News Around the Smokies

Dollywood has won five more Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards, including Best Christmas Event and Best Park, according to Dollywood.

Nationally ranked groomer Susan Hatch will be taking appointments September 12th and 13th 2023 at the Wag Social in Sevierville, Tennessee. The Wag Social is taking appointments for this special event now. Be sure to visit www.TheWagSocial.com or call 865-409-5533 to secure your spot.

A retired Waldens Creek volunteer firefighter has been diagnosed with stage three adenocarcinoma lung cancer.

A new 30,000 sq. ft. indoor family entertainment center is expected to open in Sevier County. BrightColors LLC and Kingsmen Xperience announced that Crayola Experience family entertainment venue will be in Pigeon Forge, according to the news release. The attraction plans to open in the fall of 2024.

One bear cub is dead while another one is recovering after they were both hit by a car in Sevier County. Appalachian Bear Rescue said the surviving male cub, who has been named Turnip, is about six months old and weighs almost 40 pounds. He was hit in the head in the car crash and is showing signs of a concussion.

In this week’s edition of Smoky Mountain Minute, Naturalist and Educator Liz Domingue stopped by the WATE 6 On Your Side studios to talk about the variety of butterflies and moths found in the Smokies. Dominque is also the co-author of Butterflies and Moths of the Smokies, one of the more recent (2019) additions to the Great Smoky Mountains Association’s field guide series.