Dismeet in the Smokies 2021! Y'all Come!

[BenitaN]

Yes to the caverns!

 

[rocketmom]

I have been in contact with Our friend the Crazy Kentucky Goat Lady who is currently in The Everglades about recruiting a few Alligators for a couple of evenings of wrestling. She is not making any promises.
Does anyone have any Information about an Establishment called Goats On The Roof

Goats On The Roof is a mountain coaster on Wears Valley Road. I haven't ever done it but I have passed by there several times. It looks like fun and some might be interested in doing it during the meet. I've never actually seen goats on the roof though.

 

[tiggerdad]

In Gatlinburg, several of the attractions along the main strip are under the trademark name of Ripley's. Some of us are old enough to remember the TV show that used to come on in the 80's titled Ripley's, Believe it or Not...



There have been a few reboots of the show with different hosts, but I remember this one best from childhood. Anyway, the Ripley's has multiple attractions all over the world, some of them in Orlando, Branson, and Gatlinburg. There are at least 6 in Gatlinburg, 8 if you count the mini-golf courses. They include the ultimate Ripley's Believe It or Not... exhibit


Mirror Maze


Motion Ride, that is the Haunted adventure right there to the right of it, brown wood building.


Haunted Adventure


and the Aquarium, which I highly recommend.


They do have mini golf also, Ripley's Davy Crockett's mini golf is on the left almost as soon as you enter Gatlinburg, well before the main strip begins. This is my second favorite mini-golf, second only to Hillbilly Golf just a short piece further down the strip.


With these attractions, obviously it costs money to experience them, and to help save you a little money there is a website where you can purchase the tickets in advance if you like. There is a discount if you purchase multiple attractions is the reason why I bring this up. You can also purchase the multi tickets there in Gatlinburg at the individual attractions but we usually get them in advance. Just look up Ripley's attractions in Gatlinburg and you'll find the link to purchase in advance if you like.

 

[tiggerdad]

Also, I'm on vacation starting tomorrow, so I've got some time to get some fresh information on here and need to update the attendance chart in post 1. I know I need to get Gloria added, let me know if there is anyone else who needs to be added or edited.

 

[mickeyfan0805]

We actually enjoyed the Ripley aquarium quite a bit when we were there. DS loved Believe it or Not!

 

[PaHunter]

Also, I'm on vacation starting tomorrow, so I've got some time to get some fresh information on here and need to update the attendance chart in post 1. I know I need to get Gloria added, let me know if there is anyone else who needs to be added or edited.

Well you changed our site but did not add our other days. But it is ok. We have to move during our stay.

 

[bama_ed]

In Gatlinburg, several of the attractions along the main strip are under the trademark name of Ripley's. Some of us are old enough to remember the TV show that used to come on in the 80's titled Ripley's, Believe it or Not...

View attachment 550501

tiggerdad, some of us are old enough to remember coming of age with the Ripley's Believe It Or Not BOOKS.

Along with Mad Magazine (monthly) and The Guinness Book of World Records (annually), the Ripley's books were something I would look forward to because they would chronicle newly discovered oddities and bundle them in books (paper, words, reading, etc.). They would come out periodically as I recall in general unless they put out a book on a focused topic.

I've never coughed up the $$$$ to go in a Ripley's museum in the tourist towns (St. Augustine, Key West, others) but may have to in 10RC.

Enjoy your time off. I'm sure you've earned it.

Bama Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

Well you changed our site but did not add our other days. But it is ok. We have to move during our stay.

Sorry Chris, ill have to go back and look. Unless, of course, you want to help a guy out and repost it for me.

 

[PaHunter]

Sorry Chris, ill have to go back and look. Unless, of course, you want to help a guy out and repost it for me.

4th to the 9th in Site 47
9th to the 11th in Site 46

Enjoy your time off.

 

[bama_ed]

I am one of those people who does NOT like to blow in LATE in the day and try to set up.

For those occasions, I like to "get close" a day or two before then roll over to the destination.

This is my plan for the Fort. I generally like to make the 550 mile drive in the arrival day and pull into Lake Louisa State Park in Florida (Clermont specifically ) which leaves a 30 minute drive the next day to the Fort. LLSP is about $30 for that pre-arrival night versus $100+ for a late night arrival at the Fort to sleep in the Disney air. My neighborhood raccoon sleeping in my street sewer says "DUH".

All that to say .......

For the Smokey Mountain DISMeet, I was looking for another affordable stop in the area of the event to "rest and recover" from the drive in at. For that area, the Tennessee Valley Authority operates hydroelectric dams along the Tennessee River and nearby waterways and like the Corps of Engineers, operates public recreation (beaches), boat launches, and campgrounds along the rivers. One dam is very close to Pigeon Forge, TN and I'm referring specifically to Douglas Dam.

Douglas Dam is about 30 minutes from Pigeon Forge TN. There are actually two campgrounds on the river, one "above" the dam and one "below" the dam. I made a 2 night reservation BEFORE the DISMeet for the campground above the dam. They both are like CoE with 30A power, water, no sewer, and some sites have a view of the water.

The "above" campground is also referred to as the Douglas "Headwater" Campground.

https://camprrm.com/parks/tennessee...round/?it=parks/douglas-headwater-campground/

The "below" campground is known as the Douglas "Tailwater" Campground.

https://camprrm.com/parks/tennessee...round/?it=parks/douglas-tailwater-campground/

Heads versus Tails.

For both of these links, you can click the "Site Maps" link on the screens shown and the then the "General Map" link to see maps of the campsites. Reservations are for specific campsites at about $30 a night.

So I made a reservation for the Headwaters/Above campground before we roll over to Pine Mountain. But be aware:

1. Two night minimum apparantly
2. Site Specific
3. 30A water sites (some pull throughs)
4. Cancellation appears to be one night fee plus reservation fee
5. You create a login/signin as you go to reserve a site

So I have two nights in East Tennessee with a waterfront site before I slide 30 minutes over to Pine Mountain to join the DISMeet (hey, I'm retired - I got time). The first night will be to sleep - the second night I could slide over to Pine Mountain to "pre-visit" (I see @garneska will be there by then) and I am hoping that Bert (DH) might have leftovers to feed to me and DW (a crust, some pan juice, a fresh veg that's a little undercooked) <jk>.

So if you want some place to land for two nights BEFORE the DISMeet or AFTER the DISMeet, check out the spots above knowing the specs above and what the links show.

Bama Ed

 

[Bishoparc]

On that same line @bama_ed, we usually stay in Gadsden, AL on the way up from here. It’s about the halfway point for us. We stay at “The Cove” RV resort right off the interstate. It’s a gravel campground but has a very nice and clean comfort station and is behind a security gate. It does have a little lake. Very convenient spot. http://www.thecoverv.com/

 

[tiggerdad]

I am one of those people who does NOT like to blow in LATE in the day and try to set up.

For those occasions, I like to "get close" a day or two before then roll over to the destination.

This is my plan for the Fort. I generally like to make the 550 mile drive in the arrival day and pull into Lake Louisa State Park in Florida (Clermont specifically ) which leaves a 30 minute drive the next day to the Fort. LLSP is about $30 for that pre-arrival night versus $100+ for a late night arrival at the Fort to sleep in the Disney air. My neighborhood raccoon sleeping in my street sewer says "DUH".

All that to say .......

For the Smokey Mountain DISMeet, I was looking for another affordable stop in the area of the event to "rest and recover" from the drive in at. For that area, the Tennessee Valley Authority operates hydroelectric dams along the Tennessee River and like the Corps of Engineers, operates public recreation (beaches), boat launches, and campgrounds along the river. The Tennessee River runs very close to Pigeon Forge, TN and I'm referring specifically to Douglas Dam.

Douglas Dam is about 30 minutes from Pigeon Forge TN. There are actually two campgrounds on the river, one "above" the dam and one "below" the dam. I made a 2 night reservation BEFORE the DISMeet for the campground above the dam. They both are like CoE with 30A power, water, no sewer, and some sites have a view of the water.

The "above" campground is also referred to as the Douglas "Headwater" Campground.

https://camprrm.com/parks/tennessee...round/?it=parks/douglas-headwater-campground/

The "below" campground is known as the Douglas "Tailwater" Campground.

https://camprrm.com/parks/tennessee...round/?it=parks/douglas-tailwater-campground/

Heads versus Tails.

For both of these links, you can click the "Site Maps" link on the screens shown and the then the "General Map" link to see maps of the campsites. Reservations are for specific campsites at about $30 a night.

So I made a reservation for the Headwaters/Above campground before we roll over to Pine Mountain. But be aware:

1. Two night minimum apparantly
2. Site Specific
3. 30A water sites (some pull throughs)
4. Cancellation appears to be one night fee plus reservation fee
5. You create a login/signin as you go to reserve a site

So I have two nights in East Tennessee with a waterfront site before I slide 30 minutes over to Pine Mountain to join the DISMeet (hey, I'm retired - I got time). The first night will be to sleep - the second night I could slide over to Pine Mountain to "pre-visit" (I see @garneska will be there by then) and I am hoping that Bert (DH) might have leftovers to feed to me and DW (a crust, some pan juice, a fresh veg that's a little undercooked) <jk>.

So if you want some place to land for two nights BEFORE the DISMeet or AFTER the DISMeet, check out the spots above knowing the specs above and what the links show.

Bama Ed

I believe Randy just stayed there Thanksgiving week. Spoke highly of it.

 

[JETS70]

I know I need to get Gloria added, let me know if there is anyone else who needs to be added or edited.

Teresa and I have extended our stay thru Sunday June 13th. I would like to try and arrive on Saturday June 5th along with most everyone else. I haven't worked that out yet. Trying to avoid being the "entertainment" on Sunday.

 

[tigger92662]

Trying to avoid being the "entertainment" on Sunday.

We'll be arriving on Sunday, so it's quite possible I'll be on the docket for that

 

[tiggerdad]

A reminder for everyone, June 7th is the designated Dismeet. Figure evening time 5ish. Bringing this up in case folks are booking any shows or events during the stay.

 

[PaHunter]

On that same line @bama_ed, we usually stay in Gadsden, AL on the way up from here. It’s about the halfway point for us. We stay at “The Cove” RV resort right off the interstate. It’s a gravel campground but has a very nice and clean comfort station and is behind a security gate. It does have a little lake. Very convenient spot. http://www.thecoverv.com/

We stayed at Noccalula Falls one trip going down and stayed at The Cove last trip coming back from GSP. As you said, very nice little campground.

 

[bama_ed]

I believe Randy just stayed there Thanksgiving week. Spoke highly of it.

I remember that! He posted a picture but I didn't know that this was it.

I kept looking for CoE camping in the area and couldn't find any then I remembered that's TVA area and went down that rabbit hole. There are six TVA campgrounds run by this RRM outfit. Another one is Pickwick at Pickwick Dam which I drove over when buying my Yukon this week. It's just up past the northeast corner of Mississippi. Looked like a good place to camp and visit the Shiloh Civil War sights. There is TN state park just above the Pickwick dam too.

But Douglas is only 30 minutes from Pine Mountain (that is if traffic isn't too bad).

Ed

 

[tiggerdad]

I remember that! He posted a picture but I didn't know that this was it.

I kept looking for CoE camping in the area and couldn't find any then I remembered that's TVA area and went down that rabbit hole. There are six TVA campgrounds run by this RRM outfit. Another one is Pickwick at Pickwick Dam which I drove over when buying my Yukon this week. It's just up past the northeast corner of Mississippi. Looked like a good place to camp and visit the Shiloh Civil War sights. There is TN state park just above the Pickwick dam too.

But Douglas is only 30 minutes from Pine Mountain (that is if traffic isn't too bad).

Ed

My apologies Ed, it wasn't there. I finally got to look at the website you posted. He was further down river in Lenoir City. My bad.

 

[Teamubr]

Ed,

We went to Douglass Lake dam when were there last May staying at Anchor Down ( a few miles from the dam). I didn't realize there were TVA campgrounds near there. We didn't see any signs for them.
The dam is nice and there is a park surrounding the tail waters.





j

 

[tripleb]

Hey Folks, thought we would join the group in Pigeon Forge. We arrive June 6 and depart June12 ... site #37. Looking forward to putting some faces to names.