A mountain town built on tourism
Well known as the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg is a tourist-centric community in a dynamic natural setting. The city is a popular entry point to the most-visited National Park in the country and hosts its own diverse attractions, much like Pigeon Forge to the north. Here, most residents are employed in the hospitality and retail sectors, and the housing market caters to short-term rental investors.
Though Gatlinburg attracts tourists year-round, the city is less crowded between January and March. During these months, residents have easier access to local entertainment and the miles of trails at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Locals can even ski at Ober Mountain within the city limits.
Limited long-term housing
The short-term market can present challenges for year-round residents. Apartment offerings are slim, and houses are far more expensive than the state median, prompting many buyers to look at surrounding communities such as Sevierville or Townsend. In Gatlinburg, the median sale price is about $580,000. The median across Tennessee is approximately $370,000.
Gatlinburg’s housing landscape has not recovered since a devastating 2016 wildfire destroyed more than 2,000 structures. Local workers already struggled to find housing, then the fire wiped out houses, apartments and motels that many long-term residents called home. Since the fire, many construction projects have catered to tourists, and the city has completed few affordable housing initiatives.
Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains
Gatlinburg locals are steps away from the most visited National Park in the U.S. Great Smoky Mountain National Park attracted nearly 13 million visitors in 2022, about 8 million more than the closest-ranking site, the Grand Canyon. Great Smoky Mountains has more biodiversity than any other National Park and is home to the largest cluster of old growth forest in the eastern U.S. Residents can take a short drive to hiking trails with waterfalls, dramatic mountain views and sweeping landscapes of fall foliage. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon a black bear or a historic cabin dating back to the 1800s.
When the weather is favorable, certain areas of the park can feel congested with crowds. Gatlinburg residents can opt out of traffic and still enjoy the outdoors at city parks peppered throughout the area. Mynatt Park is a popular spot for locals with a forested fishing creek, tennis and basketball courts and a memorial to the victims of the 2016 wildfires.
Attractions galore on a walkable strip
Though Gatlinburg is best known as an entry point to the Great Smoky Mountains, the town is bursting with diverse attractions. Tourists flock to the downtown strip, home to museums, galleries and novelties such as the Gatlinburg Space Needle and the SkyBridge pedestrian cable bridge. Ripley’s has two Gatlinburg locations: an oddities museum and an aquarium. In the winter, locals and visitors can ski at Ober Mountain, the only place to do so in Tennessee.
The tourism industry defines Gatlinburg’s economy, especially the jobs available in the area. Locals can find work in the retail, tourism and hospitality industries, though may need to look to cities farther out for more varied opportunities.
Locals have the inside scoop
Gatlinburg locals become experts at navigating the tourist landscape and finding fun off the beaten path. Year-round residents find their favorite, lesser-known trails in the Great Smoky Mountains and the best restaurants and distilleries around town. Events such as the 4th of July Midnight Parade and the Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade are an annual draw, and the local LGBTQ+ community has organized a Pride march and cookout for the past three years.
Locals also engage with Gatlinburg’s enormous artisan community, either as makers or appreciators. The city is home to the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the largest independent organization of artisans in the country. Workshops and galleries line an 8-mile stretch of the city, attracting local shoppers and tourists.
For big box shopping, residents leave Gatlinburg for Sevierville 15 miles away. Locals also head north to Kodak to watch the Smokies, the area’s minor-league baseball team.
Sevier County’s highly rated schools
Gatlinburg students attend highly rated public schools in the Sevier County School District. The district earns an overall B from Niche. The city’s Gatlinburg-Pittman High School is the top-rated high school in the district, earning an A-minus from Niche. Here, students can receive a more personalized education, as the school boasts an 11:1 student-teacher ratio.
Summer traffic jams
Gatlinburg traffic is notoriously challenging in the summer and fall. Cars back up on Interstate 40 and along State Route 441. With Pigeon Forge just 8 miles away, the area can get saturated with tourists, making it difficult for locals to reach necessities in Sevierville or Knoxville, or simply get across town. The roads tend to be emptier in the mornings or later in the evenings, and getting around is generally easier during the winter.
To avoid driving and parking in town, locals can take advantage of the free Gatlinburg trolley system. The signature orange trolley buses stop at destinations across Gatlinburg, an especially convenient service for employees of city attractions. The Pigeon Forge trolley also stops in Gatlinburg and charges a small fee for service.
Planning for floods and wildfires
Crime rates in Gatlinburg are higher than state and national averages, likely attributable to the amount of people going in and out of the city. In 2022, Gatlinburg Police recorded 17 violent crimes and 129 property crimes, according to FBI data. Overall, crime is declining in Gatlinburg, especially violent crimes. This mirrors nationwide trends, which show violent crime falling since the height of the pandemic.
Environmental factors are typically of greater concern to residents. Gatlinburg sees flooding from storms, wildfires and the rare, but occasional tornado. Following the 2016 fire, Sevier County implemented a text alert system for swift evacuation notices. To prevent future catastrophic wildfires, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has started to implement controlled burning practices, which clear up dangerous forest floor fodder and enrich the soil for new trees to emerge. This practice traces back to Indigenous communities thousands of years ago, and forest managers across the nation are increasingly embracing the technique.
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Written By
Nicolas Stuart
