Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
4.5
About
A community of artists and artisans selling their wares where you can find everything from basket weaving, to painting and metal smithing.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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36 within 3 miles
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122 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,591 reviews
Excellent
963
Very good
389
Average
161
Poor
54
Terrible
24
Devineone
Port Stanley, Canada67 contributions
Nov 2019
We stopped there in mid-November, 2019, a slow time of year. About 2/3 of the spaces were occupied. Those that were there had very well-done works ranging from paintings, carvings to embellished glass and lamps. Definitely woth stopping in to ssee what appeals to you.
Written February 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BJohnston07
Greenville, SC6 contributions
Feb 2023
Was unable to visit all the stores and several were closed, but my children and I thoroughly enjoyed Into the West Leather and the Hills Creek Gallery. Into the West Leather had very reasonable prices and all of the products are made in the shop from start to finish. You can feel the quality when you touch their products. Hills Creek Gallery was a great stop for photos of black bears (my kids enjoyed noticing the that bear cubs did a lot of the same activities my boys do). They also had glass items and jewelry, all very well crafted and not kitschy. It was a joy to interact with the owners at both of these locations.
Also, Rocky Flats Potter & Soap had some of the best smelling soap and hand balm I've ever smelled. The scents were fragrant without being over-powering. They were quite affordable too.
Also, Rocky Flats Potter & Soap had some of the best smelling soap and hand balm I've ever smelled. The scents were fragrant without being over-powering. They were quite affordable too.
Written February 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandradonohue52
Henrico, VA52 contributions
Jun 2020
Drove through the entire route. Some were still closed due to COVID 19, but most were open. Beautiful artisian works where available, but I didn't feel I could be $250 for a wooden bowl. If I paid that much, I would never use it. Worthwhile trip and we purchased smaller items.
Written June 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hbhakh
Roanoke, VA2,264 contributions
Nov 2020
The loop that includes the arts/crafts community is an easy drive outside Gatlinburg, away from all the traffic. There are a variety of small shops/strip malls with nice merchandise. Most are open. It's worth a couple of hours.
Written November 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chanelle B
Fort Wayne, IN23 contributions
Jul 2022
There's a lot in the area, but lots of stopping and going, and the main road is so windy, thats its hard to slow down to decide whether or not you want to stop somewhere without someone tailgating you. We passed by several times because we were staying at an airbnb in this area, but the shops were closed a lot of the times we wanted to stop, so that was a bummer. The places we did stop at were pretty bland and more geared towards the older crowd. My teenager was DEFINITELY not impressed. I think I bought a couple candles and thats about it. I LOVE art and always want to support local artisans, I just think the hours of operation and locations may be lacking here. Was hoping for more diverse, eclectic and modern art but that was not the case. I found more interesting things on the Parkway strip.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WIpaintchip
Custer, WI315 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Stopped in late at the Arts and Crafts community. It was about 3:00 p.m. on a Monday rushed through shops still open. Sliver Finger Carvings was locking up for the day but allowed us in to look around.
Met the most interesting wood carver who shared her knowledge of a invasive tree we have been seeing near our Airbnb which turns out it is a coveted wood for carving. We were also interested in wildlife viewing opportunities and she gave us the recent hot spots in the Arts and Crafts community. We ended up talking to Sarah for about a hour....
Met the most interesting wood carver who shared her knowledge of a invasive tree we have been seeing near our Airbnb which turns out it is a coveted wood for carving. We were also interested in wildlife viewing opportunities and she gave us the recent hot spots in the Arts and Crafts community. We ended up talking to Sarah for about a hour....
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael B
New Jersey859 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
This is not a "place" but a very large area in this location on a number of different roads. Phone access is spotty, so WAZE may not work. The reason I keep a GPS in the car!Some of the stores are clumped together, some are homes, down an unpaved driveway. Most of the items are hand made, one of a kind gifts/products. From beautiful stain glass (that unpaved driveway) to multiple handmade gifts at the Highland Craft Gallery or the pottery and 3 large multiple stores locations with food/drinks/bathrooms. Hours off season vary by location. Sundays they may be closed. Unfortunately no way to tell if the location is open. Some locations have flags, some you just have to guess.
Written October 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skeeter58
Wellsboro, PA31 contributions
Aug 2021
We weren't able to stop at many of the shops but those we did were excellent. Owners/craft persons were friendly and willing to share information on their craft. Highly recommend the dulcimer shop (one of our group tried the banjo and got a good lesson), another got helpful information about her dulcimer. We stopped at the Hills Creek shop 3 times making a purchase each time. The Rose Petal shop was another great shop. All three of us bought sometime and he customized out pieces.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dothightower
Decatur, AL78 contributions
Oct 2019
I've been going to the Smokies since 1959, but have missed a few years. I love visiting the Arts and Crafts community and normally go there each year. There are many vendors, places to eat, have a picnic, or just whatever you like.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nancy e
6 contributions
Aug 2023
We painted watercolors with Jann Pseito in what turned out to be a private instruction and she was delightful. We learned so much and had a lot of fun creating our masterpieces. We went around to the other shops and bought a lot of wonderful, unusual things.
Written August 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am looking for the heavy, handmade of cotton yarn potholders. They never wear out, but I have given so many of mine to treasured friends that I need replacements. They are THE GREATEST.
Written September 7, 2022
The place my wife has been shopping at for years is located in the "Village" down in town - It is in the back side of the Village as you travel around - They are very reasonable and have a great selection of everything silver! You would love it......have never seen a jewelry store out in the Craft area.
Written January 16, 2020
We ran into a few shops that were closed during the week but looked like it may have just been a vacation day for them or something. They all seem to set their own hours even in a mall type area. Most were open until 5 at least. I just suggest if making a special trip to a specific store you might call and make sure they are open. We were stopping back by the day we left, only to find one of the galleries we visited 2 days earlier was closed, so I guess we wait until next time. It's a great little area and we enjoyed it.
Written November 1, 2019
I will be visiting the 8 mile loop of the GSM art community this weekend. Is there plenty of parking nearby? I noticed a lot of trolley stops and was just wondering how easy it was to park near the places you wish to visit.
Written September 12, 2019
Each shop has its own parking, usually right in front. Parking should not be a problem. Traffic is pretty light out on this loop, also. We noticed, at Christmas, that there are several fields/wide spots that have Christmas lights/displays.
Written January 17, 2020
Knoxville, TN airport will be the closest, but Nashville (BNA) is an international airport that is about 4 hours away and will usually be cheaper to fly into if you plan on renting a car either way.
There are also airports in Asheville, NC and Raleigh, NC as well.
Written September 13, 2019
does any know where in Gatlinburg they still make cornhusk dolls? Does anyone remember the store The Human Touch handcrafters
Written June 30, 2019
I don't remember seeing that during our stay in June.
Written July 4, 2019
We are going in June of 2019 can you still make your own pottery there?
Written April 13, 2019
Yes you can. Almost every shop that makes pottery has classes but only certain days of the week. You have to check with each one
Written April 14, 2019
Where do you recommend eating nearby?
Written October 7, 2018
There is a restaurant kinda hidden in the first set of 5 shops on the right as you cone off the highway from town. I'm sorry I don't know the name but it's family owned and operated and they have awesome BBQ.
Written October 8, 2018
How far is this community from Pigeon Forge?
Written August 18, 2018
It’s on the north end if Gatlinburg-so probably half an hour.
Written August 23, 2018
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