The Derosia Team

LOOKING FOR SOME CHRISTMAS SPIRIT? Check out these events in the area for festivities that will be sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit!   Christmas Tree Lighting at the  Island with Paula Deen November 28th at 6 p.m. in Pigeon Forge, watch the Island's enormous Christmas tree come to life. Free admission and live entertainment will be provided!  Great Smoky Mountains Christmas  Arts & Crafts Show November 30th- December 6th at the Gatlinburg Convention center find the perfect gift for loved ones. All of the best artists and artisans will be on hand for you to purchase unique handcrafted items! City of Sevierville Christmas Parade November 28th at 6 p.m. in Pigeon Forge, watch the Island's enormous Christmas tree come to life. Free admission and live entertainment will be provided! Townsend Christmas Parade November 30th- December 6th at the Gatlinburg Conventio...

Sevier County is an ever changing area of attractions, hotels, restaurants, and shops. It seems as if there is something new and exciting every day! Check out this blog post for some places of long ago that used to be a favorite for many! Porpoise Island: The area that is now the Island was the home of a popular show straight out of Hawaii. In the 70s and 80s visitors could enjoy hula dancers, seal and porpoise shows, trained parrots and more.  Rebel Railroad: Before Dollywood days, visitors could enjoy Rebel Railroad. This confederate-themed attraction included a steam train ride through the mountain countryside. Rebel Railroad was in operation from 1961 through 1970. It later became Goldrush Junction, then Goldrush, and finally Silver Dollar City before becoming Dollywood.  Ogle's Waterpark: The area of Walden's Landing was once home to a popular summer attraction. Until 2003, those looking for a way to escape the heat could enjoy multiple water slides, a wave...

Enjoy this posting with some great flashback photos from the Sevier County Area!   Cliff Davis Motor Company-1964   Broady's Hospital built in the 1940's.    Watson Motor Company Wrecker...check out the 3 digit phone number!   Anderson's Food Market located in what is now Gatlinburg near where Parton's Deli is.    Late 60's View of the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge   Sevierville looking down Bruce Street towards Court Avenue just before the court house   Sevier County Electric System   Gatlinburg Trolley System   The General Store at Rebel Railroad Rebel Railroad....now known as Dollywood

Sevier County sure has changed a lot through the years, we have seen many businesses come and go. Roads have been built and life has formed where there was once just trees. Check out our latest post for some fun, flashback memories! Twin Islands hotel was built in 1951 and located near the Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN. Sadly, it has been torn down and being replaced with Margaritaville Resort! Who remembers riding the Waterboggan in the 80's? Slide off the mat and lose your hide! Ogle's Waterpark was a top summer destination in Pigeon Forge...taking a ride on any of the 6 slides, splashing in the wave pool, or enjoying an ice cream cone was the best way to spend the day. Now, Walden's Landing sits where Ogle's Waterpark was.  Porpoise Island located off Sugar Hollow Road took guests to Hawaii. You couldn't miss the Dolphin, Sea Lion, Bird, and Hula shows. The roller skating birds were a favorite of many. In the midst of the Hawaiia...

THANKSGIVING FEAST Visiting our area from out of town? No family in the area? Don't want to go grocery shopping? Don't want to dirty your kitchen? Whatever the reasons, if you don't want to cook a Thanksgiving meal, the multitude of restaurants in our area offering a traditional feast will surely not disappoint! Read below for some great choices, but be warned just reading this post will make your stomach growl and your mouth water! Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant Serving a Thanksgiving Feast from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm Adults $25.99 and Children 10 and under $9.99 All the traditional fixings and more: Applewood Julep, Apple Fritters with Apple Butter, Vegetable Soup, Prime Rib with Au Jus, Roasted Turkey with Gravy and Stuffing, Apple Glazed Sugar Cured Ham, and more! Bennet's Pit Barbeque Serving a Thanksgiving Buffet from 11;00 am to 8:00 pm They are offering a full Thanksgiving buffet or you can order a family feast for $100. You...

Happy November! TEMPERATURES are cooling, LEAVES are falling, BEARS are scavenging for food, TURKEYS are calling, and CHRISTMAS LIGHTS are being turned on! That can only mean one thing in the Sevier County....it's NOVEMBER ! There is lots to see and do throughout the year which each month being just as magical as the one before. The events in November are sure to not disappoint. Check out this month's post to find several can't miss activities and a recipe for one of my favorite things... PUMPKIN PIE !   Sevierville Winterfest Kickoff - November 7, 2016 3:00-7:30 pm The 2016 Sevierville Winterfest kickoff event, dubbed “Music, Lights and Magic,”  takes place in the heart of the city at the municipal complex downtown. Free food, local entertainment, kids' games and fireworks make this event fun for everyone! The evening wraps up by turning on the area's first Winterfest lights. Sevierville Convention & Visitors Bureau, 110 Gary...

It's August and for Sevier County residents that means one thing....It's Back to School time for all the kiddos! Check this blog post out for tips on how to make the last few weeks of summer meaningful for your children, how to combat boredom, and some awesome deals in the area as you get ready to embark on yet another school year.  10 activities...No Parent's Allowed! 1. Wash the car 2. Make a picnic lunch, but only pack items that start with the letter P 3. Make a wind chime from recycled items 4. Create a fairy garden...for an added twist make it for zombies 5. Create a back yard zip line for action figures or barbies 6. Use old newspapers to create anonymous notes 7. Paint rocks and add googly eyes to represent members of the family 8. Cover the slip n slide in shaving cream 9. Using old boxes, build a giant robot  10. Wear parent approved old clothes and see who can create the largest grass stains 10 activities..Family Involvemen...

We recently went to Facebook to poll all of our local friends and ask where their favorite place in Sevier County was. Each pick has a unique reason why they are a favorite. Whether you live in the area, are visiting, or planning to relocate, be sure to check some of these spots out. Here are their responses: “Pottery House Cafe: Excellent Food, Great Staff, and Beautiful Landscaping....also Carver's Apple Orchard.”-Patty “Baak boutique, Wanderlust Salon because they are owned by independent, smart local ladies and I like to see women succeed in business.”-Demi “Sassy nails"-Monica “Wild Plum Tea Room. Awesome food, great atmosphere”-Seemona “Parton's deli. Awesome hot dogs & lemon cake. They have been in business since I think 1973.”-Lisa “Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community. We are the largest group of independent artisans in North America. Shops are owner operator and most of us create almost everything in our shops!”-Lorrie “Mountain Lodg...

SNOW DAY! It's the 1st official Snow Day of 2016!  All schools in Sevier County, and most of East Tennessee has been shut down. Many businesses are closed for the day and reports are coming in of Highway 66 being closed currently. Snowfall totals vary across the area from a dusting to a few inches. An additional 1-3 inches of snow and ice could accumulate before the end of the night. Enjoy these snow pictures from around Sevier County. Also, what is a snow day with out a little snow cream? SNOW CREAM! YIELD: ABOUT 2-4 SERVINGS SNOW ICE CREAM This 5-minute recipe for homemade snow ice cream is a sweet way to celebrate a snow day! PREP:   5 MINS   TOTAL:   5 MINS INGREDIENTS: 1 cup milk (any kind) 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 pinch salt 8 cups clean snow or shaved ice (more or less depending on the density of the snow) optional (but strongly suggested) topping: sprinkles!!! DIRECTIONS: In a ...

Have you considered buying a vacation home as an invest?  What better way to go on vacation than to go out of town and stay at your on home? Then when you are not visiting you can rent it out throughout the year to cover your cost.  Sounds good, right? Let's consider a couple things and you can make your own decision. Gross Income Depending on where you plan to buy a vacation make sure to take into consideration that must vacation destinations are seasonal.  In other words you will not have a renter everyday of the year.  For example, in the Great Smoky Mountains the season runs from mid-March through December.  January and February can often be dead months but are starting to pickup. Management Fees If you plan on using a management company to rent your vacation home you will need to factor in the percentage the rental company takes for each rental plus any other hidden fees.  Do your research and know what you are getting yourself into. Ano...

Sevier County, Tennessee was established September 18, 1794 and covers about 6,000 square miles.  There are three distinct regions in Sevier County, Appalachian Mountain region to the north, Foothills region in the central portion, and the Great Valley of East Tennessee, which stretches 9,200 square miles across Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. Since the counties establishment, the county seat has been situated at Sevierville, the eighth oldest city in Tennessee.  As with an old county throughout the world, their is always historic buildings and places that still remain today.  Sevier County is no exception.  There are many historic buildings that make up part of the history of Sevier County that are still standing today.  Some of these buildings/places have made their way to the United States National Registry of Historic Places.  Because their are so many important buildings/places within Sevier County it is near impossible to hit on all of these in on...