 5/17/2008 5:52 PM Clear, 50°F |
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Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce
811 East Parkway - P.O. Box 527
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
TOLL FREE: 1-800-588-1817
info@gatlinburg.com
What's New in Gatlinburg
New Developments and Grand Openings
$1 Million Later, Aerial Tramway Returns to Action
Release Date - April 2007
GATLINBURG - The latest in cable car technology grabs the spotlight when the
first passengers are transported to the top of Mt. Harrison on the Ober Gatlinburg
Aerial Tramway beginning Saturday, May 5, 2007.
After 33-plus years of service, Ober Gatlinburg’s original tram vehicles have been replaced by a pair of modern behemoths capable of carrying 120 passengers the 2.1-mile distance from downtown Gatlinburg to the summit resort. The Anders’ family-owned Aerial Tramway has transported over 18 million passengers since opening, with service from downtown Gatlinburg available approximately every 20 minutes.
The $1 million transition maintains Ober’s status as one of America’s largest tramways and affords passengers the latest innovations in safety and comfort.
Purchased through Doppelmayr CTEC of Salt Lake City, Utah, the matching cable cars were designed, engineered and constructed in Olten, Switzerland by CWA Constructions, the largest manufacturer of ropeway cabins and gondolas in the world. Construction began in November and was completed in mid-March in Olten, Switzerland.
The new cable cars and carrier arms are made of a high grade aluminum alloy, the same as used in the aerospace industry. The dimensions of the vehicles are identical to the cars they replace, allowing Ober Gatlinburg to use the existing loading docks and towers, though the new trams offer 15 percent more glass viewing area.
“We are thrilled to be providing our guests with the most advanced technology available in the cable car industry,” said Cy Anders of the family-owned business. “We are proud that Ober Gatlinburg has established itself as a year-round resort and ranks among the top five attractions in the State of Tennessee.”
Construction of the Aerial Tramway began 10 years after the ski resort opened in 1962. It took nearly a year and was completed in August of 1973, providing skiers and snow enthusiasts who had previously driven up and down winding, slick roads with an alternative route to the top of snow-covered Mt. Harrison.
The arrival and switching of the cars began on April 20 and was completed in a week. A crane lowered the old vehicles and carrier arms to the ground at the downtown terminal then lifted the new cars and arms into place. A series of load and safety tests are being performed this week with the assistance of the Project Engineer from Garaventa in Switzerland, a technician from Frey AG in Switzerland, and inspectors from the State of Tennessee Division of Boiler and Elevator Inspection.
The project has been overseen by Tramway Superintendent Danny Dixon, who has over 31 years of service with Ober Gatlinburg. The maintenance staff, many of whom have been with the attraction for more than a decade, performed the majority of the installation of the new cars.
“This is one of the most sophisticated cable car systems in the world, and we are proud that Ober Gatlinburg continues to offer this unique form of transportation for visitors to the area to view the Smokies and the City of Gatlinburg,” said Dixon.
Phase V of Underground and Streetscape Project
Work on Phase V of the Underground and Streetscape project began on November 1 and will extend into the spring. The Parkway work area during the November '06 through May '07 phase will encompass from Gatlinburg Inn and Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen south across Reagan Drive, Maples Lane and Historic Nature Trail/Airport Road just short of the driveway to Reagan Resort Inn. The traffic/caution light #7 at Reagan Drive & Maples Lane will also be removed as part of Phase V.
Phase V, while smaller in area and shorter in distance than that of the work done in Phase IV, is one the most difficult phases undertaken thus far in the undergrounding project. This is due in part to the two City streets that it crosses and the traffic counts for both streets in that area. Additionally, Sevier County Electric System has indicated that the electrical intricacies of this phase are their most challenging thus far.
Although original plans called for Phase V to commence in December and continue through May, contractors were granted permission to begin on the same date as in Phase IV based upon their experiences during that phase in order to meet the goal of a May 31, 2007, substantial completion date.
As in Phase IV, the construction of underground duct banks along the affected streets will be built to house the installation of electrical, gas, telephone and cable lines. Work at intersections of the Parkway including Reagan Drive, Maples Lane and Historic Nature Trail/Airport Road will be particularly challenging.
Contractors have pledged to keep disruption of streets and sidewalks to a minimum. Work will effectively halt during a period preceding the Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays and during the week before New Year's Day.
New street and pedestrian lighting and new benches and trash receptacles will be strategically placed along the street. New sidewalks on public right-of-ways and distinctive crosswalks will be installed when the duct work is complete. Also, various planters will be mounted to accommodate seasonal plantings and small trees.
Just as in 2005, prior to the commencement of Phase IV, a public workshop of affected business and property owners and other concerned parties was held to explain the work process and to address concerns. The meeting at City Hall included representatives of the City, Efficient Electric and Barge Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon, Inc., and representatives of local utilities involved in the project.
New Exhibits in Gatlinburg
The Red Planet Meets The Deep Blue Interactive Mars Exhibit Launched at Ripley’s Aquarium
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (Feb. 5, 2007) Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, America's most fun aquarium, has announced the opening of its latest interactive exhibit, Mars: The Search for Life. With more than 34 million miles separating Earth from the Red Planet, the $500,000 exhibition hosts numerous interactive stations that bring the Martian experience a little closer to home.
While some aquarium visitors may not understand the motivation for the Gatlinburg attraction to host a Mars exhibit, Ripley’s Aquarium General Manager Steve File explains why.
“Outer space and the deep blue sea really represent the last of mankind’s unconquered frontiers,” said File. “Although the methods by which we reach these uncharted territories vary greatly, the technologies used to explore these regions are similar. For example, both environments utilize robotic technology and NASA has long since used water buoyancy to induce anti-gravity sensations.”
While entertaining by design, the Mars exhibit is also being billed as an educational experience, featuring a large-scale kinetic relief Mars model and an array of fun facts about the planet.
The exhibit encourages visitors to ‘follow the water’ as they crawl through a rock tunnel to find underground ice. Inside the tunnel, visitors can touch frozen water mixed in with replicas of the Martian soil.
“So many children are tactile learners and feel the need to touch something in order to better understand the full impact of a situation,” said File. “That’s what our Martian crawl through does – it allows a person to feel what Martian sediments mixed with frozen water would feel like just below the planet’s surface.”
The Rover Interactive station gives visitors an opportunity to explore the planet using remote-controlled, miniature Mars Rover vehicles. Video cameras and monitors simulate the challenge of “driving” and controlling the Mars Exploration Rover vehicles from Earth.
“What’s interesting to note about this station is that in the real life situation, NASA would have to wait several hours before learning if the commands sent to the Rover stationed on Mars actually worked. Fortunately, our results are instantaneous,” said File.
Other attractions within the Mars exhibit include a scale that will compare a person’s Mars weight with their Earthly weight, a demonstration that illustrates how much stronger one would be on Mars and a time machine that gives visitors a chance to find out their age on Mars.
“I guess Mars sounds quite appealing at first glance – you weigh 62 percent less, be half your age and even get 39 extra minutes each day,” said Joel Young, Ripley’s Director of Marketing. “On the other hand, the planet maintains an average temperature of -81 degrees Fahrenheit and has an atmosphere containing over 95 percent carbon dioxide.”
About Ripley’s Entertainment Ripley Entertainment of Sevier County is home to seven imaginative destinations including the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Moving Theater 4D, Haunted Adventure, Believe It or Not! Museum, Old MacDonald’s Farm and Davy Crockett Mini-Golf locations, and the Guinness World Records Museum. For more information on the Ripley’s attractions, visit online at www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com.
