Blog - Relax Gatlinburg

An image of the Gatlinburg SkyBridge in front of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Gatlinburg SkyBridge: A Must-See For Your Next Trip

A carriage ride through the Smoky Mountains, one of the unique things to do in Gatlinburg.

Your Ultimate Guide: The Most Unique Things to Do in Gatlinburg TN

One of the luxury cabins in Gatlinburg that offers amazing views of the Smoky Mountains.

Glamp It Up at These Luxury Cabins in Gatlinburg Tennessee

An image of the Gatlinburg Space Needle in Tennessee.

Come See the Wonder of the Gatlinburg Space Needle

A child enjoying the holiday lights hung in Winter in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Winter in Gatlinburg: How to Do More Than Chill Out in the City

A member of the crafts community making pottery.

6 Hidden Gems in Gatlinburg TN: Take a Trip Off the Beaten Path

November 2, 2023

Children enjoying the penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg.

What to See and Do on Your Weekend Trip to Gatlinburg, TN

Fall foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains.

How to Experience Fall in Gatlinburg TN

Hiker on a trail in the autumn.

Explore the Kaleidoscope of Autumn Colors Around Gatlinburg

A couple enjoying glasses of wine at a Gatlinburg winery.

Uncork and Explore the Best Gatlinburg Wineries

Exterior of the Titanic Museum, a half-scale model of the RMS Titanic, in Tennessee.

You’ve Seen the Movie. Now Visit the Titanic Museum During Your Gatlinburg Trip!

June 1, 2023

Visitors enjoying views of Gatlinburg from the SkyBridge.

You Don’t Want to Miss These 6 Gatlinburg Attractions

An image of the Gatlinburg SkyBridge in front of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Gatlinburg SkyBridge: A Must-See For Your Next Trip

A carriage ride through the Smoky Mountains, one of the unique things to do in Gatlinburg.

Your Ultimate Guide: The Most Unique Things to Do in Gatlinburg TN

One of the luxury cabins in Gatlinburg that offers amazing views of the Smoky Mountains.

Glamp It Up at These Luxury Cabins in Gatlinburg Tennessee

An image of the Gatlinburg Space Needle in Tennessee.

Come See the Wonder of the Gatlinburg Space Needle

A child enjoying the holiday lights hung in Winter in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Winter in Gatlinburg: How to Do More Than Chill Out in the City

A member of the crafts community making pottery.

6 Hidden Gems in Gatlinburg TN: Take a Trip Off the Beaten Path

November 2, 2023

Children enjoying the penguins at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg.

What to See and Do on Your Weekend Trip to Gatlinburg, TN

Fall foliage in the Great Smoky Mountains.

How to Experience Fall in Gatlinburg TN

Hiker on a trail in the autumn.

Explore the Kaleidoscope of Autumn Colors Around Gatlinburg

A couple enjoying glasses of wine at a Gatlinburg winery.

Uncork and Explore the Best Gatlinburg Wineries

Exterior of the Titanic Museum, a half-scale model of the RMS Titanic, in Tennessee.

You’ve Seen the Movie. Now Visit the Titanic Museum During Your Gatlinburg Trip!

June 1, 2023

Visitors enjoying views of Gatlinburg from the SkyBridge.

You Don’t Want to Miss These 6 Gatlinburg Attractions

THE HISTORY OF GATLINBURG

The area that would come to be known as Gatlinburg was first settled by the family of William Ogle in 1806. Revolutionary War veterans began to trickle in and settle the area known then as “White Oak Flats”. The first post office was established in the general store of Radford Gatlin, establishing the town’s name as “Gatlinburg”.

After the Civil War, logging became the main industry of the area, but tourists also began to explore the natural beauty of the Smokies. Conservationists, business leaders, and politicians from every level of government banded together to begin establishment of a National Park in the easten United States. After years in the making, Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened in 1934.