Arts and Crafts Community

If you come to the Gatlinburg area or Sevierville or Pigeon Forge you should really visit the arts and crafts community. And that’s exactly what it is, a community located in an 8 mile loop, with some of the most talented artists and craftsmen you will ever encounter.  Some of these people are practicing what some would consider a dying art. Just to mention a few there are broom makers, hand dipped candles (each one different making them all unique and truly one of a kind), stain glass artists, basket weavers, quilt makers, wood carvers, this only scratches the surface as to what you will find in such a relatively short distance. If you are into the local scenery, you can take it home with you, visit any of the art galleries in the loop and you will find magnificent oil and watercolor paintings with local flavor added to all of them.

For over seventy years people have been enjoying the now designated Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail, the largest group of independent artists and craftsmen you will find in the U.S.  I get so excited every time I visit this community, I have paintings in my home from here, and I am always looking for unique items to give as gifts. I found and bought my mother-in-law who doesn’t live in Tennessee a beautiful handmade strawberry quilt several years ago and gave it to her as a Christmas gift. She shows it to everyone and proudly tells them I got it for her and that it came from the Art and Crafts Community. You can find all kinds of great things for others or yourself, and believe me you won’t be able to leave empty handed. Everything you find in this community is made with such craftsmanship and heart you will not find this degree of quality anywhere else.

If you would like to tour the loop on your own you don’t have to worry about parking, there is free parking outside each location, and don’t be surprised if some of these places look like someone’s residence, some of them are. From downtown Gatlinburg turn at traffic light number 3 onto 321N, you will see the signs for the Arts and Crafts Community entrance off both Glades and Buckhorn Roads. If you are staying in Gatlinburg and would like to be driven around you can take the Arts and Crafts Trolley. For a minimal onetime fee of $1.00 (you must have exact change) you can take a tour of the entire 8 mile loop getting on and off as you wish(may take up to an hour for it to return to pick-up spots).  The trolley system is color coded look at the front and sides of the trolley’s to make sure you are on the right one, the arts and crafts route is the yellow route, it runs 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., March 16 through December. Look for the street trolley signs indicating pick-up and drop off spots; you can board at traffic light number 5 in Gatlinburg to start your journey.

I know if you take the time to visit the Arts and Crafts Community you will leave loving it as much as I do. It will become a regular destination every time you come to visit. We have added a directory of the Art & Crafts Community here.