “wow, that never happens,” or “I bet it was just the one.”)

🕸 Sleep in and let the early risers clear the trail for you. Amateurs.

🕸 Make the most of the little dance people do when they walk through a spider web and try to get it off. Let’s not scare anyone. Pull back. Pull back!!!!

P.S. The average spider can spin/repair a web in about 30 to 60 minutes. Something to keep in mind if the trail is not a loop.

Image: Morning dew collects on a spider web at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, TX.