Over the past 30 years, I've been asked a lot of questions about the Great Smoky Mountains. I must warn you, I'm biased. 😊 The people, the families and the communities here are alive. They breathe, and each one has its own way of warming your heart. I love it here! 🏔️
I hope this Q and A series helps. But always feel free to call me, even if it's just for dinner. Lol. 📞 865-654-9807
Q: What is it really like to live in Sevierville year round, not just visit? 🏔️
A: Ever had a dream so good you woke up wishing you could go right back to sleep?
Well, that's where I live year round.
Look, every town has its politics, its problems, its ups and downs. Sevier County is no different. But I'm telling you, this place is the real deal.
The mountains are still beautiful when the tourists go home. We've got schools, churches, neighborhoods, ball games, families raising children and people getting up every morning to go to work.
And yes, occasionally it seems like half the country decided to come visit us on the same Saturday. Lol.
But here's what I'd tell you. Get away from the Parkway. Drive through our communities. Stop and talk to somebody. You'll discover there's a whole lot more to Sevier County than Dollywood and a beautiful mountain view.
There's a reason I call it home.
Q: How bad is the tourist traffic, and which months are worst? 🚗
A: Well, have you ever been in a parade you didn't sign up for? Lol.
That's what the Parkway can feel like on a busy Saturday.
Summer, October when the leaves change, major holidays and special events can bring a tremendous amount of traffic.
But here's something folks don't always understand. We don't all live on the Parkway. Most of us learn when to travel, which roads to use and when to just stay home and enjoy the mountains.
If you're thinking about moving here, don't let somebody tell you a property is ten minutes from everything without asking one question.
Ten minutes on what day?
Q: Which back roads do locals use to get around the Parkway? 🛣️
A: Well, now you're asking me to give away our secrets. Lol.
Veterans Boulevard, Teaster Lane, Dolly Parton Parkway, Chapman Highway and Wears Valley Road can all help, depending on where you're headed.
But the truth is, sometimes everybody discovers the same shortcut.
After living here a while, you learn that a road that's wonderful on Tuesday might not be quite as wonderful on Saturday afternoon.
My advice? Before buying a home, drive the roads you'll actually use. And don't be afraid to take a different route now and then. Some of the prettiest places in Sevier County are found when you're not in such a hurry.
Q: How long is the commute from Sevierville to Knoxville? ⏱️
A: Well, which part of Sevierville and which part of Knoxville? Lol.
That's the first question.
Generally, I'd plan somewhere around 30 to 60 minutes, sometimes more depending on traffic and your exact location.
If you're near Kodak and I-40, that's a different conversation from living up a mountain road south of Pigeon Forge.
I've been in real estate long enough to know that a pretty house can make people forget about the drive to work.
Don't do that.
Drive the route during the hours you'll actually be traveling. A beautiful home is even better when you don't spend half your life getting to it.
Q: Which parts of the county are quieter, away from the tourist strip? 🌿
A: Wow, I love that question.
Here's something funny about Sevier County. If you want a quiet spot with a beautiful mountain view, I imagine there's one within walking distance.
On the other hand, if you want noise, excitement and a whole bunch of people, that might be within walking distance too. Lol.
Seriously, look around Boyds Creek, Kodak, Seymour, New Center, Jones Cove, Wears Valley and some of our rural communities.
But don't just look at the house. Look at what's around it.
That peaceful little road might have a cabin development coming over the next hill.
Quiet is wonderful. Just make sure you know what you're buying.
Q: Is Sevierville a dry town? Can you buy beer, wine or liquor? 🍷
A: Well, if you're asking that question, you probably knew my grandma. Lol.
Good Lord, we've got craft breweries, restaurants serving alcohol, grocery stores selling wine and places to buy liquor.
No, Sevierville isn't a dry town.
Now, we don't have to have a liquor store on every corner by any means. But if you want a bottle, you're probably not going to have much trouble finding one.
And if you're looking for a church, well, we have plenty of those too.
Me personally, I prefer the latter.
God bless!
Q: What kind of jobs are there besides tourism? 💼
A: With Knoxville just on the other side of the creek, there's a lot more opportunity than some folks realize. Lol.
Tourism is a big part of our economy, no question. But we also have healthcare, construction, education, manufacturing, transportation, professional services and plenty of small businesses.
And Knoxville opens up another large employment market.
Now, here's something I'd encourage you to investigate. Wages may be different from what you're accustomed to, particularly if you're moving from a large northern city.
Some expenses may be lower too, but housing isn't necessarily cheap anymore.
Compare both sides of the equation before packing the moving truck.
Q: Is Sevier County growing too fast or getting overdeveloped? 🏗️
A: Well, I've seen a few things over the years I wish I hadn't had to see.
Growth brings opportunity, but it also brings traffic, buildings and changes that aren't always everybody's favorite.
But let me tell you something I love.
They aren't going to cover up the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with subdivisions.
Much of that magnificent mountain landscape is protected.
That view from your front porch, if you're fortunate enough to be looking toward protected parkland, may look remarkably familiar twenty years from now.
Now, I wouldn't promise every view is protected. You need to know exactly what land you're looking across.
But that's one of the blessings of living beside a national park.
The world keeps changing. Those mountains have a wonderful way of reminding us what matters.
Q: Do people actually live in Gatlinburg, or is it mostly rentals? 🏈
A: Well, that's a funny question. Not because it's a bad one, but because I coached little league football around Sevier County for years.
And let me tell you something about those Gatlinburg-Pittman boys.
They were real enough when they were putting a good whipping on my football team. Lol.
They had plenty of kids, and some of those boys were BIG.
Yes, Gatlinburg is a real community. Families live there, children go to school there and people have been calling those mountains home for generations.
Now, there are certainly plenty of vacation rentals, and some neighborhoods have more than others.
If you're buying a permanent residence, we'll want to look at that.
But don't mistake a tourist town for a town without a heart.
Q: Is Pigeon Forge a practical place to live full time? 🎢
A: Practical? Well, that's not exactly the word I'd use.
Like every town, Pigeon Forge has its challenges.
But think about it. The people are kind, the shopping is off the charts, restaurants everywhere, entertainment, businesses and just about everything a larger town has to offer.
And that backdrop!
Good Lord, look at those mountains.
Now, if you have to drive the Parkway every afternoon, we might need to have a conversation about traffic. Lol.
But there are real neighborhoods and real families living in Pigeon Forge.
Practical enough for me.
Got a question I didn't answer here? Ask me. 👉 [Ask Will](https://tranquil-bluebird.wordpress.com/ask-will/)
Will Cupp, Sevierville Realtor, Realty Executives Associates
More than 30 years serving Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Wears Valley, Sevier County and the Great Smoky Mountains 🏔️
865-654-9807
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