From the railroads of Chattanooga to the NASCAR track in Bristol, East Tennessee is instantly recognized for its icons. Nature takes a bow as well, with the Tennessee River Gorge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and outdoor activities suitable for any group, from a gentle walk through World’s Fair Park to skydiving over Lookout Mountain.
Chattanooga
Visitors young and old know about the Chattanooga Choo Choo, a treasured part of the city’s history made famous by the Glen Miller Orchestra in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade. The 1908 Terminal Station is now the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, still chugging along as the only Historic Hotels of America property in the state. The historic property welcomes groups up to 500. For a bit more railroad history, plan an event at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, which also offers dining cars, or schedule a group excursion on the scenic train route.
The city is also known for its Civil War history and is home to the largest and oldest Civil War park in the nation, the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park. Hiking trails, exhibits and a gun collection at Chickamauga Battlefield and the mural at Point Park Battlefield, site of the “Battle Above the Clouds” on Lookout Mountain, makes the park a thoughtful trip for any history buff.
Adventure seekers know the Chattanooga area for different thrills, including whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River; the stunning sight of Ruby Falls, a 145-foot underground waterfall; or skydiving for the best view of Lookout Mountain and the Tennessee River Gorge.
Knoxville
“Knoxville is famous for the variety of experiences you can have here,” says Kim Bumpas, president of the Knoxville CVB. “We have scenic beauty, mountains, lakes and one of the only downtowns where you can kayak, play golf and hike, all just minutes from your hotel.”
While Knoxville is diverse, it stands out with its fair share of “world’s largest” sites, making it a contender for world’s largest good time. The world’s largest basketball can be found at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, a prime site for events; the world’s largest Rubik’s Cube is located the Holiday Inn Knoxville Downtown, an overflow hotel just two minutes from the Knoxville Convention Center; and the world’s largest glass installation can be seen at another group-friendly venue, the Knoxville Museum of Art. The museum overlooks a favorite visitor spot, World’s Fair Park, home of the 1982 World’s Fair. It’s best known now as the home of the Sunsphere, a glittering icon of the fair, currently offering event space, dining and a breathtaking view from the fourth-level Observation Deck.
With an immensely walkable layout and plenty of outdoor activities, Knoxville attracts a lot of outdoor fans, from mountain bike groups to attendees who just want to stretch their legs amid the natural beauty.
“When groups come to town, they can experience the outdoor adventure. They can rent bikes, rent kayaks or go on a hike,” Bumpas says. “We also have a new attraction in Navitat Canopy Adventures, which just opened in July.”
Navitat is a tree-based zipline adventure park, featuring nets, tunnels, bridges and a nature center. With more than 60 adventure elements, six trails and a nighttime tour, the park is the perfect place for teambuilding events or some excellent outdoor downtime.
Smoky Mountains
One of East Tennessee’s claims to fame is its Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “It’s one of the few national parks with free admission, and 10 million visitors in 2014. It’s the thing people most associate with Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville.”
The park is comprised of 550,000 acres, all of which was once privately owned, and spans across East Tennessee and western North Carolina. Groups can enjoy hiking, picnicking, waterfalls, historic tours and more in the region, according to Marci Claude, public relations director for the Gatlinburg CVB. There are three entrances to the national park from Gatlinburg, and the Sugarlands Visitor Center is just a short drive.
“Gatlinburg is surrounded on three sides by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park,” Claude says. “Scenic beauty is everywhere you look. I would encourage groups to unplug and get out in the great outdoors by taking a hike in the park. There are trails suitable for all ages and abilities. There is also the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, suitable for those who prefer to experience the park in a more controlled setting.”
One top tour loved by attendees is the “Mountains and Moonshine” tour, which starts out with a guided tour through part of the park and winds up at a Gatlinburg distillery for a tasting of another Tennessee icon: white lightning, better known as moonshine.
Aside from the overwhelming options of the park, the region also preserves the cultural heritage of the area.
“Pigeon Forge is famous for Dollywood, the most ticketed attraction in Tennessee,” Downey says. “They have more than 40 music shows a day, along with Craftsmans Valley, featuring 25 to 30 working craftspeople who interact with the guests while quilting, making lye soap and more. That’s what Dolly [Parton] wants to showcase: heritage, music and crafts.”
Gatlinburg also showcases homespun crafts. The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, just a few miles from downtown, is the oldest continually operating arts and crafts community in the nation. Within the eight-mile loop known as The Glades there are more than 100 working craftspeople and artists producing works in leather, wood, pottery, jewelry, basket weaving, broom-making and more.
Tri-Cities
The best known feature of the Tri-Cities region may be its stories. From the renowned International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough to the historic tales told through music, racing and natural history in Bristol, Johnson City and Kingsport, the Tri-Cities area has a tremendous amount of culture for groups.
“Our region is known for our true Southern hospitality, outdoor recreation, music, speed and natural beauty,” says Brenda Whitson, executive director for the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce. “Tie in the fact that we have a Four Diamond hotel connected to our conference center and many award-winning overflow properties and you have the making for a successful meeting or conference.”
The story of the region’s past can be deciphered at the Gray Fossil Site and Natural History Museum, approximately 12 miles from downtown Johnson City, or planners can unveil the stars in an event at Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium in Kingsport.
“Off-site events could be a street party in downtown Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town,” Whitson says. “If your need is for speed, a pit party and rides around the track can be fulfilled at Bristol Motor Speedway, the fastest half-mile in all of NASCAR, which is only 20 miles away.”
Whitson adds that entertainment for events can include music from the East Tennessee State University’s bluegrass and old-time music program; ETSU is the only university which offers a degree program in historic bluegrass, country and roots music and storytelling.
BETH BARTLETT is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus.
