Appalachian Heritage Is Kept Alive By Dozens of Artisans and Masters
Nestled along an eight-mile motor loop resplendent with Smoky Mountain beauty and nostalgia are more than one hundred quaint shops and restaurants proudly known as Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community.
Situated on the northeast edge of Gatlinburg, this area is the only zoned crafts community in the United States. Visitors to this artists’ haven will experience “another time and place” as they enjoy the heritage of Gatlinburg’s arts and crafts community and a celebration of Smoky Mountain history and culture.
The largest group of independent artisans in North America is situated along this trail. Established in 1937, these artisans whittle, paint, sew, cast, weave and carve to create original collectables and works such as candles, baskets, quilts, brooms, chairs, pottery, jewelry, dolls, ceramics, scrimshaw, silversmithing and leather products, stained glass, wearable fashions, fine photography, frameable art, oils and watercolors.
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community also features restaurants, cafes, tea rooms, soda fountains and candy shops.
Whet your appetite at live demonstrations of candy-making, watch as ordinary pieces of wood are turned into works of art by whittlers and woodcarvers, and marvel at the intricate handiwork of mountain artisans as they handle the delicate tasks of quilting, broom making, and pottery throwing.
From there, relax in the candle shop showroom while hot wax dries in beautiful shapes around cotton wicks that have been hand-dipped in large vats. Visits to over one hundred shops will fill shopping bags with traditional and contemporary crafts, handmade gifts, collectibles, and one-of-a-kind pieces.
Gatlinburg trolleys run a regular schedule through the Glades to shuttle guests from downtown to the Art & Crafts Community.
For more information call 800-56-VISIT (568-4748) or get mountains of information at www.gatlinburg.com.
