Pawpaw Holler Home

A Townsend favorite is back!

For years, locals and tourists alike enjoyed the good ole country cookin’, homey atmosphere and friendly service at Smoky Junction Restaurant in Townsend TN.

Now we can again!

After a 16 year absence, Smoky Junction Restaurant is re-opening under the original ownership of Van and Sandy Lawson.

They’ve brought back all the old favorites from their original menu:

• Breakfast ( served until 11am) –full menu including; homemade biscuits and gravy, Country Ham, omelets, four kinds of pancakes and, for the really hungry, try Pappy’s BIG Breakfast.
• Lunch –hamburgers, sandwiches, soup, salads, Beans and Cornbread, vegetable plate
• Dinner –hand-cut steaks, pork chops, fried or broiled chicken, Country Ham, Rainbow Trout
• Plus:
• All-U-Can-Eat Breakfast Bar
• Daily Lunch Specials –hot plate lunch with a choice of meat, two vegetables and bread (today’s was Homemade Beef Stew, yum!)
• Friday Night All-U-Can-Eat Fish -starts at 4pm (tonight!)
• Sunday Buffet

Although they’ve only been opened back up a couple of days and they may have a few things to iron out yet, we had lunch there yesterday and everything was great. Daniel, my picky eater, even wanted to go back for supper last night!

Smoky Junction Restaurant is located on 321/East Lamar Alexander Parkway in Townsend, TN, right next to Little River Railroad Museum and across from Valley View Lodge.

They are open 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm and prices range from $2.79 – $8.99 for breakfast, $3.49 – $7.49 for lunch and $9.99 and up for dinner. All-U-Can-Eat Friday Night Fish is $9.99.

For more information, call Smoky Junction Restaurant at (865) 448-6881.

On a personal note:

I worked for Van and Sandy for many years when they were open the first time and I couldn’t have worked for better people –they don’t serve anything they wouldn’t eat themselves, they treat their employees well, they keep a clean restaurant, and they’re here for for the locals -not just the tourists.

Welcome back Van and Sandy!

Happy eating,

Denese

There are all kinds of free and low-cost events happenin’ this weekend in our corner of East Tennessee.

Townsend Events

Friday May 1

Smoky Mountain Musical Homecoming – featuring The Country Tennesseans, Smoky Mountain Grass and Mountain Gap

• Where: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend
• When:  5:30pm (Center opens at 5:00pm)
• Price: $3, free for members and children under 6 years
• Extra: BBQ Supper $7

Friday May 1 – Sunday May 3

Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day – bluegrass music, arts and crafts, BBQ, Appalachian skills, antique cars and tractors, wildflower hikes and the beauty of the Smokies in the springtime.

• Where: Townsend Visitor’s Center
• When:  9:00am – ‘til the music’s over
• Price:  Free

New this year:

• Young Pickers Talent Contest on Saturday morning for acoustic bluegrass players ages 17 and younger.
• Tuckaleechee Cove Day on Sunday.

For full details, please visit the Townsend Visitor’s Center website.

Saturday May 2

Spring Heritage Festival – skill and trade demonstrations, storytelling, music, crafts, games and more in an historic setting.

• Where: Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend
• When:  10:00am – 5:00pm
• Price: $6 Adults (18-59) 
          $4 Seniors (60+) 
          $4 Children (6-17) 
          Free admission for members and children under 6 years

Smoky Mountains Events

Saturday May 2

Old Timer’s Day in Cades Cove – bluegrass, storytelling and reminiscing from former Cades Cove residents, their descendents, and others from surrounding areas. Visitor’s welcome, pack a lunch and bring a chair. Old Timers Day is held the first Saturday in May and last Saturday in September.

• When:   All day
• Where: Cable Mill area of  Cades Cove in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Price:  Free

Blessings,

Denese

The storms have moved out this morning but it is still very windy and a wind advisory is  in effect until 4:00pm. There is still a chance for scattered showers today, also.

Blount Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

Smoky Mountains Radar

This weekend is supposed to be sunny, breezy and in the 70s -beautiful weather for a hike or attending the  Townsend Herb And Wildflower Day!

Denese

This Saturday, April 4th,  is Herb and Wildflower Day in Townsend, Tennessee.

Visit with expert botanists, photographers and naturalists.
Buy locally grown plants, delicious baked goods, and fine hand made pottery.
Take a short walk in the woods or a longer exploration of a special place.
A Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary event.

Location: Townsend Visitor’s Center
7906 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy.
Townsend, TN 37882

Time: 9:00am – 5:00pm est

Cost: Free!

For More Information: (865) 448-6134 -or- (865) 525-6834

This is a fun, low-cost thing to do with the whole family…and educational, too!

They have changed the forecast again! First they said snow tonight, but not much, then they changed it to all rain and now we’re back to snow and freezing rain.

Details:

East TN Special Weather Statement

Great Smoky Mountains TN Winter Weather Advisory/Hazardous Weather Statement

Maybe it won’t do a thing.

Denese

Are you planning a weekend trip to Townsend or the Smokies?

Wet, windy and snowy weather is in the forecast.

National Weather Service Forecast for Blount Smoky Mountains TN

You might want to wait for another weekend, but then again, you never can tell what the weather will do around here.

Currently it’s raining hard and very windy. I’m not going anywhere!

Denese

If your planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains you might want to wait a day or so, most of the roads are still closed.

GSMNP Temporary Road and Facilities Closures

Some of them that were closed yesterday aren’t on the list but it has been snowing all morning and we have just had a Winter Storm Warning issued.

Blount Smoky Mountains Winter Storm Warning

To check for updated road conditions call (865) 436-1200. Once you hear a voice, dial extension 631 for road information or extension 630 for a weather forecast.

All the snow will make a nice backdrop for the Winter Heritage Festival that starts tomorrow.

Townsend Winter Heritage Festival

Denese

I’ve added a page on Townsend and the Great Smoky Mountains and a calendar of local events to the left sidebar.

Townsend, TN is known as “The Peaceful Side of the Smokies”. We are also considered a “gateway community” to the Smokies and there are numerous events and activities that take place throughout the year (a lot of them free).

This Week in Townsend

Townsend Artisan Guild Juried Show & Exhibit

Monday February 2 – Saturday February 17
Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
Admission: Adults (18-59) $6
Seniors (60+) and Children (6-17) $4
Under 6 Free
Admission Free with Membership

Townsend Winter Heritage Festival

Thursday February 5 – Sunday February 8
Community Wide
Numerous activities and events including stories, exhibits, music, walking tours and much more.
All programs require pre-registration, most are free. Events with food have a charge, call the host businesses to make reservations. For more information, call the Townsend Visitors Center (865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834). Schedule is subject to change. Please call and check back on their website for updates.

Denese