The Swag

Since 1944, Smokey Bear has been a symbol of safety and fire prevention.  Tomorrow, in celebration of Smokey’s 67 birthday, the Cradel of Forestry is hosting a birthday party from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with a full schedule of activities including music, fire fighting equipment demonstrations, prize drawings and birthday cake.  At 1:30 the party moves indoors for a live animal program presented by Carolina Mountain Naturalists.  Meet native amphibians, reptiles, and birds and learn about their lives in Smokey’s woods.

The Cradel of Forestry is located in the Pisgah National Forest about an hours drive from The Swag, which would make it the perfect day trip for any Swagger looking to get out and explore western NC.

This photo is located upstairs in the Swag House photo gallery.

Did you know?..The concept of Smokey Bear was created by Dan’s uncle Richard Hammatt, how’s that for a little Swag history.

On Saturday, July 31, two more Swag staffers were married.  Over the past 30 years, there have been several Swag employees who have met and married at The Swag. The first was Bobbie Jean Rathbone and Kenny Haney (Bobbie Jean was a waitress and Kenny a dishwasher).  They met when The Statler Brothers were @ The Swag for a week doing an hour-long television special.  Next, Bobbie Jean’s uncle, Roger Rathbone — our caretaker for 30 years – married Barbara, a Swag housekeeper.  The next Swag joining came when Dan officiated at the wedding of longtime assistant innkeeper, Mindy Cole to Terry Wood.  They were married in the Great Room of the Swag House.

The most recent wedding took place last Saturday.  Amy Farrington and Kevin Rowsey have been working at The Swag for three+ years — Kevin first in our front office, then as a waiter and houseman, and Amy as a housekeeper.  The word is that it all got started when they were seated together at the  Swag’s end of season dinner celebration at The Old Stone Inn last November! The wedding took place at 4:00 in the afternoon on a crystal-clear Swag day in the Gazebo on Gooseberry Knob.  It was a team affair.  Our new gardener, McRae, made the nosegay out of Swag garden flowers and Ginger, our executive housekeeper, made the boutonierre for Kevin.  The couple shared this special event with parents and Amy’s two children.  Mark Higdon and Angie Leatherwood made it all work smoothly, with drives up to the Knob in the Land Rover for both families.

Interested in having a Swag wedding of your own here at 5,000 feet?  Visit our website for all the details and wedding package information.

Local musicians, and a Swag favorite, The Hill Country Band, will become a regular fixture here on the mountain beginning on July 28th and will return to The Swag on the first Thursday of each month the remainder of the 2011 season.   This bluegrass group which has performed at The Swag over the past several years, most noteably during our yearly Independence Day celebrations, seemed to be the perfect fit for our weekly Thursday night Chef’s BBQ.  Dates of all Hill Country appearances are listed below.

Thursday, July 28th

Thursday, August 4th

Thursday, September 1st

Sunday, September 4th (special Labor Day BBQ)

Thursday, October 6th

Thursday, November 3rd

While The Swag serves dinner seven nights a week, on Thursdays, guests are treated to our fabulous BBQ dinner buffet, including savory meats, fish, assorted salads, fresh baked breads, seasonal vegetables, sumptuous desserts, and your beverage of choice. This bountiful buffet is served on our porch, with magnificent mountain views as a backdrop.  As always, dinner is included for all overnight Swaggers with reservations being taken for other folks not staying up on the mountain.  We hope to welcome you up one Thursday evening this season for good food, great music, and high mountain hospitality here at 5,000 feet.

The North Carolina Arboretum, located in Asheville, will kick off it’s 25th Anniversary celebration this Friday, July 1st.  The festivities at the Arboretum, located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway(mile post 393) and NC Hwy. 191, will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue throughout the day ending at 9:00 p.m.

Activities and entertainment for all ages are scheduled throughout the day, including a free evening concert. In addition, parking fees will be waived the day of the event – good enough reason to come out!   Some activities include geocaching, heritage hike and 5K time trials where runners will enjoy a scenic route through the Arboretum property.  More information is located at the Arboretum’s website or by calling 828.665.2492.

With the Arboretum only 35 miles from The Swag, a day trip for this celebration would be a fun filled day for any Swagger.

Both the National Park Service in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, as well as the U.S. Forest Service, have recently reported black bear encounters in both the Smokies, Pisgah National Forest, and along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  These reports always get The Swag team, as well as our guests, excited with the posibility of seeing bears here at 5,000 feet.  Several Swaggers, have already spotted a variety of wildlife here on the mountain with almost weekly sightings of a momma black bear and cubs.  Black bear cubs usually come in pairs and at least four have been seen at one time on the driveway.  Other wildlife already spotted this season include wild turkey, grouse, a variety of song birds, humming birds, chipmunks and even the illusive bobcat.

Swaggers should be reminded that approaching within 50 yards (150 feet), or any distance that disturbs or displaces bear or elk is prohibited. In addition, feeding, touching, teasing, frightening, or intentionally disturbing wildlife is prohibited anywhere inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to prevent bear interactions by taking the following steps:

• Clean up food or garbage around fire rings, grills or other areas of your campsite.
• Keep food in secure containers and do not leave food unattended.
• If bear-proof containers are not available, store food and garbage inside a hard-top vehicle or trailer.
• Never store food inside of a tent.
• Wipe tabletops clean before vacating a camp or picnic site.
• If a bear is observed nearby, pack up your food and trash immediately and vacate the area ASAP. If you encounter a bear – never run. Back up slowly and make noise so the bear knows you’re there.

This Black Bear Was Spotted Near The Swag Garden In 2010.

Speaking of black bears, don’t forget that coming up later this season, Dr’s. Michael Pelton & Tamra Willis return for another week of  “Black Bears & Unhuggables”, October 30th through November 6th.  Dr. Pelton is the foremost authority on the North American black bear and his talks and hikes are not to be missed.  For more information on this, or any other Swag events, be sure to visit our Special Event Calendar at TheSwag.com.

We all remember growing up watching fireflies, catching them, maybe evening putting them in a jar to make your own natural lantern.  Well, this is the time of year here in the Smokies when one has the opportunity to see the synchronous fireflies, or Photinus carolinus, one of the 14 species of fireflies in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  This is the only species in America that can synchronize their flashing light pattern; the only other place in the world is southeast Asia.

Swag guests have the opportunity to enjoy this rare phenomenon while visiting the Smokies this week in at least two locations, Cataloochee and Elkmont.  Cataloochee Valley Tours has confirmed synchronous sightings down in the valley, while the City of Gatlinburg has partnered with the national park to provide shuttle service between Sugarlands Visitor Center and Elkmont nightly through June 12th for viewing.

Light Show Viewing Tips
Flashlights disrupt the fireflies and impair people’s night vision. The light show is best when you:

• Cover your flashlight with red or blue cellophane.
• Use your flashlight only when walking to your viewing spot.
• Point your flashlight at the ground.
• Turn off your flashlight when you find your viewing spot.

So whether you have the opportunity to view the synchronous variety here in the Smokies or just get out and watch lightning bugs in your own back yard, be sure to get out and enjoy the cool spring evenings as the summer heat will be here before you know it.

For the first time in history of the event, the U.S. Fly-Fishing Championships will be held in the Southeast. More importantly, it’s right in The Swag’s backyard just over the mountain in Cherokee. This weekend, 60 competitors converge on Western North Carolina rivers for the four-day event beginning with this evening’s opening ceremonies in Bryson City. Anglers will hit several rivers at the crack of dawn Friday morning, including Calderwood Resevoir, both the Lower and Upper Nantahala Rivers, Cherokee Trophy Waters of the Raven’s Fork River and Tuckasegee River. Spectators are welcome to watch all the action for free with morning and afternoon sessions both Friday and Saturday with a morning session on Sunday.

The Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary) is an easy drive and day-trip from The Swag with a lot to see and do, including the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and Oconoluftee Indian Village. Cherokee is also one of the major gateway communities to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Swag also has half-day guided fly-fishing trips available for Swaggers to put their skills to the test. For more information on fly-fishing or other Swag add-ons, contact The Swag front office staff at 800.789.7672.

Local author, Danny Bernstein, recently completed the Mountain-to-Sea Trail which stretches nearly 1,000 miles.  Starting at Clingmons Dome, the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and treking clear across the Tar Heel State ending up at the highest sand dune on the East Coast in Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the North Carolina Outer Banks.  Bernstein, who has frequented The Swag for book signings and readings, started her hike in October 2009 and finished in earlier this month.

The MST, which is still in it’s infancy, is a combination of  footpaths, roads and bike routes and changes often as more of the trail becomes established.  Danny’s hike took here over 985 miles in 78 hiking days.

Way to go Danny!  We hope to welcome you back here to 5,000 feets real soon.

Severe weather that blew through Great Smoky Mountains National Park on April 27th, damaged several trails within the northwestern section of the park near the Cades Cove area.  Trail cleanup has already begun with hopes to have many of the trails reopened by the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  National park trails around The Swag, including the Cataloochee Divide Trail, were not affected by this storm.

Swaggers continue to get out on the trail and enjoy popular hikes to Hemphill Bald and Purchase Knob, among others.  Several have been out and enjoyed the cooler temps that came through the area after the storm. Many  reported seeing several wildflowers already in bloom including Solomon seal, common cinquefoil, squaw root, wood anemone and ephemerals.

This week at The Swag, guests have the opportunity to join special event leaders Doug & Kathy Peters as they lead hikes each morning.  Next week, renowned storyteller Donald Davis returns to The Swag for his popular “Walks and Talks.”  Be sure to visit The Swag’s special event calendar for all upcoming special events.

The holiday weekend is upon us and so many things have been happening here at The Swag in preparation for Monday’s opening of our 30^th season.  Staff orientation was held this past Monday afternoon followed by departmental training.  We have a great mix of returnees and newcomers which we feel all you Swaggers will enjoy getting to know during your visit here on the mountain.

As mentioned in a previous blog, the tree house received somewhat of a facelift with final touches being applied this weekend.  A new tin roof is being installed, a last minute addition, in which you will be able to enjoy your Picnic-To-Go shaded from the sun.

Chef Matthew has been working with his staff, as well as local vendors, to provide sustainable culinary dishes that are sure to delight.

Some new technology has found its way into the Front Office as now our outside dinner guests will be able to book meals online through TheSwag.com via OpenTable.  They even have a smart phone application, check it out.  Also, for those of you that are point junkies, The Swag has partnered with Stash Hotel Rewards.  This is a brand new program where you can earn points for your stay here at 5,000 feet, or at over one hundred other independent properties across the U.S.  Sign up today!

Many of you may have noticed a couple of schedule changes to our Special Event Calendar as our birding and wildlife expert Dr. Bob Collier and his wife Louise were unable to make their spring visits.  While we are looking forward to their return in August, Deener has been hard at work to secure a replacement special event leader for next week.  We are pleased to announce that Esther Blakely of Cataloochee Valley Tours will be leading Swaggers on hikes during opening week.

With our 30^th season just around the corner, it was nice to see The Swag featured in a recent issue of Charleston Style & Design magazine as well as being chosen as one of the most authentic and unique hotels in the eastern U.S. by National Geographic Traveler 2011 Stay List.  Also, we’d like to remind you that the online ballot is now available for the Conde Nast 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards and we encourage you to log on and vote for your favorite mountain hideaway.

Have a great weekend and happy Easter!