Changes to All Decked Out Web site

Josh just called! He's our Web designer (along with Angie). We've been talking for awhile about converting our Smokies Rent Direct Web site to a program that makes it easier to work with. Josh is ready to get started. So we're taking www.SmokiesRentDirect.com down tonight (Tuesday, April 20) for 2-3 days.

While the site is down, here are some ways to get information you might need:

-For a description of All Decked Out, for pictures, to check availability or to make a reservation, go to http://www.ivacationonline.com/Rentals/Rental_View.asp?PropertyID=985.

-If you have already made your reservation and received our e-mail notification with directions, but you need more information, please call us at 704-280-5845 and we'll give you a special link.

-For all other information, please call us at 704-280-5845.

Thanks for your patience. Please check our Web site in a few days for a whole new look!

All Decked Out is all fixed!

Once again, Ray Phillips and his crew have done outstanding work for us. The roof and all the tree repairs are finished at All Decked Out.

Here's what All Decked Out used to look like, with the old roof (before all the damage):


And here is the new roof!


Here is the tree on the deck with the smashed privacy screen:

And here's the deck from about the same angle, with the new privacy screen in place:

So, at last, All Decked Out is "all decked out" again and ready for your visit!

New Roof at All Decked Out

Today is the day! Ray Phillips and his crew has started working on the new roof at All Decked Out, along with fixing the damage caused by the tree that fell last December.

Ray has promised me pictures, so keep checking back. We'll be interested to hear what you think about the shingle color we chose. It's called "Teak."

Stay tuned........

Gatlinburg cameras

Have you ever wondered what the traffic is like in downtown Gatlinburg - right now? Want to know about the weather in Gatlinburg?

I just found a list of several live Web cameras in Gatlinburg. The site with the list is here: http://www.gatlinburgattractionsblog.com/gatlinburg-live-webcams-in-the-smokies/

But just in case that site gets removed, here are links to the cameras:

http://www.cabinfevervacations.com/gatlinburg-web-cam.html - this camera is on top of the Space Needle. I like this one because you can actually control it. You can pan from one end of town to the other, plus you can look up toward Ober Gatlinburg.

http://www.gatlinburgtnlive.com/gatlinburg/gatlinburg-downtown-webcam.asp - this one is mounted on the second floor over Blaine's Grill, just north of the Convention Center.

http://www.gatlinburgtnlive.com/gatlinburg/gatlinburg-downtown-webcam2.asp - this one is on top of Cooters and looks at the intersections by the Aquarium and the point where River Road forks off to the right.

When you are finished looking at a particular camera, just hit the "Back" button on your browser to return to this page.

Enjoy!

A thought for Easter

Today dawned beautifully where we live (in North Carolina). The Bradford Pear tree outside my office window is in full bloom. Further out into the yard, the forsythia is still bright yellow, as are the daffodils in the woods. We have a huge Japanese cherry tree back by the fence that's in full bloom, and another cherry tree just to its left that will be blooming by tomorrow. Off to the left, our two peach trees are loaded with blossoms.

Just to prove what I'm saying, here's a quick picture:


So what does this have to do with Easter? Or, for that matter, with Gatlinburg?

Just this. We've had a hard winter - more snow than I can remember in our 10 years of living here. And it's been even worse in Gatlinburg. We actually had two guests who had to hike in to Smoky Mountain Tower because their car couldn't get up the road!

But my yard - and pictures I've seen of Gatlinburg - are evidence that Spring is here. Those dead-looking trees are now a gorgeous splash of color. Life is returning.

I think that's God's way of showing us - again - the importance of resurrection. We know that Jesus died. We know He was buried. That's true of all men who have ever lived. But only One Man who has died is now alive forever, because God raised Him from the dead! Just as Spring follows Winter, Christ rose from the dead!

This morning in our Sunday School, we were listening to the boys and girls say their memory verses (we do this every week). One little 4-year-old boy, Isaiah, patiently waited his turn. When he was finally called on, he practically screamed his verse: "HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN!" (You can read it for yourself in Luke 24:6.)

Isaiah gets it! He was excited, as well we all should be. Spring is here! Jesus is risen!

Good News and Bad News about Roads

We've been monitoring the news on the I-4o rock slide ever since it happened on October 25, 2009. Here we are at the end of the month - and end of the quarter. I-40 has been closed for more than 5 months. But as of today, NCDOT is saying this:

"NCDOT estimates that it will reopen I-40 by late April when work at the October rockslide site should be completed. About one mile of the westbound lane closest to the mountain will be closed until this summer to allow crews to complete the work – including the installation of rock bolts and anchor mesh – at five additional sites."

If you want to monitor the daily news, go to http://www.ncdot.org/travel/i40_rockslide/.

That's the bad news. The good news is that the Cades Cove Loop is opening sooner than expected. My friend, Raymond Owens, reports that it's supposed to open by April 24. You can get more information about this - and about some other road openings and closings in the Smokies - at Raymond's "GoSmoky" blog - http://gosmoky.wordpress.com/.

One more piece of news. Tomorrow is April 1, and we have some April last-minute specials on our Web sites - www.SmokyMountainTower.com or www.SmokiesRentDirect.com/All-Decked-Out. No foolin'!

REALLY Last Minute Deal at Smoky Mountain Tower

Today is March 24 and Smoky Mountain Tower is booked through March 28. We only have three days open in March - the 29th, 30th and 31st. We would really like to have some folks enjoy Smoky Mountain Tower for those last three nights in March.

So we've made a special deal for the first person to book all three nights. The total price is only $370.89! That's 15% off our already-low price, so you can save $65.45. This works out to a rental rate of less than $110 a night - not bad, considering the price was $40 higher a year ago!

Here's all you have to do to get this rate:
-Go to our Web site - www.SmokyMountainTower.com
-Click on the "Book Online Now" button
-Enter these dates in the calendar - arriving on March 29, departing on April 1 (3 nights)
-Click the "Review and Book" button
-On the page that opens, scroll down to the section titled "Coupon Code." Enter this code: March15off - exactly as shown (coupon codes are case-sensitive), then click "Redeem." That will change the rate total to $370.89.

Then just enter all the required information, follow the directions and you'll be on your way.

Hurry! This deal goes away Saturday at noon. Somebody is going to get this deal - I hope it's you!