Smokies' "ugly ring" keeps tourists, businesses busy

Friday morning, a steady stream of tourists flock to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, taking in the final fall colors of the year as the colors spill onto the forest floor.

At the same time, another group works on replacement colors for that sky. It's winter wonderland in the Smoky Mountains.

"We come here every year. It's a tradition that we come here the first week of November," Diane Gifford and Lisa Montgomery, visitors from Florence, Alabama said. "We've seen it, we've done it. There is still so much to see, so many different things to see. It's just the peacefulness, the mountains."

Originally, the quiet Smoky Mountainside drew them to East Tennessee. But now, they also enjoy parts of what the National Geographic Society refers to as Sevier County's "ugly ring" around the park.

"Shopping for the ladies, car racing for the men," Gifford said.

National Geographic recently gave the Smokies a score of 49 as part of its listing of top tourist spots around the world. Many of their panelists ripped the park for what surrounds it.

"Between the crowds and the pollution, a mess," the report said.

For perspective, the magazine lists the Fjords of Norway as the top spot, scoring an 85. With a 78, "Vermont" is the top spot in the United States.

But it's not clear if the rating will have any bearing on the future of the Smokies or Sevier County. This year is seeing record visitors to the park, and revenues in the surrounding counties are doing well.

A recent report found the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a greater impact on the surrounding economy than any other park in the country.

Sevierville's Chamber of Commerce said it believes in "closely watched development." As the area stands right now, business leaders feel they've done a good job at creating a family friendly area for families to enjoy a vacation that incorporates one of the world's most beautiful stretches of land.

It's a stretch of land that has Gifford and Montgomery investing a vacation and Shadrack Motorsports investing much more.

"Just the light strands, we'll spend $50-60 thousand," Stan Bowman, an employee of Shadrack said.

Friday afternoon, employees put the finishing touches on a brand new Christmas light show in the parking lot at Smokies Stadium. In all, they're piecing together 1 million lights.

They're banking on the tourism traffic to keep the lights on and keep their employees busy during their otherwise off-season.

"We try to come up with something that would benefit them," Bowman said. "We've not had to lay anyone off in a downward economy, we figure that is a success.'

While the massive display of holiday lights might contribute to what the National Geographic calls "tacky tourist crud," the boat and RV dealer says they're hopeful 30,000 to 40,000 vehicles will make the trip through their light display.

It's one more reason people from the Southeast continue to make the drive to East Tennessee.

"As long as they keep making walkers and electronic wheelchairs, we'll be here," Gifford said.

Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland

Open from November 6-January 2, 2010
Hours: 6pm-10pm
Cost: $10/car Monday-Thursday, $15/car Friday-Sunday
$20 for activity van
$30 per limo
$65 per bus