Everything else goes here, including discussion of parks outside of Carowinds and any off-topic discussion
By Edwardo
#91724
We just stayed at The Westgate Resort and it's been destroyed. There were reports of Ober Gatlinburg being destroyed but the just tweeted they are fine.
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By ColetD
#91725
Edwardo, did you see the video of Westgate? My family has a timeshare with them so we've stayed there multiple times over the years, and the entrance was almost completely on fire.
Then the Ripley's Aquarium.. Haven't heard an official update since they had to evacuate last night. I'm fearing the worst for all the animals that weren't able to evacuate with the people.
This is hitting me harder than I would've guessed, since I hate tourist trap towns, but it's so familiar that I just don't know what to do with myself. :(
By Edwardo
#91726
I did see the video. The last official response from Ripleys is that the power is on, they're watching the webcam, the animals are currently okay. They don't know if any of the building has been harmed.
By RollerBee
#91731
Edwardo wrote:I did see the video. The last official response from Ripleys is that the power is on, they're watching the webcam, the animals are currently okay. They don't know if any of the building has been harmed.

Ripleys now says that the building and animals are safe.

Dollywood says that some of the cabins were damaged or destroyed.

Goats on the Roof Coaster says on their Facebook that the coaster was untouched and the goats are fine.
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By Axel
#91740
it came close to the Dollywood Resort. About a dozen Dollywood cabins destroyed. Three people confirmed dead in separate incidents. 150 homes destroyed. Luckily they had a lot of rain late last night and today. Pray for those affected.

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some of the other destruction...
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By Axel
#91749
WBIR has composed a list of what structures and areas of Gatlinburg have been damaged or destroyed and what is unharmed. "We will continue to keep this updated as we find out more, and keep in mind that information is constantly changing as more assessments are made."

At least 400 structures damaged or destroyed. The wildfire in Gatlinburg is the largest wildfire in the last 100 years in the state of Tennessee

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/gatlinburg-fires-whats-damaged-destroyed-and-intact/357891924

*Alamo Steakhouse: Destroyed
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*The American Eagle Foundation: All birds have been relocated and are safe
*Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: All buildings except Hughes Hall and Wild Wing survived with little damage.
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*Banner Missionary Baptist Church: Destroyed
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*Black Bear Falls: Earlier reports from TEMA said it was destroyed, but management has confirmed no damage
*Buckberry Lodge: Says they are “currently assessing the situation and conditions of the lodge.” Currently unable to take reservations.
*Carr’s Cottages: No known damage as of Tuesday morning
*Chalet Village: Suffered damage, but not destroyed
*Cupid's Chapel of Love: Destroyed
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*Chapel at the Park: Intact.
*Christ in the Smokies Museum and Garden: They are told their museum is fine, but they have not been able to get there to evaluate it yet.
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*CLIMB Works: Intact
*Cobbly Knob area: About 70 homes destroyed
*Days Inn on the River: Owner confirmed to WBIR they believe the building is still standing, though they think a the Quality Inn behind it will likely be damaged.
*Deer Ridge Mountain Resort: Intact (link)
*Dollywood: Several cabins damaged or destroyed. DreamMore resort not damaged. Dollywood park has some wind damage but no damage from fire. Park will be closed Wednesday.
*Elkmont: Intact
*Elk Springs Resort: Cabins seem to be in fine shape, though some employees lost their homes.
*Gatlinburg-Pittman High School: Not damaged. Being used as TEMA command center.
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*Gatlinburg Space Needle: Not Damaged
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*Goats on the Roof: "Coaster has not been touched by fire and the goats are doing good.
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*Hillbilly Golf: Buildings intact, some damage to the golf course.
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*Highland Condominiums: Views from the air indicate very heavy damage
*Honeymoon Hills: Intact.
*LeConte Lodge: Intact
*Little Log Wedding Chapel: Intact
*Log Cabin Pancake House (Pigeon Forge): Untouched. They are not sure of the status of their Gatlinburg location on the Historic Nature Trail.
*Mysterious Mansion: Unknown-- conflicting reports earlier said it was destroyed, but that may not be the case.
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*Ober Gatlinburg: Intact
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*Park Vista hotel: Intact
*Parrot Mountain: Intact
*Pi Beta Phi Elementary School: Intact (Suffered some minor wind and smoke damage)
*Pittman Center Elementary School: Not damaged
*Ripley's Aquarium: Intact. Biologists at the aquarium confirm the animals are OK.
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*Rocky Waters Motor Inn: Owner confirmed to WBIR they believe the building is still standing.
*The Island: Completely untouched by fire.
*The Mountain Lodge (Restaurant): Destroyed.
*Tree Tops Resort: They know some (if not all) of their buildings have been destroyed. They said it is possible some may not have been, but they have not been able to return yet.
*Wear's Valley area: About 70 homes destroyed
*Westgate Resort: Several cabins damaged. Main check-in building is just a skeleton.
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By arby
#91752
I am not trying to make light of the situation nor show a lack of compassion for those who were deeply impacted by this fire. However, I am thankful that it is not wore than it was. As bad as drought conditions have been, and as close as this fire came to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, I am thankful that a large portion of the area has not been severely impacted and very few lives were taken.

It could have easily taken out all of Gatlinburg and a noticeable portion of Pigeon Forge...
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By Axel
#91760
Death toll rises to 7. Fire spreads to 16,000 acres.
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Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa:
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A Nov. 14 NASA satellite image of the region and the various forest fires at the time.
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A map of drought conditions in the United States as of Nov. 22, 2016. Photo: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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By Axel
#91766
New estimate of the number of damaged or destroyed homes and businesses throughout Sevier County is more than 700.

Dolly Parton launched a fundraiser and has pledged to donate $1,000 per month for six months to families who lost their homes.

The “Chimney Tops 2″ fire was first reported Nov. 23 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Gatlinburg, according to the National Park Service.

The wildfire exploded on Monday, as massive walls of flames spread down the mountains into Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge with shocking speed, according to those who fled with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Rain “provided some relief” Wednesday, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said, and all wildfires in Gatlinburg were out by late afternoon, though some were still smoldering. Gatlinburg remained under an emergency evacuation order, with an overnight curfew in place, the agency said.

First responders were also struggling with small mudslides and rock slides as the lush foliage that once held the ground in place had burned away.

Although wind gusts exceeding 60 mph caused the disaster to explode in Sevier County, fires have been brewing for months in this region. More than 150,000 acres have been charred in the Southeast by large fires, according to the U.S. Forest Service, and nearly 4,000 firefighters have been called into action to fight blazes that keep popping up.

The wind carried the flames from the nearby Chimney Tops fire across ground parched by a historic drought and into the resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The fire moved too fast and too far to contain. “This is a fire for the history books,” Miller said Tuesday. “The likes of this has never been seen here. But the worst is definitely over with.”
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By Jonathan
#91784
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