It's open every day of the year until sunset! Go by and lend a hand. It's free but donations really help.
You can do pretty much anything here, it's insane. Check out some of these events they do: http://www.byrdsadventurecenter.com/event-calendar/year-at-a-glance.html. There is something going on every weekend, practically. They started as a music venue in the 80s.
Ok--the address you are given is not the address of the house itself. You may very well find yourself driving 45 minutes up to the top of a hill for the "main office" in order to get the "keys" (just a four digit code) just to end up having to drive another 45 minutes in the opposite direction to the top of another hill to find the cabin itself. Call ahead to have an idea of how long all of this might actually take--expect to be put on hold a while.
Great views of the smokies, hot tubs, you'll see some bears (we saw two) so be sure to lock away all trash, the "grill" might be underwhelming. Great for big groups of people, although be careful about making a bunch of noise because many of the cabins are rented by families that might call the cops with noise complaints.
Go Kart racing Friday nights! Stock car racing Saturday nights!
Saturdays you can pay $15 to run, $8 to watch.
On Sundays they have church services at the racetrack at 9:30 and also racing...kill two birds with one stone! $12 as a spectator.
There is no reason not to stop--take a photo with a giant chicken, eat some fried frog legs (4 for $5.95), and fill up on gas!
This hotel has been converted from an old houseboat built on a barge! Check in at the Botel Market/Convenience Store.
Right around the corner from Gatlinburg you can find all these artisans! Go check it out for a change of pace from all the neon.
Elkmont features the remnants of an old Appalachian community. You can see all sorts of old abandoned railroad odds and ends.
For a really awesome experience, go the first week of June to see the synchronized lightning bugs dance and mate. It used to be a thing only insiders knew about, but now the park allows 1000 people a night to come check it out. These nights get booked up immediately, so stay on top of it if you are interested!
Thanks Clayton and Smoky Mountain Guides for all the stories and info!
Wanda Johnson was super helpful in pointing out some awesome Waynesboro area attractions and telling me all about Swannanoa, an incredible marble palace only a mile or so down the road but barely marked! Stop in here even if just to get your bearings--there is a huge 3d map of the Blue Ridge Parkway area. Also, free wifi and free restrooms, and an incredible view over Waynesboro and the valley to rival almost any BRP scenic overview.