You may have heard that a new large lodging venture will be built in Sevierville. After a recent trip to the Dells area in Wisconsin to see first hand what the Wilderness Resort operation is like I am really excited about what new choices visitors to the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area will soon have. After meeting with some of the management personel and getting a tour of the development, I can only say “Wow!!”.

Plans now call for a 236-room, four-story mountain modern hotel which will be connected to the Events Center via an enclosed corridor. The facility, which is anticipated to become a well-recognized and respected hotel franchise, is slated to include an approximately 20,000 square foot indoor waterpark complete with family raft rides, body slides, an indoor/outdoor hot spa and an interactive kiddy play structure with many play and spray features.

The hotel will also include a restaurant, coffee shop, work-out facility and break-out conference rooms to complement the Events Center’s meeting space. It is anticipated to be completed by early 2008. Wilderness developers are also planning to build an upscale mountain modern six-story condominium resort on a parcel of land across the street from the Events Center. The property will consist of 233 fully-furnished two-key condominiums. It will also have its own approximately 55,000 square foot indoor waterpark, which will be home to a wave pool, Tornado thrill ride, family raft ride, body slides and an indoor/outdoor hot spa. In addition, a Thirsty Buffalo bar and grill is planned for the facility. Although pricing has yet to finalized, pre-sales for these condominium units are expected to begin this spring. All owners will have the option of participating into a rental program overseen by the Wilderness.

The location of this new project will be Old Knoxville Highway at Gists Creek Rd. which is right at the front of the new Sevierville Event Center development. This is certainly a major jewel in the lodging crown of Sevierville.