February 23-26, 2012

Play in Pigeon Forge, Stay in Gatlinburg!

Ever wanted to be a cowboy or cowgirl?  Come on, we all know you did!   Beginning February 23^rd through February 26^th, you can finally live that dream at the 12^th Annual Saddle Up! festival in Pigeon Forge.  Come stay with us at Best Western Twin Islands or Crossroads Inn and experience SaddleUp!, a four-day celebration of the great American West right here in the Smokey Mountains. Over the duration of this special event, there are many different cowboy themed activities that are sure to engage all age groups from concerts put on by western musicians and cowboy poets to a cook off and dancing.

Have you been to the Saddle Up! festival in the past? Even for the experienced Saddle Up! participants there will be new activities to enjoy. New to the festival this year is a “Stories & Strings” concert which brings together come of Country Western’s best from all around the country. The performers will not only perform their music, but they will also discuss what their major influences are and even demonstrate some of their techniques. It should be noted that this is a unique concert experience as well; these artists have never performed together before, and may never perform together again in the future.  Surely you would not want to miss out on this truly once in a lifetime concert experience!

For more detailed information on all activities during the Saddle Up! festival, including times, dates, locations and possible fees, view or download the 12^th Annual SaddleUp! schedule.  All events, scheduling and performers are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

We hope to see you all in Gatlinburg and living out your cowboy and cowgirl dreams this February at the winterfest Saddle Up! in Pigeon Forge TN in celebration of the historic American West.

Have you ever been to an Improv Festival?  Now’s your chance!

February 23-26, 2012

Improvisational comedy is an art form and humor at its best. On February the 23^rd through the 26^th at Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre in Gatlinburg, our guests are invited to watch this art form in action during the Gatlinburg Improv Fest.

Headlining the event is award-winning Chase Padgett and his one man musical improvisational act, “6 Guitars,” on Friday the 24^th and Saturday the 25^th at 8 p.m.  Padgett becomes 6 different guitar players each with their own voice, opinions and music style including Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, Folk and Country. “6 Guitars” won Producer of the Year, Best in Venue, Best Musician, Best Solo Show, Best Original Play and Best Male Performer at the 2010 Orlando International Fringe Festival.  This festival is sure to please!  Ticket prices range from $8-$12.

Improv groups for the festival are still forming and the deadline to apply to be in the Gatlinburg Improv Fest is January 25^th. For more information regarding either performing within the festival or gaining admission, please send an email to gatlinburgimprovfest@gmail.com or call (865) 325-9712.

Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre is located at traffic light #3 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, next door to Hard Rock Café and adjacent to Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn.  Make your hotel reservations now and come have some good laughs with us!

Looking forward to skiing at Ober Gatlinburg?  So are we!

Snowboarding on Ski Mountain, Gatlinburg TN

Skiing and snowboarding at Obergatlinburg is often the highlight of winter vacations in the Smokies.  Trails aren’t open yet, but many are counting the minutes until snowmaking can start and Mother Nature sends the flurries our way.  However, there is still plenty to do high on top of Ski Mountain.

Ride the aerial tram to Ober Gatlinburg to go ice skating or view the bear habitat, shop for Ober souvenirs, children’s gifts, leather crafts and more, or have a bite to eat at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant & Lounge where they tout “the only thing better than the view FROM your table…will be the food ON your table!”  Throughout the skiing season, the lounge will be hosting local entertainment most night from 6-9 p.m.  Visit here for the full entertainment schedule.

New this season, the ski resort will also be presenting a Women’s Wintersport Program offering a four-week ski and snowboard lesson package for all skill levels that will be taught by women instructors.  Call 865.436.5423 or visit www.OberGatlinburg.com for full program details.  Be sure to book your Gatlinburg reservations at Crossroads Inn or Twin Islands for a great place to relax after hitting the slopes!

Need inspiration?  Check out Ober Gatlinburg Ski Photos and Snowboarding Pictures.  We look forward to having you vacation with us at Ogle’s Properties for an ideal winter getaway in the Great Smoky Mountains!

What Restaurants will be Open in Gatlinburg TN for Christmas?

If you are vacationing with us this Christmas holiday, it’s likely that you will be looking for a place to eat in Gatlinburg that is serving on Christmas Day.  There are several restaurants that will be open for the holiday, but menus vary greatly.  If you and your family want to have a traditional Christmas dinner, please call your restaurant of choice ahead of time to confirm menu selection and whether or not reservations are being accepted or are required.  Most restaurants in Gatlinburg will still be serving from their regular menu.  Below is a list of restaurants that have responded to an early request for holiday hours, but additional restaurants, grills and bars may be open.

Enjoy Christmas in Gatlinburg!

Open on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day:

Bear Creek Grill:  865.430.1551
Calhoun’s Restaurant:  865.436.4100
Cherokee Grill:  865.436.4287
Flying Saucer Italian Bistro:  865.430.5550
Hard Rock Cafe:  865.430.7625
Howard’s Restaurant:  865.436.3600
Legends by Max:  865.436.7343
Johnny Rockets:  865.430.5844
Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant:  865.436.5423
Papa John’s:  865.430.7777
The Vista Grill:  865.436.9211
Pucker’s Sports Bar & Grill:  865.430.7755
Smoky Mountain Brewery:  865.436.4200
Smoky’s Sports Pub & Grub:  865.436.4220

Don’t forget, Twin Islands will still be serving a full, hot breakfast bar each morning of your stay, including Christmas Day!

December 2, 7:30 p.m.

36th Annual Lights Parade in Downtown Gatlinburg

This is one event in Gatlinburg that you don’t want to miss, and Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn offer great parade watching locations with free downtown Parking!

Gatlinburg Winter Magic is already high gear, and the December 2 parade is icing on the cake!  Start the evening with Santa’s Autograph Party beginning at 6 p.m. at light #3.  This is at Riverbend Mall and a main parade viewing area.  You’ll want to find a spot early—parade begins at 7:30 p.m. on East Parkway (Hwy. 321) at light #1A and concludes at light #10 on the Parkway.

Earlier this year, Ripley’s won an International Festival & Events Association Pinnacle award for Best Sponsor for Gatlinburg Special Events. It only makes sense that parade Grand Marshals will be Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies characters, Sharky and Sharkette, in honor of Ripley’s commitment to Gatlinburg!  They will lead this hour-and-a-half parade of 100’s of participants including elaborate floats, marching bands from Tennessee and 4 neighboring states, giant helium balloons, the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, and of course, Santas!

Bring your cameras and some warm gloves for a spectacular night you won’t soon forget!

2011 Thanksgiving in the Smokies

Make a Gatlinburg Vacation your new Thanksgiving Tradition

Spending the Thanksgiving Holiday in Gatlinburg is a great place to enjoy your family and have a vacation filled with lots to do.  Most restaurants are open and serving traditional Thanksgiving meals, welcoming your entire family to the table with roast turkey, ham, and all the fixin’s.  If you need help in deciding where to dine, click here for a list of restaurants and details about their Thanksgiving menus and whether or not reservations are accepted or required.  After a great dinner, your entertainment options are plentiful!

The 2011 Thanksgiving Bowl takes place at Mills Park and Gatlinburg-Pittman Highschool throughout the weekend and hosts up to 48 teams with multiple age categories.  If you enjoy youth football, this event is free for spectators.

The Gatlinburg Festival of Trees is an annual event from November 22-26 that supports Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries.  Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated.  You can view numerous trees sponsored and decorated by local businesses and listen to holiday music while the kids enjoy the crafts center and getting their picture taken with Santa!  Staff will even be on hand to help you immediately send a photo card home to friends and family.  Kickoff your Christmas spirit with the Festival of Trees at the W.L. Mills Conference Center, and then stroll next door to the Gatlinburg Convention Center for the Arts & Crafts Holiday Show.

Members of the Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community are holding their annual craft fair from November 22-December 4, and admission is free.  Browse through handcrafted gifts of Appalachian culture while enjoying beautiful holiday decorations and music.  Plan to some early Christmas shopping for heirloom quality gifts!

Winterfest kickoff was held throughout Sevier County earlier this month, but that just means those millions of twinkling lights in hundreds of displays are waiting for you!  Both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge offer a unique opportunity to ride through each city on a Trolley Ride of Lights.  Gatlinburg rides depart from downtown Gatlinburg and cost $5 per person, and Pigeon Forge rides depart at Patriot Park.  You’ll be warm and cozy in a heated trolley, but reservations may be required.

Rooms and suites are still available at both Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner!  Don’t wait until it’s too late to enjoy convenient downtown access from both of our locations.

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Honeymoon Island Suite

The cool, crisp air of autumn urges you to plan a cozy, romantic retreat in the Smokies!

Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn both offer romantic suites with King beds, Jacuzzi or whirlpool tubs, an a warm, roaring fireplace.  With the onset of autumn and the beautiful fall leaves, what could be a better time than to escape with your soul mate?

“Honeymoon Island” at Best Western Twin Islands features large, spacious rooms surrounded by the river, walkout patio or balcony, in-room Jacuzzis, and fireplace.  Fill the tub, light the fire, and spend your afternoons relaxing, snuggling, and kindling the romance!  Or choose a stay at Crossroads, whose oversized rooms, King and Queen Beds, and luxurious furnishings encourage you to pamper yourself and your partner.  Ask about a romantic suite with extra large Jacuzzi tub!

Plan your romantic escape to Gatlinburg and treat yourself to a half price night when staying 2 or more nights at either property.  Safe travels… and don’t forget the candles!

October 2-30, 2011

The Big Red and White Tent at Patriot Park

The Rotary Club of Pigeon Forge is hosting their annual Craft Festival in Pigeon Forge October 2-31, 2011.  There is plenty of free parking in the Patriot Park lot and a donation gains your admission.

The Craft Fair is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout October, and will feature woodworking, handcrafted home decorations, Native American jewelry and gifts, stained glass, quilts and much more by crafters from across the USA.

Rotary is a worldwide organization that focuses on making a positive impact in the community through “Service Above Self.”  The Pigeon Forge Rotary utilizes the Annual Crafts Fair to generate revenue through booth rental from the crafters, donations from guest admissions, and concessions to support local non-profit organizations such as Handicap Scouts, Sevier Food Ministries, House of Hope programs, and scholarships.

Ride the trolley next door from Crossroads Inn or Twin Islands at the main trolley station at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies directly to Patriot Park to browse and shop the craft festival.  You will find no better selection for handmade Smoky Mountain souvenirs for your friends and family back home while supporting a great Sevier County organization!

All 6 Movies for $15.99!

Did you ever imagine that a trip to Gatlinburg could actually have you traveling on the World’s largest roller coaster or smashing up cars?  How about to the Artic or a far away planet?  It’s true!  These wild destinations are just a couple of blocks away from Twin Islands and Crossroads Inn at a cost far less than $100 Million dollars.

At Fort Fun, in the middle of downtown Gatlinburg between lights #6 & #7, you can experience the wildest rides you’ll ever have in a motion simulator… GUARANTEED!  The Venturer Motion Ride is a 12-seat, futurist theater capsule with a screen that moves with the seats, making your experience more realistic than most other simulated amusements.  There are 4-foot drops, g-forces and wildly wacky turns and twists.  Fort Fun offers the area’s best movie selections too, with six ‘blood racing’ movies to choose from.

Astro Canyon Coaster
A space coaster hurls you toward the frontiers of an uncharted alien planet!

The Big One
Vertical simulation of Black Pool Pleasure Beach, the world’s tallest, fastest rollercoaster!

Slot Car Boogie
A high-speed, futuristic Slot Car race!

Smash Factory
Drive with a maverick crew through an underground labyrinth of terror!

Volcano Mine Ride
Ride a runaway mine car through a blazing Volcano, experiencing all the rattles, bumps, and jumps along the way!

Glacier Run
It’s a race through an ice quarry with avalanches of ice blocks and gaping ice chasms!

Walk to Fort Fun or ride the trolley from our downtown hotels, and request their BEST VALUE Venturer package.  This will get you ALL movie rides offered for only $15.99.  Be sure to tell them that Best Western Ogle’s Properties sent you!

Unlimited Sampling - $25 Donation

September 15 Food Tasting Festival!

The Gatlinburg Convention Center is proud to host the United Way of Sevier County annual food festival on Thursday, September 15 that welcomes locals and visitors alike to enjoy the flavors of area restaurants while supporting a great organization.

Along with unlimited samplings of food and drink and live music beginning at 5 p.m., your donation of $25 will provide support to many deserving groups and individuals throughout the county. Some of the recipients of United Way funds include Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Clinic, SafeSpace, Legal Aid of East Tennessee, Sevier County Council on Aging, Senior Citizen Home Assistance Services, and others.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or purchased early online at the UWOSC web site through September 13. We hope you’ll join us at Best Western Twin Islands or Crossroads Inn in supporting this fun and tasteful event!