Memphis Tennessee

During the 70s and 80s we would come up there two or three times a year, including a week camping at Cades Cove Campground between Christmas and New Years. Fortunately my dad was a prolific photographer so our trips were well documented. Later on, in the 90s well into the 2000s we would hold impromptu family reunions in a rented Mountain Laurel Chalet on Halloween weekends. We ALWAYS played Hillbilly Golf and a roll of quarters worth of skee-ball at Fannie Farkles\'. I figgered out a trick on thier skee-ball lanes. If you chunk a bankshot into the roof net in either corner the ball drops right into those BIG POINTS hoops. Thanks for Sharing!!!

Louisville Ohio

First came to Gatlinburg in 1963 Returned this past week. My how it has changed.

New Jersey

My parents and two brothers first went to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in 1963. I went in 1969 when I was 3 with my family. It’s crazy being so young I remember PF with all the drive up motels, some restaurants, and the attractions. I remember riding around to get the best room rate on a motel and also my mom needed a big vanity in the bathroom. If the room didn’t have a good one we would go onto the next place. We didn’t make reservations like we do today. I remember this one motel we stayed at had a round carousel type thing next to the pool that you would peddle and it went around and around. Those were some great times. We would go again every other year or so and in my teens. As a young kid we Loved Hillbilly Village and went crazy over the guy talking in the outhouse when you opened the door. I also remember getting pics in Cherokee with the Indians and a kissing bunny type thing in Gatlinburg where you put the money in and the bunny kisses something. In the 70s there were a bunch of those concrete waterslides built into the sides of mountains that you use the rubber mats to go down. One called SkiDoo and don’t remember the other one. I had a blast on those slides. They just don’t make them like that anymore. I guess they were also very dangerous but I knew how to work them and not get hurt. I remember going to the supermarket and buying ready made hotdogs, fried chicken, and these excellent potato skins fries and going for picnics in the park. I went again after getting married in my early 20s and again three times in my early 40s during my second marriage with my kids. It’s like a totally different feel from those early days. I’m now in my mid 50s and it’s been 6 years since we have been back. After all of these years I still remember those good old days with my bro’s. The Smokies will always hold a special place in my heart.

Mississippi

I was looking for photos or info on Bach’s Candle shop circa 1970’s Gatlinburg.
I recently bought Esther Bach’s cabin on Baskins Creek and was looking for any history on her and her shop. I understand she was also a poet.

Chattanooga, TN

My family visited the area many times in the ‘80s and ‘90s and I’m looking for pictures or any info at all, really, about a mid-80s attraction in Pigeon Forge where you drove miniature tanks which shot tennis balls. Each tank held two people and one person drove and one was the gunner. Other people stood around the battle area at turrets and shot buckets of tennis balls at the tanks. Does anyone remember this? It was our favorite and didn’t last long as far as I know.

Savannah Ga

Love the old photos. Do you happen to have any of the mountain mall arcade or Ultra zone in piegon forge, you can find it on google in 2008 , i dont remember what year it became big daddys pizza on the pigeon forge location

Response:

On Parkway Page Seven there is one picture of the pool tables at the Mountain Mall arcade from about twenty years ago. But that would be all that I have.

Thanks!

TheSmokies.com

Hi there!

We have several upcoming features about attractions/sights from the past in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg for TheSmokies.com and I was wondering if you would grant us permission to feature some of your photos?

Thank You,
Morgan Overholt
info@thesmokies.com

Oldgatlinburg.net: Go to \"thesmokies.com\" and see their wonderful articles on past Smoky Mountain Attractions.

Chicago suburbs

Found this site recently after searching for more information on Langdon\'s Park Motel. We stayed there almost every year on vacation with my parents. The Langdons would keep an eye on me as I was allowed to stay at the motel and swim and wander about town when I didn\'t want to go sightseeing with with my parents. I have some photos taken on some of our trips there as well as a few postcards I can share.

Greenwood, IN

Love in Colorado Springs now. While growing up in Greenwood my dad would drive us to Gatlinburg on Labor Day. There was an old museum called Fairyland. It was a small place. A tall tree just to left of building. I remember fairies and lots of glitter. Is there a photo??

Boone, NC

What a cool site showing the Gburg then and the Gburg we know and love currently. :heart: