The Derosia Team

  July 4, 1776 marked an important day in American history and since has been celebrated as the birth of American Independence.   Sevier County, Tennessee, specifically Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, will host festivities to celebrate our freedom.   The Fourth of July celebrations will kick off in Gatlinburg with the 37 th annual Fourth of July Parade.   Since 1976 the parade in Gatlinburg is renowned as the first Independence Day Parade in the United States.   The parade begins as the clock strikes midnight and the hour turns to July 4 th . The parade will honor all military personal and veterans from all 5 branches of service.   The Gatlinburg Fourth of July Celebrations will continue throughout the day on July 4 th with concerts at Ripley’s Aquarium and following up with a fireworks display at 10 pm.   The Derosia Team and Smoky Mountain Real Estate will host a barbeque starting at 7:00 pm on July 4 th for the fireworks display.   If you are in town please join us

In the Tennessee Smoky Mountains there is always something to do!   The Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the nation and is known for its beauty and wildlife.   The mountains are a magical place for the outdoor adventurer.   The Smoky Mountains offer unlimited outside activities. The newest craze to take off with a bang is the action-packed sport of zip lining.   Zip lines give the adventurer the opportunity to hang out among the treetops of a lush, green forest as you glide your way along the path suspended on a cable.   There are many zip line adventures throughout the Smoky Mountains.   Foxfire Mountain Adventures is one company that offers an all-inclusive tour package with exclusive handlebar trolleys that allow you to control your orientation.   Another company, CLIMB Works Canopy, features 13 unique adventures that allow guests to learn about nature and overcome their fears as they make their way over nine different zip li

Just three months after Dollywood made history with the first winged rollercoaster in the United States; Dollywood's Splash Country has announced another first for the 2013 season.  Splash Country, in Pigeon Forge, TN, is planning to bring the latest in ride technology to Tennessee with an electromagnetic waterslide.  This new attraction will come with the name RiverRush and will be the FIRST and ONLY water rollercoaster in Tennesee.  RiverRush, which will operate in a closed loop, begins with a 237-foot conveyer lift up to the first drop.  RiverRush races through the trees four stories in the air.  From there the rafts will rocket through a series of four drops, up hill climbs, tight turns, and dark tunnels.  Lets not forgot all of that is combined with rushing water.  River Rush is everything a land coaster has to offer plus the added bonus of a splash of water.  All this will be set against the scenic Smoky Mountains.

This weekend Dollywood will kick of its annual KidsFest, starting on June 22 and running through July 29.  The KidFest at Dollywood is the largest children's festival in the south with a variety of entertainers, shows, characters, and more importantly it is tailored specifically for children.  T his annual festival seems to get bigger and better each year as the quality of shows and performers keeps getting bigger and better. It has become one of the most popular festivals put on by Dollywood each year and has been a fantastic thing to do in Pigeon Forge during the summer months while children are out of school.  Some of this years KidsFest events and activities include: Dolly's Imagination Playhouse Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience The Gazillion Bubbles Show Dolly's Imagination Playhouse is a 20 minute musical that brings three children's books to life.  The books presented this year include: The Little Engine Who Could , Otis , and Ladybug Girl and the Bug

A quiz for you on the Smoky Mountain National Park. Good Luck! Let us know how you do. Great Smoky Mountains National Park Quiz -- National Geographic

Buying or selling a home usually involves the transfer of large sums of money. It is important that the transfer of these funds and related documents from one party to another be handled in a neutral, secure and knowledgeable manner. For the protection of buyer, seller and lender, the escrow process was developed. As a buyer or seller, you want to be certain all conditions of sale have been met before property and money change hands. The technical definition of an escrow is a transaction where one party engaged in the sale, transfer or lease of real or personal property with another person delivers a written instrument, money or other items of value to a neutral third person, called an escrow agent or escrow holder. This third person holds the money or items for disbursement upon the happening of a specified event or the performance of a specified condition. Simply stated, the escrow holder impartially carries out the written instructions given by the principals. This includes re

Gatlinburg's summer events calendar is packed full of fun stuff to enjoy with the family.  The City of Gatlinburg will host Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales and will also offer the Free Parkway Trolley all summer long. Both of these events start this weekend June 15 and will continue through the middle of August. Smoky Mountain Tunes and Tales will kick of its 7th season Friday, June 15 and will run through August 11.  This eight-week nightly event will highlight the past of the Appalachian history and culture.  Tunes and Tales is a summer-long street performance featuring musical performers, storytellers, and craftsmen portraying historical figures from as far back as the 1800s. The performers arrive nightly in the center of Gatlinburg at 6:00 pm.  These talented individuals turn the streets of Gatlinburg into a stage and provided performances until 11:00 pm.  There are at least 12 different performances each night.  This is sure to be a fantastic educational and entertaining ev

Tourist destinations are packed full of restaurants; most of them being the well known chain restaurants that can be dined in all over the country.  However, every city has the smaller restaurants that are usually out of the hustle and bustle of the city life.  These restaurants are  local favorites and mom and pop establishments that don't make it into the guidebooks and vacation brochures.  Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and the other surrounding areas of the Smoky Mountains have several well-kept secrets that the locals love. These establishments in the Smoky Mountains are often a great place to go and learn about the local culture, as well as eat some of the best local food.  Most of the establishments have more reasonable prices than the chain restaurants in town.  The service is above and beyond in these family owned establishments and the food is worth coming back for over and over again. Because there are so many local favorites we will pick a featured resta

The Smoky Mountain Real Estate Market for 2012 is showing positive trends in some key areas over the last year.  We have put together some statistics and visual aids for January - May 2012 compared to January - May 2011. The first category we compare was residential units sold through May. As you can see there were 223 more units sold in 2012 than in 2011.  The total units sold are up 28% from 2011.  As we look at the average days on market we will see a positive trend as well.  In 2012 the average residence was on the market for 36 days less than 2011.   The year-to-date average sale price is also on the rise.  This is up by $56,908. The final category of total volume sold through May has once again shown a positive increase from a year ago.  2012 is up by 7% from this time in 2011. As we continue to plug along into June we look to have the same positive trends continue.  There continue to be some great deals on the market.  If you are looking for a