View Full Version : East TN Companion Listings
SOS to all you folks living in East TN. I'm collecting information for the 2008 Companion. I paid a visit to Erwin today and got info from the motels, and visited some of the restaurants, noting which of them are closed.
(Yeah, I know it's past the theoretical deadline, but I haven't been nagged about it yet, so I figure I've got a few more days.)
Erwin Burrito appears to be closed. It has For Sale signs in the windows. I was told by another restaurant owner that it was not open last weekend either. Anyone know any more about this?
Anyway, if anyone found any errors in last year's listings, or has new places that need to be mentioned, please PM me.
You Johnson City folks...Is there a Dick's already open? The only outfitter mentioned is Mahoney's.
Marta/Five-Leaf
SGT Rock
09-08-2007, 21:10
L.Wolf and I noticed that there is a shuttle bus that parks at the top of Newfound Gap and shuttles people to either Cherokee or G-Burg. Never heard of that one before last month.
Dicks (http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/corp/index.jsp?page=storeLocator&locationCode=331&state=TN&city=Johnson+City) will likely be open by the time the Companion is pubished.
L.Wolf and I noticed that there is a shuttle bus that parks at the top of Newfound Gap and shuttles people to either Cherokee or G-Burg. Never heard of that one before last month.
Any idea who runs the thing? One of the Casinos?
Actually, I think that's out of my territory... Not my problem. Whew.
Which brings up another issue. I haven't been able to get an answer about what the endpoints of the territory I'm supposed to cover are. LW is doing Damascus and north? I think I'm supposed to go from south of Damascus to somewhere around Hot Springs.
Marta/Five-Leaf
Miss Janet
09-08-2007, 23:48
I really wish I knew what happened with the Burrito. We went to get lunch yesterday and saw the signs for the first time. I wish one of you would buy it... and hey, I know where a great house is for sale within walking distance of your new Burrito Shop!!
I also wish I had more concrete info to give you for my update. I may not know details in time to have a full description in the Companion. Maybe you can just do something to let people know that I am closed and NOT to visit at 220 North Elm because I will not be here. I am keeping the phone numbers 423-743-1932 and cell 423-948-2628 so people can call to find out where we have set up "camp". I may know more in a few days if you can check back with me at your deadline.
What?!?! The Burrito is closed?? NO!!!!!!!
here's to wishing i had money to buy it!
mweinstone
09-09-2007, 04:53
i wish you would give up the house # janet. then i could ring the phone and feel like its all a dream and im back at spivy gap calling you. can i have a peice of your fleash miss janet? really. a scab would do even. i need you close during these trying times.i would put it in a plastic sleave and carry you everywhere. and i could pull you out and show you to folks. look! heres miss janer right here!
please?
Re: Erwin Burrito
The woman at the River's Edge told me that the couple who own it now split up a few months ago. The guy has been running it on his own. She said it was closed last weekend, too.
Thanks for the info, Miss Janet. That answers my main question, which is that you plan to keep the same phone #s, so people can contact you for current information. You are still doing shuttles, right?
With your hostel and the Burrito closed, downtown Erwin felt like a ghost town.
Marta/Five-Leaf
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-09-2007, 08:28
Everybody who lives in the area or has recently hiked this and does not have this year's companion - here is a direct link to this section's online edition (1.62 MB PDF file) (http://www.aldha.org/companyn/ga-tn07.pdf)
Mountain Mama's Country Kitchen and hostel (near Davenport Gap) is gone (page 16 of online edition). The business is for sale and the Thigpens are in too fragile health condition to reliable open the facility.
Grand Prix motel (http://www.grandprixmotel.com/) in Gatlinburg, TN (Near Newfound Gap) is under new ownership, very hiker friendly and now offering shuttle service. Not currently listed.
Rebel, with a Cause!
09-10-2007, 08:41
Mountain Mamas has been sold per Nancy at the Hike INN. New owners plan to open a Horse Riding and hunting lodge. New construction is already in progress
Grand Prix motel (http://www.grandprixmotel.com/) in Gatlinburg, TN (Near Newfound Gap) is under new ownership, very hiker friendly and now offering shuttle service. Not currently listed.
when was it sold. They did shuttle service last year. Sounds like the new owners are just providing the same service as the old owners which is good to hear
The Solemates
09-10-2007, 09:50
the burrito was closed when we were there over labor day.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
09-10-2007, 10:00
when was it sold. They did shuttle service last year. Sounds like the new owners are just providing the same service as the old owners which is good to hearIt was sold a few years ago - they didn't do the shuttles for a short while after the transition (that's second-hand info so not stating it absolutely)
I must have hit them after they got back into the shuttle service.
I'll be up in Cherokee this coming weekend, I'll check with the park service about the shuttle at NewFound Gap to see what they know..............
Tennessee Viking
09-11-2007, 23:11
SOS to all you folks living in East TN. I'm collecting information for the 2008 Companion. I paid a visit to Erwin today and got info from the motels, and visited some of the restaurants, noting which of them are closed.
(Yeah, I know it's past the theoretical deadline, but I haven't been nagged about it yet, so I figure I've got a few more days.)
Erwin Burrito appears to be closed. It has For Sale signs in the windows. I was told by another restaurant owner that it was not open last weekend either. Anyone know any more about this?
Anyway, if anyone found any errors in last year's listings, or has new places that need to be mentioned, please PM me.
You Johnson City folks...Is there a Dick's already open? The only outfitter mentioned is Mahoney's.
Marta/Five-LeafDicks wont open until mid October. They are still hiring and doing inside work. I wouldn't put Dicks in the companion just yet. Last time, I visited a Dicks it had only midline hiking gear. A lot of stuff you can get at Walmart and Target. No big selection in packs for thru hiking, mainly Columbia day and camelback packs. More family camping materials than trail tenting.
Mahonneys is still Johnson City's only outfitter. There is a Mahonneys in Abingdon. Mtn Sports Ltd is in Bristol. I personally like Mast Store in Valle Cruicis, Boone, and Knoxville. Great deals and selection. And there is talks about Kingsport, TN getting a Mast.
You might want to check with Miss Janet to see what her status is on moving to her new place.
Not sure of Erwin Burrito, I drove past it back in May, and it looked like it was still open. I talked to some thru hikers that ate there not too long ago, but they did say they got sick from it the next day. And they had to take a couple days off trail to recover.
I recommend Clarence's in Unicoi, its a good dive drive thru restaurant. Big 3/4 lbs burgers. And is just down the street from the Cherokee Forest office. There is a good family restaurant just off the interstate. River Edge's near Embreeville has some good food, but it has strange hours.
You might want to check with Miss Janet to see what her status is on moving to her new place.
Not sure of Erwin Burrito, I drove past it back in May, and it looked like it was still open. I talked to some thru hikers that ate there not too long ago, but they did say they got sick from it the next day. And they had to take a couple days off trail to recover.
I recommend Clarence's in Unicoi, its a good dive drive thru restaurant. Big 3/4 lbs burgers. And is just down the street from the Cherokee Forest office. There is a good family restaurant just off the interstate. River Edge's near Embreeville has some good food, but it has strange hours.
Thanks for the info. Miss Janet will be listed in the upcoming Companion as a shuttler, with her phone numbers and the advisory to contact her for information.
The River's Edge phone number will also be listed with a note saying to call to check if they're open. The owner told me herself that the hours are flukey.
I'll have to check out Clarence's next time I'm up that way.
The Burrito has only been closed for a couple of weeks. It is for sale, but doesn't now seem to be open during the process.
Marta/Five-Leaf