Gatlinburg, Tennessee has countless local attractions from breathtaking natural scenery to some of the best music in the Great Smoky Mountains.  One thing the area is most famous for is the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the largest group of its kind in North America.  For those who want to see this distinctive part of Gatlinburg, cabin rentals are available for both short and long stays in the area.

Treasures for Every Taste

Established in 1937, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community was founded to preserve the craft heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains.  Over the decades it has grown as artists from all over the region gather to provide their unique artistry in one centralized area.

Members of this community include a wide variety of artistic genres.  Painters create stunning recreations of the area’s distinctive natural landscapes in oils and watercolors.  Woodworkers build handcrafted furniture, cedar chests, and intricately carved figurines.  Potters create table and kitchenware that is both decorative and functional.

Other artists offer copper water fountains, scrimshaw knife handles, fine cotton quilts, and much more.  Watch a bear carved out of a log with a chainsaw or candles being dipped they way they were when the country was young.

Take the Tour

Over 80 studios belonging to these amazing and talented artisans are gathered on an eight-mile loop on the northeast edge of Gatlinburg.  This historic road has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail.

But this road offers more than just the finest crafters in the region, some of them practicing skills that have been passed down through their families for generations.  The area is very tourist-friendly.  The road features plenty of public restrooms and places to stop while exploring this historic area.  Restaurants dot the area offering everything from local favorites to gourmet coffee and English ales.

Once you fall in love with the area, you will be glad to see there are plenty of Gatlinburg cabin rentals to stay in.  These comfortable and well-maintained establishments offer rustic charm combined with all the amenities a tired traveler might want.

Three Annual Craft Shows

The local arts community puts on three major arts and crafts events every year, one at Easter, one at Thanksgiving, and one at Christmas.  Crafters gather in the Gatlinburg Convention Center to make it even easier for visitors to see all the amazing creations from the region.  Visitors who stay in Gatlinburg cabin rentals have these attractions practically at their doorstep.

The shows include demonstrations of the many crafting skills native to the area.  Watch pots being carefully shaped at a wheel or witness the astounding precision involved in jewelry making.  All of this is offered with free admission to the convention center.