About Sevier County, TN

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a popular and pleasant diversion from the hustle and bustle of busy downtown Gatlinburg. Although it takes just minutes to get there from the heart of town, the visitor is transported to a completely different time and place!

The fifteen mile, one way loop is not well-suited for those on a tight schedule. You will rarely be able to maintain the 10 mph speed limit, and you will be compelled to stop the car many times to get out and experience the ancient stream bed and the verdant forest.

There are some overlooks with good views, but this trail is more about Roaring Fork itself. It is a world of rocks and moisture and moss and shade loving plants. You are likely to spot a deer, or if you are really fortunate and observant, a black bear!

A few brave settlers once built small hardscrabble farms along this watercourse, and a few structures have been preserved here in an effort to depict what life was like in the time before the national park was established.

But the journey here is about the theater of the forest, the fragrance of the firmament, and the music of the cascading stream. It's a sensory explosion that overwhelms even the most citified sojourner and beckons them to stay and enjoy a long draught of primeval essence!

To get there from Gatlinburg, simply take Airport Road and follow straight into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and then follow the signs to the trailhead.

Photos Top: Roaring Fork, Bottom" "The Place of a Thousand Drips" courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

Like most of America the Great Smokies and more specifically Sevier County has seen a very large increase in the number of foreclosures and short sales in the past 2 years. However, in the past few months the quality and quantity of those properties has started to dwindle.

The opportunities that were available to get a good deal (one of our clients always says, 'I wants steals not deals') on a great home are not lasting as long on the market and their are fewer of them. Several of the short sales and foreclosures that don't need major repair now have multiple offers.

I know the arguement that these properties bring the average sales price down and hurt the overall market. I can't disagree. They do, however, generate an incredible amount of future income for the people who now have the capital to take advantage of these deals and provide entrance into the market for some who couldn't otherwise afford such properties. Neither is a bad thing for a battered segment of our economy.

The decrease in the number of these properties tells me that our market, like so many others across the country, has started to stabilize. I know it will be some time before prices increase but this is the first step in a very anticipated recovery.

it's the 75th anniversary of the Park this summer, and we did 2 fun things to celebrate. One was the annual night-trip to see the synchronous fireflies--this year we got smart and did it out of a campsite, so we were able to have a great grilled supper before hiking up to see the flies...actually I have to admit that one family member had a sore knee so I stayed in the campsite with him. Everybody left, it got perfectly quiet except for the rush of the stream below, and then all the firelies came--a private showing just for us! We saw as many as I have ever seen before---so fun!

Then this weekend we went to the performance of the Kxonville Symphony Orchestra in Cades Cove--we got there early and got a spot under a huge Maple tree--perfect shade for the day. The rain held off and we were able to listen to the music and soak up the Cove. Most of us were selecting spots where our ashes will be spread, we love it so much there. Torrential rain on the way home--so glad it waited!

The black bear is the most popular and sought-after photography subject in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park visitors all want to catch a glimpse of the large mammals, and will cast reason and good sense aside in order to land a "trophy" photo.

But black bears are wild animals. The park is not a zoo, but a habitat. A she-bear with cubs is a wondrous sight, but she will defend her offspring with her life, and will attack if she feels threatened.

In 2009, park officials have indicated that extraordinarily large black bear populations have led to an increased number of incidents with visitors. Some back country campsites and trails have been closed as a result.

The good news is that you'll have an excellent chance of seeing a bear during a visit to the park this year. The bad news is that you may become involved in a bear "incident" if you are not wary. Always keep in mind:

1. Bears are large and powerful animals and can cause serious injury or death.
2. Bears are attracted by improperly stored food or improperly disposed of garbage.
3. Bears with cubs are the most likely to act aggressively.
4. Feeding a bear can be a death sentence for the animal. Bears that become "nuisance" bears often have to be destroyed.
5. Keep a respectful distance from bears. You are a guest in their world.
6. Some people just don't get it. Report violators to park rangers.

And finally, make one of the three park visitor's centers your first stop on your next visit. Get the very latest information about active areas and closures. A little information and a lot of common sense go a long way towards a safe park experience.

And you just might save a bear's life by doing so!

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

There are so many reasons I think this is the perfect place to live--I just have to keep adding to the list!

• They let school out early and close the streets, print "We Love You Dolly" Posters in the newspaper to wave at Dolly when she leads the parade.

• The Home Depot lets you take carpet samples out on "The Honor System".
• You really CAN smell the honeysuckle while you are eating roasted corn and listening to country music at the Bloomin' BBQ festival.

• I saw 5 bears in Cades Cove this week!