GRADE IN THE NATIONS FIRST CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY OF INDEPENDENT,
PRIVATELY-OWNED PARKS
There was only 21 Campgrounds and RV resorts across the country to earn an all around A grade in the nations first consumer satisfaction survey of independent parks.
Misty River Cabins & RV Resort was the ONLY Campground or RV Resort in Tennessee to receive an A grade in overall guest satisfaction for the year 2008
The top parks were announced by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. Nearly 13,000 camping and RV enthusiasts participated in the 2008 online survey, which evaluated guest experiences at independent campgrounds and RV resorts affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Camping and RV enthusiasts didnt hold back when it came to telling us which parks they liked and which ones needed improvements, said Bob MacKinnon, president and CEO of GuestRated.com, the Murrieta, Calif.-based company that conducted the online survey. MacKinnon added that GuestRated.com provides guest satisfaction surveys for roughly half of the nations private parks. Consumers are invited to submit their own reviews of private campgrounds and RV resorts they have recently visited by logging on to and clicking on the Review a Park tab.
Survey results for many parks are posted on the GoCampingAmerica website.
You can see the list of the 21 Campground or RV Resort by go to: .
Synchronous fireflies
Around mid-June (the 7th through the 14th) each year.
Synchronous fireflies (Photinus carolinus) are one of 14 species of fireflies that live in
Great Smoky Mountains National Park . They are the only species in
America whose individuals can synchronize their flashing light patterns.
Fireflies (also called lightning bugs) are beetles. They take from one to two years to mature from larvae, but will live as adults for only about 21 days. Their light patterns are part of the adulthood mating display. Each species of firefly has characteristic flash pattern that helps its male and female individuals recognize each other. Most species produce a greenish-yellow light; one species has a bluish light. The males fly and flash and the usually stationary females respond with a flash. Peak flashing for synchronous fireflies in the park is normally within a two-week period in mid-June.
The production of light by living organisms is called bioluminescence. Many species of insects and marine creatures are capable of it. Fireflies combine the chemical luciferin and oxygen with the enzyme luciferase in their lanterns (part of their abdomens) to make light. The chemical reaction is very efficient and produces little or no heat.
No one is sure why the fireflies flash synchronously. Competition between males may be one reason: they all want to be the first to flash. Or perhaps if the males all flash together they have a better chance of being noticed, and the females can make better comparisons. The fireflies do not always flash in unison. They may flash in waves across hillsides, and at other times will flash randomly. Synchrony occurs in short bursts that end with abrupt periods of darkness.
Light Show Etiquette 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.
Do not catch the fireflies.
Stay on the trail at all times.
Pack out all of your garbage.
We have been asked if we knew who took over the warranty work for the campers that Kathys sold. So we fired up our crystal ball, Debbie and Sharon wore out the phone lines and even got blisters on there dialing fingers to find the answerer. at 4723 Clinton Hwy in Knoxville has taken over the service work for Kathys. Ph#. 865-688-4733
Memorial Day weekend is starting to fill up fast, so please make your reservations early. Just give us a call at 865-981-4300 and we will be happy to save you a site. We still have a few sites that we can keep your group together if you book early.
As for reservations this year, we are taking more reservations this year than we did last year at this same time. It looks like many families are taking shorter, more frequent weekend trips, but not going as far as they did last year and staying closer to home. RV trips still remain the most affordable way for a family to go on vacation because of the significant savings on hotel and restaurant costs.
When you go camping, you find the night sky full of brilliant stars that you can actually point out the constellations to your kids. Marshmallows stuck on sticks, bubbling over a campfire. The chocolate gooey-goodness of a real smores and great family time that you just cant get when you are jammed up in a hotel room. And let me tell you the last time I tried to light a campfire and make smores in my hotel room, boy oh boy did housekeeping get mad at me! Just take my word and dont try it yourself.
See you under the stars.
Diane & Jimmy Felton
3.9
Rallies
April 18th,2009
Second Harvest Food Bank of
East TN Benefit Campout.
Camping fees will be a donation of $10.00 per site with all the proceeds going to Second Harvest.
April 25th & 26th . Sportsmobile Rally
Apr. 24 & 25, 2009 Airstream Club East Tennessee Unit of WBCCI May 1st & 2ed, 2009
Vintage Camper Rally in the Smokies 2009
The rally dates are from Thursday May 14 till Sunday May 17, 2009 and is open to anyone who likes vintage campers. You do know that one day even your new RV will become a vintage camper. So come join in the fun!
Airstream Club
Sept. 17th & 18th, 2009
East Tennessee Unit of WBCCI
Oct. 22-24, 2009 TENNESSEE TRAVELERS Rally FMCA
Nov. 20 & 21,2009
K-Town Sam's
Local Events
May 1st 17th Townsend Spring Festival & Old Timers Day.
May 15-17
Trout Fest
Troutfest is a Fly Fishing Exposition and Fundraiser held in Townsend , Tennessee in the
Great Smoky Mountains . All profits earned from this event minus some seed money for next years event are donated to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department
SmokyMountain Pottery Festival:
Friday, June 5, noon--7:00pm and Saturday, June 6, 2009 9:00am--5:00pm. Enjoy the work of skilled artisans and see pottery being made at this juried show with 35 booths. Featured guest potters are Melissa Maney and Peter Rose. There will be demonstrations, a special firing, children's tent, music, and good food. An officially sanctioned event of the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. See our new Festivala website:
ChristyFest
June 17--21, 2009, Valley View Lodge in Townsend, TN. Join enthusiasts of the book and movie Christy, with talks, storytelling, field trips, and more. For details, go to
Synchronous fireflies
Around mid-June (the 7th through the 14th) each year.
