Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville, Tennessee was named to honor the first governor of Tennessee, John Sevier. Sevier was a prominent figure on the western frontier and was elected governor of the short-lived state of Franklin. During the earliest settlement, frontier settlers in this area established an independent government, the Association of the South Holston and French Broad Rivers. The need for such associations ended with Tennessee’s statehood in 1796, but they were the providers of frontier law and order in the intervening ears.
The first court in Sevierville was held in a flea-infested barn that was a far cry from the lovely 1896 domed courthouse that dominates the town today. The original Seth Thomas clock sounds on the half-hour and hour much as it has sounded since the turn of the century. There’s a statue out front of country music artist Dolly Parton. She was raised in Sevierville and members of her family still live in the area.
For those approaching Sevierville from exit 407 off I-40 onto TN 66, shopping opportunities beckon from both sides of the busy four-lane highway. Even those who aren’t knife aficionados stop at Smoky Mountain Knife Works to see the antique knife displays inside the world’s larges knife store. We consider the Smoky Mountain Knife Works to be both an attraction as well as a great shopping opportunity. Antique shoppers are in paradise along this stretch of road and find it hard to decide which antique mall to visit first. Here you will find the largest collection of antique shops in the area and they offer a wide range of things from which to choose.
The Douglas Lake Dam is accessible from highway 66--about three miles east on Douglas Dan Road (the first traffic light left from exit 407 onto Hwy 66). Camping facilities at Douglas Dam are open from April to Halloween. The forty-mile-long lake offers swimming boating, fishing, and water skiing.
If you are on your way to Gatlinburg, you can temporarily choose to make the one-block turn to downtown Sevierville which manages to bridge the gap between its rural roots and its responsibility to welcome the 10 million tourists who travel by US 441 Parkway the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Sevierville, along with it’s neighbors Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg TN, hosts the annual WinterFest, a two-month long series of planned events and Christmas lighting festival that continues to grow and expand each year.
While in Sevierville, Tennessee, you can follow US 411 several miles and turn right (east) to Forbidden Caverns, a cave beneath English Mountain open to the public since 1967. The cave is known for a running stream, unusual rock formations accented with special lighting and sound effects, and an unusually large wall of cave onyx. Forbidden Caverns is open daily from April 1 through November.
If Sevierville was your destination, there are a multitude of lodging choices here, including cabin rentals, chain and independent hotels and motels, plus RV parks, B&B inns and condominiums.
To reach Gatlinburg via backroads, proceed past the turnoff to Middle Creek Road on US 411 before turning right on TN 416. Continue on TN 416 to Bird Creek Road and the Gatlinburg Arts and Crafts Community (worth a days visit on its own). When you reach US 321, turn west to enter downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
If you are looking for real estate in Sevierville, there are plenty of great homes available that you and your family will love. Just minutes away from Sevierville, also in the Smoky Mountain real estate market, are the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg real estate markets. Both of these markets feature an abundance of homes in the Smoky Mountains. Located just a few hours away are some of Tennessee's larger real estate markets, Knoxville and Nashville. These two markets offer you the convenience of living in a big city while still being close to the tranquility Smoky Mountains when you want to get away for a relaxing weekend.