African Black Footed Penguins Will Have New Home At Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies has announced the opening of “Ripley’s Penguin Playhouse,” a new indoor/outdoor multi-million dollar habitat featuring a colony of African Black Footed Penguins. The exhibit is scheduled to open in March of 2010.

The 4,000-square-foot exhibit features a habitat that closely models the home of African Black Footed Penguins, also known as Jackass Penguins for the distinctive braying sounds they make. Naturalistic rockwork and plantings surrounded by more than 30,000 gallons of temperature-controlled saltwater depict the coastal island rookeries along the coast of South Africa.

“We are really happy and proud that we are able to debut this amazing exhibit during our 10th anniversary. We feel our “Penguin Playhouse” will soon become another iconic exhibit within the aquarium and will be at the top of must-see lists for visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains,” said Ryan DeSear, manager of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

Aquarium guests will be able to view the penguins from both above and below water level. Visitors will also be able to crawl through clear underwater acrylic tunnels and pop up on the penguins’ private beach to view the birds nose to beak. At the same time, as visitors crawl through the tunnels, penguins swimming above and below them will be able to get a good close-up of the human species.

The highly interactive habitat will have two wave machines and multiple spa jets that will create continual water movements, which in turn will create an inviting watery playground for the birds.

Ripley’s Vice President of Husbandry, Joe Choromanski, who helped create the exhibit, notes that “we have studied penguin exhibits from zoos and aquariums around the world, as well as their natural habitat, and we are building what we believe to be the most realistic, interactive and fun exhibit in existence.”

The penguins that will be calling Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies home have all been bred at other zoos and aquariums and are a part of the Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. When these young birds reach breeding age, they too will contribute to the survival of this species in the wild.

The exhibit is the largest and costliest expansion ever at the aquarium, now celebrating its 10th year in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. More than 14 million visitors have visited the aquarium since its opening in December 2000.

The Aquarium of the Smokies is the second most attended attraction in Tennessee. For more information about the exhibit and the aquarium, you can check out the Aquarium’s website.

Gatlinburg Selected as Regional Site for Veterans Day Observance

The Veterans Day National Committee and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has designated Gatlinburg as an official Regional Site for the Observance of Veterans Day. This designation affiliates the Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration with National Veterans Day activities taking place at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington Virginia.

The seventh annual Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 on Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza. Activities will include a military aircraft flyover, patriotic music, recognition of veterans in attendance, remembrance of fallen comrades, and stirring words from notable veterans.

“One of the ways in which we honor Veterans is by acknowledging their service on our behalf,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki in a message sent to the Gatlinburg Special Events Office, which is coordinating the event. “Veterans Day gives us an opportunity to come together as a Nation to show our gratitude and respect for those who put service before self. From the tradition-rich ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to regional observances across this land, Americans will come together on November 11 with a simple message for Veterans: Thank you for your service to our Nation.”

Secretary Shinseki also sent notifications to the Department of Defense and to Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen informing them of Gatlinburg’s selection as an official Regional Site.

“To receive this designation lets us know that we are making a difference in honoring our veterans,” said Gatlinburg Special Events Manager George Hawkins. “The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month has been revered dating back to 1918 as a sacred time Americans honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.”

Gatlinburg becomes one of the two cities in Tennessee, along with Nashville, to receive this designation, and one of only 40 official sites across the nation. Gatlinburg City Commission established the Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration in 2002.

“The Veterans Day Celebration gives us a chance to show our veterans that we appreciate them,” said Gatlinburg City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle. “If it were not for these men and women, we would not have the freedoms that so many of us take for granted. We are honored to host this public celebration of our servicemen and women in all branches of our Armed Forces and to recognize their sacrifice and service.”

The observance has been designated as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza will be decked out in Red, White & Blue bunting for this popular event which is open to the public and attended by visitors from across the country.

Gatlinburg to Offer Public Preview of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea Documentary

Film maker Ken Burn’s latest documentary, National Parks – America’s Best Idea is set to air on PBS starting September 27^th, but visitors to Gatlinburg will have an opportunity to see a complimentary preview of the film is summer.

The Gatlinburg Office of Special Events and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will be host the preview of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea in celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The previews will be shown in the Aquarium’s lobby during it’s normal hours of operation from now until the series’ national debut September.

Filmed over the run of six years, the 12-hour series will be broadcast over six nights. The film is slated to air nationwide on PBS beginning Sunday, September 27, and the 26-minute preview is being shown in select cities across the country as a preview to the first televised episode.

Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course Picked as Best in Volunteer State

Gatlinburg Golf Course has been selected as the Best Municipal Golf Course in the State of Tennessee, as published in the August issue of Golf Digest magazine.

Using a combination of star ratings from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play” rankings and the magazine’s “Best In State” ratings, a panel of Golf Digest contributors and editors ranked the “Best Muny Course” in each state.

For this list, Golf Digest defined “muny” as a course owned by a city, town, county or state. Gatlinburg Golf Course received a rating of four and one-half stars out of five in the magazine, rating among the nation’s top courses, with a listed green fee of $60. The list includes nonresident, walking green fees during peak hours. Only one municipal golf course, Bethpage State Park (Black) in Farmingdale, N.Y., site of last month’s U.S. Open, received a rating of five stars, with a green fee of $120.

“Obviously, this is a very prestigious honor for the City of Gatlinburg and our members and residents,” said Gatlinburg Golf Course Manager Rick Tucker. “Golf Digest is recognized as one of the leading voices in the industry and a showcase of the game of golf.”

Gatlinburg Golf Course is open year-round with modern facilities including a brand new, fully equipped pro shop. It was established in 1955 on a 145-acre tract off Dollywood Lane near Dollywood, the Smoky Mountain amusement park attraction. The picturesque 18-hole course was designed by noted golf course architect William Langford. In 1993 and again in 2007, the course underwent major renovations by Bob Cupp and Associates of Atlanta.

“We are very proud of our golf course, Clubhouse facilities, and all the staff at the course,” said Cindy Cameron Ogle, City Manager of Gatlinburg. “We feel our patrons enjoy a memorable 18-hole experience and are very pleased with the recognition received from Golf Digest.”

The Course has always been public and has had only two PGA Professionals – Harry “Cotton” Berrier, a Hall of Fame inductee who retired in 1998, and Tucker, the current director of the Golf Course, which is a Department of the City of Gatlinburg.

In addition to a $500,000 hole renovation project, a new $1.24 million clubhouse opened in 2007, featuring a full-service pro shop and patio deck overlooking several holes. All of the clubhouse’s utilities have been placed underground at the 7,500 square foot facility, which includes modern locker rooms and restroom facilities and is fully handicap accessible.

Acclaimed as one of the most picturesque courses in America with breathtaking views of the Great Smoky Mountains, the course includes the legendary #12, affectionately known as “Sky Hi.” The hole is 194 yards in length and drops 200 feet, tee to green, making it one of the most dramatic holes in the country.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Has Plenty Events for the Fourth of July and Last Minute Deals on Lodging

The Fourth of July weekend is here and the Smoky Mountain area is ready to celebrate. Gatlinburg will start things off with their annual Midnight Parade and Pigeon Forge will be holding the town’s Patriot Festival all evening on the 4th. Both events are free and family friendly.

If you want to relax and stay a night or the weekend there are plenty of rooms, condos and cabins in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge that you can find last minute deals available.

Once you get in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area there is plenty of things to do and see, so come on up and enjoy the 4th of July in a safe, family oriented setting.

Give Your Wallet a Vacation with Ten Free Thing To Do Around Gatlinburg

Everyone is cutting corner on vacations these days, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut back on adventure. The folks at the Gatlinburg Department of Tourism have put together ten ideas to help get the most out of your visit to Gatlinburg and Smoky Mountains that doesn’t cost a dime. These ten suggestions can keep you busy, entertained and mesmerized for your entire stay and give your wallet a vacation in the process.

Find Adventure Along The Parkway

Put on your walking shoes, get out of the car, and join in the great family tradition of the downtown Parkway stroll also known as the center of excitement to those who visit Gatlinburg frequently. Explore every nook and cranny where you’ll find more than 200 unique shops, dozens of restaurants, and attractions for all ages. As you stroll, be on the look-out for homemade mountain taffy pulling, mouthwatering caramel apples being dipped or delectable fudge being prepared. You might just choose to play miniature golf, experience the world’s largest underwater aquarium tunnel, ride America’s largest aerial tram, take an elevator of chair lift to the top of the town, visit the unique museums or take a turn on live-action rides along the way. You can even people-watch!

Stroll River Road By The Little Pigeon River

If you need an “away from it all” moment, take a leisurely stroll along the Riverwalk that runs along the Little Pigeon River one block off the downtown Gatlinburg Parkway. Feed the ducks, watch as fishermen cast their flies in hopes of landing a mountain trout, or relax along the riverbank as you listen to the swift river flow before you. Admire beautiful arrays of flowers and dip your feet in the brisk mountain river. Find the perfect photo spot and help assure that your moments in Gatlinburg are never forgotten.

Drive The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Need to rest your feet? Jump in your car and explore a collection of historical sites on Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail including the preservation of a homestead owned by the Noah “Bud” Ogle family who lived in Gatlinburg after the Civil War. See log cabins, Roaring Fork Cemetery, and the remains of a village that supported some two dozen families more than 150 years ago. The motor nature trail is accessible to automobiles via the eight-mile one-way paved road. Many stops along the way allow you to get out, take a deep breath of mountain air, step back in time as you visit the sites and enjoy the aura of the mountains.

Absorb Sugarlands Visitor Center

Located at Great Smoky Mountain National Park’s main northern entrance two miles south of Gatlinburg along Newfound Gap Road, (U.S. 441) Sugarlands is a visitor center you should visit. A free 20-minute orientation motion picture provides an in-depth look at the Smokies and the enormous diversity of plant and animal life in the Park. Natural history exhibits include mounted specimens of park animals in recreations of their habitats and reproductions of journals kept by the first park naturalists. Ranger talks and slide shows are presented daily from spring through fall.

Explore The Greenbrier

Just a few miles outside of Gatlinburg and is a hidden jewel known as Greenbrier. A plethora of daytime fun and free outdoor activities can be enjoyed at this area of the National Park, located just east of Gatlinburg. Tube, swim, picnic, hike, sunbathe, or mountain bike. Ramsey Cascades Trail Head is also located here.

Discover Cades Cove

Historical cabins, farmhouses and churches are maintained in Cades Cove, a western valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. First settled by Europeans in 1819, today, the National Park Service maintains a historical and cultural preserve of log cabins, churches and other structures. The 11-mile one-way road passes by 19 numbered tour stops as identified in the pamphlet available at the entrance. Be sure to bring your camera in hopes of spotting wildlife such as deer, bear, turkey, owl and fox. If you prefer, you can also experience the loop on horseback or bicycle!

Take In The Gatlinburg Overlook

See Gatlinburg from a bird’s eye view from the two overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s the perfect souvenir photo spot and one of the most popular places to watch the sun rise. So grab your cameras and head up to Gatlinburg Overlook and enjoy the view!

Visit Arrowmont School Of Arts & Crafts

Indulge in a little culture as you browse the galleries of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Arrowmont has developed into a leader of contemporary arts and crafts education. Founded in 1945, the school has developed into a leader in arts and crafts education, with an annual enrollment of more than 2,000 students from the United States and abroad. Stop by and tour select collections of the art galleries, the resource center and the book and supply store.

Investigate Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community/The Glades

Take a trolley ride or take a leisurely drive to visit the eight-mile loop of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community and see craftsmanship at its best, as artisans using simple tools and skillful hands whittle, carve, cast, sew, weave and transform raw elements into works of art and function. Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is recognized internationally as the largest group of independent artisans in North America with nearly 100 shops, studios, galleries, cafes and lodging options.

Enjoy Smoky Mountain Tunes & Tales

All summer long visitors can meet characters, hear mountain music and learn about life in the Smokies on the streets of Gatlinburg. In conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, enjoy storytellers, musicians and cloggers performing along the Parkway every evening during this fourth annual event!