A mountain heaven retreat

Home

Welcome to Gatlinburg

Amid the splendor of the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg embodies the simple goodness of small town life. Gatlinburg is where we gather together and stand in awe of nature's glory. Here, we fill our spirits, seek inspiration, and continue the journey toward what we know is right. In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we Reach Higher Ground.

The quaint, resort-like village of Gatlinburg, nestled in the mountains of East Tennessee, is known for it's beautiful scenery, great shopping, as well as its colorful history. The small resort town, commonly referred to as the "Gateway to the Smoky Mountains," lies at the foot of Mt. LeConte and was once called White Oaks Flats during the 19th Century. Throughout the town's history, settlers came to call this breathtaking community Gatlinburg.

The first settlers to Gatlinburg came from South Carolina and held the family name of Oglesby, which was later changed to Ogle. Martha Jane Huskey Ogle brought her seven children to the area and built her cabin, which can still be seen today at the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts' campus right in downtown Gatlinburg.Noah Ogle was Gatlinburg's first merchant of record, establishing a store in 1850 on a site that later became the Riverside Hotel.The quaint old general store and adjacent tourist cabins were torn down in the mid 1970s to make way for the Mountain Mall. The Ogles, descended from the area's first settlers, have played a major role in the city's development.

There are many stories as to how Gatlinburg got its name, all involving a controversial figure who settled here in 1854. Radford C. Gatlin opened the town's second general store and when the post office was established in his store, in 1856, the town name changed to Gatlinburg. He was flamboyant and, as a preacher, established his own "Gatlinite" Baptist Church.

Nowadays, the whimsical town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee is a special place . Filled with quaint shops, beautiful scenery and exciting attractions, it is truly the place to spend your vacation - and where to get a luxurious accomodation if not at a beautiful mountain heaven retreat like our log cabin THE GREENBRIAR LODGE

(click on right lower corner for a larger view)