Rock slide may impact Sevier Co. tourism

Updated: 6:51 PM Oct 26, 2009

Twenty-two to twenty-five thousand vehicles travel on I-40 in that area every day according to figures from the North Carolina Department Of Transportation. But some businesses are concerned the weekend's rock slide may affect tourism to east Tennessee.

Posted: 6:26 PM Oct 26, 2009
Reporter: Stephen McLamb
Email Address: Stephen.McLamb@wvlt-tv.com

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GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Twenty-two to twenty-five thousand vehicles travel on I-40 in that area every day according to figures from the North Carolina Department Of Transportation.

Some enjoying the fall colors in the mountains this time of year.

Others heading to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for getaways.

To quote Yogi, "It's like de ja vu all over again" for shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses in Sevier County.

They estimate businesses lost 15 to 20 percent when a rock slide closed the interstate in the summer of 1997.

But some business owners feel if it had to happen it's sure better to happen now.

"We made it to Asheville and then had to stop and find a map and found our way around. We're lucky we grew up with maps. We have the nav but we still know how to use the maps," says Amber Morgan who is visiting from North Carolina.

For Morgan, her trip to Gatlinburg was an adventure instead of a planned trip after this past weekend's rock slide on I-40. And it's that kind of confusion the tourist industry in Sevier County is worried about.

"I did talk to some people that had been sitting in traffic for like four hours yesterday trying to get through so we do have some concerns about it," says Jennifer Smith with Smith's Family Theater.

"Well, certainly we're concerned anytime it's difficult for our guests to be able to come to the park," says Pete Owens with Dollywood.

And for those businesses that were around in 1997 they remember what a rock slide on that same interstate can do.

"And it did impact our attendance from folks that were coming from east of Asheville and that particular area," says Owens.

Clella Dixon at the Gillette Motel remembers the 1997 rock slide but says the 97 slide came at the peak of tourist season.

"It's a different time of year that the rock slide is so I think right now it's not going to affect Gatlinburg anyway," says Dixon.

But on a similar note, Sevier County is experiencing a much richer fall than ten or twenty years ago with a booming business from Winterfest that kicks off next week.

"Those businesses are open during that whole period of time so we're more of a year round economy because of Winterfest," says Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism Director Leon Downey.

That's why state tourism officials are working to get the word out to tourist.

"Letting people know, tour bus operators and those kinds of organizations know the re-route so that people can still get here," says Phillis Qualls-Brooks with the Tennessee Department of Tourism.

But getting the word out takes time, especially for tourist figuring out how to get home.

"I don't know. We'll have to take a detour. Thank God we got the GPS to get us home," says Rich Monahan who is visiting from New Jersey.

Some businesses actually may benefit.

State tourism officials said the detour will send people to areas that wouldn't normally get the traffic such as I-81 and not to mention Gatlinburg's Smoky Mountain side for people who may travel over 441 from Cherokee, North Carolina to get to town.

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