Posts

Posted on 1/9/2023

SIX REASONS YOU SHOULD VISIT GATLINBURG

Gatlinburg is known for its quirky approach to tourism and long history of southern hospitality. It only makes sense that there is a long list of interesting (and fun) reasons our beloved city is simply irresistible. Enjoy a few of these little tidbits, and remember, it's always a good time to visit the magical city that is Gatlinburg. ...

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Posted on 12/28/2022

WHY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED MATTERS

The Gatlinburg area just set a 30-year record for extended days of single-digit and subzero temps. This has proved to be a challenge for both homeowners and guests in our community. Our staff have been responding around the clock since December 23 to meet our guests’ needs and spare homes of as much damage and loss as possible. ...

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Posted on 12/10/2022

FIVE WAYS TO CONTINUE VACATIONING WHEN MONEY'S TIGHT

Everyone’s feeling the economic pinch these days. At Mountain Laurel Chalets, your family is our company, and we want to help you find creative ways to vacation and create lasting memories in plentiful times and leaner times alike. Hard seasons come and go, and this too shall pass; in the meantime, we’re here to help you make the most of your vacation dollars and cents. ...

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Posted on 12/8/2022

THE 47TH ANNUAL FANTASY OF LIGHTS CHRISTMAS PARADE

Our staff had SO MUCH FUN last Friday night rolling through town on our custom Mountain Laurel Chalets float! The 47th annual Fantasy of Lights Christmas parade was one for the books, and this year the city of Gatlinburg awarded us 3rd place for "Best Original Float Design." Our awesome maintenance team worked extra-late hours to build our float from scratch, and it turned out beautifully. ...

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Posted on 12/2/2022

A HIDDEN (AND DELICIOUS!) GEM

Sometimes one stumbles upon a thing they didn't know they'd been missing until it hits 'em square in the face. This happened in the very best way last week to a few of the MLC staff. After visiting a new MLC property (which is gorgeous and exciting--stay tuned!), the team decided to stop and grab lunch. The new home's owner suggested we try a nearby spot called Split Rail Eats. It was a bit off the beaten path, tucked away in a delightful shopping area on Glades Road in Gatlinburg. We arrived an ...

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Posted on 11/15/2022

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

2022 has been a year of reflection for our Mountain Laurel Chalets team. As we've celebrated our 50th anniversary in a multitude of meaningful ways, the common theme over the last many months has been that of deep, deep gratitude. We have so much to... ...

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Posted on 11/2/2022

BEATING THE WINTER BLUES BEFORE THEY START

Ho-ho-hold up a minute. After the excitement of fall football season melts into the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and after the holidays bring us to the precipice of a new year, it’s easy to hit a proverbial wall that smacks us in the face with the winter blues. After months of high energy and endless celebration, suddenly...it’s January. It’s cold. It's often gray. It's usually quiet. No wonder we can easily start to feel down in the dumps! ...

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Posted on 10/26/2022

A GIFT FOR YOU (YES, YOU!)

My wife, Susan, and I welcomed our first grandchild earlier this year year, and to say he has turned our world upside down (in the very best way) is an understatement. He is practically perfect! In the history of all the world's grandchildren, I can assure you there has never been a cuter one than mine. See for yourselves: ...

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Posted on 10/5/2022

TRICK OR TREAT?

We live in an age of seemingly endless options. Just walk down your local grocery store aisle and you’ll be reminded how true that statement is. Want some cereal? Here are 1,278 options. Peanut butter? You can have crunchy or smooth or organic or sugar-free or honey roasted or unsalted or Peter Pan or Smuckers or…have you considered almond butter? The endless options can be wonderful, but they can be equally as exhausting to sort through, and we often end up suffering from analysis paralysis as ...

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Posted on 8/2/2022

HOMETOWN HERO | NANCY LABBE & KENNESTONE KREW

Four million babies are born in America each year, and nearly 6,000 of those are born with an extra chromosome that results in Down syndrome. On four consecutive July days in 2019, four children with this condition were born on the very same floor of the very same hospital. Down syndrome affects less than .01% of all babies in America, and the chances of a hospital delivering four affected children in four consecutive days is highly unlikely. This unlikely event resulted in a beautiful story tha ...

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