Blog for Zip line Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
What To Look Forward To In 2021 - Part One
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on December 29, 2020
As we say goodbye and good riddance to 2020, it's natural for us to turn our eyes toward 2021 with a sense of optimism. Coronavirus vaccines are starting to roll out worldwide, which means we have some hope that life might start returning to normal some time in the next 12 months. And that means we can begin looking ahead to a time when traveling and vacationing more closely resembles what we remember from pre-pandemic days.
With that sense of renewal and optimism in mind, let's take a sneak peek at some of the places and things we have to look forward to in 2021 and beyond. In fact, this week's list features places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains that are either about to open, are brand-new or have made their debut just within the past few months.
Gatlinburg SkyTrail
Many of you may already be familiar with Gatlinburg SkyBridge, the longest suspension pedestrian bridge in North America. Accessible from the Gatlinburg SkyLift, this popular tourist stop is about to be joined by another feature called Gatlinburg SkyTrail. Making its debut this spring, SkyTrail will consist of three segments totaling a third of a mile in length. The Boardwalk will be an elevated wooden walkway leading away from the existing SkyDeck observation platform and along the hillside of the ravine that cuts under SkyBridge. Along the way, interactive signage will provide information about the engineering of SkyBridge and the history of the iconic SkyLift. The Lookout will be a steel tower set in the back of the ravine. Accessed by rope bridges, it will offer more elevated platforms. Finally, the Pathway will be a smooth walking path running from the Lookout to the west end of SkyBridge.
Camp Margaritaville Pigeon Forge RV Resort
The Margaritaville Island Hotel has been serving Smoky Mountain lodging guests for several years now. Located at The Island complex in Pigeon Forge, the hotel offers a resort experience imbued with Jimmy Buffett's trademark island attitude. Now the Margaritaville brand is going on a new RV resort expected to open in Pigeon Forge in late spring of 2021. Guests will enjoy RV hookup sites as well as a camp store, restaurant and bar, pickleball courts, putting green, pool, kiddie play area and water slide. The RV sites will enjoy upscale bath and laundry facilities and WiFi service. The lodge will blend the native mountain experience with the laid-back lifestyle embodied by the Margaritaville franchise. The site will also include vacation cabins offering all the amenities guests need to chill out in the Smokies. The RV Resort will be located in Pigeon Forge at the former Boyd's Bears retail site.
Appalachian Springs Outdoor Resort & Trout Farm
Here's another new lodging provider scheduled to come online in late spring of 2021. This unique camping experience promises a feel of seclusion while remaining close to all the action of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The resort will offer a variety of camping options, including sites for large RVs and campers as well as custom tiny homes and luxury glamping lodges. Amenities will include on-site trout fishing, a pool, theater room, fire pits, live music, camp store, arcade, playgrounds, event space, guided hikes and a fitness facility.
This is just a small sampling of what Smoky Mountain visitors can look forward to in 2021. Check back with us next week, and we'll share even more new and newish fun spots in the Smokies, including restaurants, attractions and retail destinations. And don't forget that in the spring, Smoky Mountain Ziplines will be open once again for all of you who are looking forward to ziplining Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. We hope to see you then!
