The Swag

At dinner one evening last week — all of a sudden everyone got up from the big table and darted out to the frontporch.  A big rainbow was arching from the Cataloochee Ski Slope right over to Gooseberry Knob.  The sun was setting on Utah Mountain and it was spectacular.  We have never seen a rainbow like that in all the 43 years we have been here.

Our hummers have finally come to settle in!  Since April 15, we have had a few who would stop by for a sip — working their way north.

Also to be treasured are the first water lily down at the pond and the last remaining trillium (Vasey’s) seen along the Cataloochee Divide trail (which we learned recently from Donald Davis has always been called to “locals” the Asbury Trail.  This is the same trail that bishop Asbury took to reach hi scattered mountain communities in Cataloochee.   The Vasey’s trillium is the last to bloom of the spring wild flowers (to my knowledge) and is the only one that has a fist-sized bloom under the three green leaves.  You have to be keen-eyed to be sure  to see them along the trail.  They are spectacular.

With Mathew and Mark from jumping Rocks Photography back to update our room and outdoor photos, I had the fun of taking them on Dan’s most favorite trail.  I call it “The Forest Primeval”.  It leaves the Nature Trail and parallels the horse trail, but goes over rocks and past huge trees that have roots raised and arched over what was once other trees that are no longer there.  There are three little foot bridges and one big bridge called Coookie’s Bridge.  On this trail you have no sense of civilization anywhere.  There are some very large rocks and little streams over which to step on select rocks.  On Thursday, McRae, our gardener, and her husband, Louis, took the photographers to see the Indian marker on the Cataloochee (Asbury) Trail that is very old and led many people before us to find the way over toward Cherokee, by the way of Hemphill Bald.  The tree was bent to point the way.

The Swag - A Family Business Retreat For The Weekend

On Sunday, the four-generation family that spent three days with us over the weekend — looking at ways in which they can serve others and relate to one another — departed after brunch. Just before they left, their leader for this weekend came to me and said “We want to come back here next year!” They can go anywhere their hearts want to take them and their hearts said “The Swag.” We knew they had on their agenda where they would go next year and were keen to find out where they would go. Wow!

What a thrill!

TRAILS FOREVER RIBBON CUTTING - May 22, 2012

Yesterday was one of those top-notch events for the Smokies! Because Dan chairs Friends of the Smokies, Dan and I went over to Clingman’s Dome (just about at the spot where Tennessee and North Carolina meet in Great Smoky Mountains National Park) to celebrate the success of Trails Forever. Several years ago, the Aslan Foundation gave $2 million dollars to the Park in memory of Lindsay Young to fund the perpetual maintenance of the Park’s trails. Lindsay loved the Park and was at two of our benefit weekends @ The Swag for Friends of the Smokies. The goal was to have others match the $2 million. Well, the others did! So, yesterday, with the van that has the Trails Forever logo on it and the contents ready to go where needed to maintain the trails, the RIBBON was CUT to perpetually fund our trails! Present were many of those people who dedicate time to lead hikes and maintain the trails; Frank and Whit Addicks, Danny Bernstein, Joan Cronan, Stan & Sam McGroom, Richard and Debbie Way, Jack E. Williams, Sam and Jody Curtis, Janice and Bill Shepherd and Missy Kane.

Storyteller Donald Davis Returns To The Swag

Wow! What a week we have had with Donald.  Wednesday night we had several couples who — for very understandable reasons — opted to go back to their rooms.  So, Donald and Merle sat with us and Donald around the three sofas and he told us how he became a story-teller.  If you plan to be  here when Donald returns, be sure to ask him to tell you about this.  Thursday night we learned why he is not named Joe.  (His father was a Joe and his brother is a Joe.)  I have always wondered, but never got around to asking him.

We have a full house this weekend — with lots of returning Swaggers.  On Sunday night (a first for Memorial Day     weekend)  we are having a cook-out and the Hill Country Band.  It doesn’t get any better than that.  And, of course, we will have one last night of Donald’s fabulous stories.

Food and Fellowship at The Swag
What a treat to have a New York friend and her siblings (brother from Highlands Falls, NC, and sister from Seattle, WA) here for our Wednesday picnic at Gooseberry Knob. It was their first visit to The Swag, and I so enjoyed showing them some of the rooms and the Chestnut Lodge. What a glorious day we Swaggers had eating the delectable burgers, salads, desserts and sipping our root beer floats in the spring air.

This was only our second Wednesday picnic of the season. It has been too cold or too rainy. So it was a treat for all of the staff and guests to be able to see the brand new greens of leaves and grass in the valley below.

Exploring the Trails
We had a number of first time guests this week who loved walking the trails with Michael Pelton and Tamra Willis and gleaning their depth of knowledge. Using a plethora of pelts and skulls from furry mammals, Michael gave us a treasure trove of information about the black bear (and all the bears of the world).

What’s Blooming at The Swag
Spring is definitely here. The flame azaleas are budded and hinting at what colors they will be when they bloom in a the coming weeks. Blueberries are blooming. The new galax leaves are waxy and glorious — so, of course, they are gracing the soap dishes of Swag guest lavatories. The mountain laurels, like the flame azaleas, are ready to bloom when the time is right. Hybrid rhododendrons are aglow around all of our buildings. Their native cousins will grace the woodlands in a few weeks. The greenbrier tips are tender and tasty. The squaw root is tall and budded.

Celebrations at The Swag
We had a couple drive over from Asheville this week — just for one night — to celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary. They called it an “in town vacation.” They were delighted to enjoy Gail’s Room, and we were so pleased to be a part of their celebration.

This weekend we are hosting a three-day family gathering which brings together four generations (the youngest is just months old) for reflection, business, hiking, yoga and dining. Dan officiated at the weddings of three couples in this family, so it is very much a treat to have them with us. The van arrived at noon on Thursday with cribs and bouncy seats, along with all manner of new and colorful things that the baby industry has come up with since our kids were born. We are so complimented that they chose The Swag as the place where their family would spend time together.

It doesn’t get any better than today at The Swag!

By: Deener Matthews 

“Over the Christmas holidays, our family went over to Pigeon Forge to see the highly-touted Titanic.  It is a WOW!”.

Crowds are controlled, so that you can really see the items he has collected.  When you enter the museum, you are given a card with the name of a Titanic passenger.  It is not until you exit — a good hour or so later — that you find out whether your person survived.

We had the opportunity to meet John Joslyn, the man behind this magnificent creation just before we went in.

We learned that we can save traffic time by driving over from The Swag on I-40 to the Maryville, TN exit.  Titanic is on the near side of Pigeon Forge to I-40.  Actually, it is a museum that really immerses you in the dreadful event without horror, but definitely awe.

So, for our Swag guests who want a richly rewarding experience, Dan and I give it a heads-up.  I guess it would be best to go on non-holiday days, before school gets out. April, May, September and November would be excellent times to take a days drive over there.