A Brief History of The Park Grill in Gatlinburg
As you probably know, The Park Grill is considered to be the “unofficial restaurant of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.” There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that our building sits right before you enter the national park. Another reason is because we hold and celebrate some of the same rich history as the Smoky Mountains. In order to see how the story fits together, here is a brief history of The Park Grill in Gatlinburg:
Building Formation
The history of our amazing Gatlinburg restaurant begins long before the building was ever in place. In fact, there is an incredible story about how the pieces all came together. The wood that was used to build The Park Grill was taken from dead spruce trees in the Payette National Forest in Idaho. Instead of just going in and taking all the logs that were available, each one was individually chosen because of unusual markings, such as big knots or natural scars. Once the wood was chosen, it was transported to Oregon where it was prefabricated using sharp knives. After each log was perfected, they were cut to length and began their journey to Gatlinburg!
Interior Design
Because the exterior of the restaurant is so unique, the inside had to be decorated to match the aesthetic. That is where the Smoky Mountain history and heritage really comes into play. Once the location of the restaurant was established, we wanted to encompass the true Smoky Mountain feeling into everything we did, which included interior design. When you enter The Park Grill in Gatlinburg, you will notice we have numerous art displays and crafts all throughout the building. Many of those were handmade by local artisans from around the Smoky Mountains. The early settlers used blacksmiths, glass blowers, and pottery makers to survive, so the least we could do was honor their legacy in our Smoky Mountain restaurant.
A Little about the National Park
For those who do not know the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it is an important part of our story. After all, we couldn’t be in the position we are in now if the park wasn’t there. The national park was chartered in 1934 and was finally dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. Since that day, the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park has welcomed millions of visitors to the area. Whether you want to enjoy a scenic drive or adventure out on the hike, the Smokies has something for everyone. After a busy day of enjoying nature, don’t forget to stop back by our restaurant for an amazing dinner!
The Park Grill Today
Our restaurant in Gatlinburg TN tries to serve our purpose of celebrating the rich history of the Smoky Mountains, on top of serving your family a delicious meal! You can start your evening off with a trip through our amazing salad bar that offers dozens of fresh ingredients and homemade dressings. From there, you can choose from a variety of delicious entrees, including our award winning baby back ribs! Be sure to save some room for some hot blackberry cobbler with ice cream or a pint sized mason jar of banana pudding!
Now that you know a little more about the history of The Park Grill in Gatlinburg, you can come experience the beauty first hand! If you have any questions about our restaurant in the meantime, feel free to contact us. We look forward to welcoming you to the Smoky Mountains!
