This may not be the right forum for this.
We have friends who are in Gatlinburg right now house hunting. I think they have no clue what they're getting into. Here's the thing: These people are NOT into the outdoors in any way. They don't hike. They don't fish. They don't hunt. They spent several years in Georgia and despised every moment of it because they don't like southerners. She loves to shop - in real malls, not t-shirt and candy shops. They enjoy going out to nice restaurants. He is into knives and guns but only as collectible things and takes the occasional day at a shooting range. They are in their 50's. They only picked Tennessee because they have grand plans to work overseas,(no job offers and no work visas as yet) earn gobs of money, and keep it free of state income taxes. I say there is far more to the quality of life than the tax rate of a place you choose to live. If they don't get these dream jobs they'll be trapped in Gatlinburg.
So....if you weren't into hiking and other outdoors things, would you choose to live in Gatlinburg?? To me it's always looked like one big crowded outdoor carnival but maybe there is more than that. Right now she's sending me emails saying "It's cute. A little alpine village." This is the first time they've ever been there.