I grew up on this property. My great grandfather was Andrew "Andy" Huff. Pretty much the whole family and extended family were deeply saddened with the loss of the mountain view hotel. I enjoyed your film very much. I actually still own a small percentage of this land that was given to me by my grandmother. The tract of land is about 24 acres and the top is accessible by way of silver bell lane in Gatlinburg. If you have "Spielberg" level of success one day, come rebuild the old mountain view for us :) Thanks for sharing your work.
Huff family still owns or did own the hampton inn on the parkway, which is one of only a few open breezeway hampton hotels left in the world. Opened in 1937, to this day its still a nice place and well kept. The Huff family are very very well known to the town of Gatlinburg 👍
The Mountain View was a wonderful place. So many memories. I am also a Gatlinburg native, and I mourn the loss of the Mountain View. Your aunt Sue taught my father and me and my siblings.
I can't imagine the loss you and your family must feel... what a wonderful and beautiful piece of history. I am happy to hear it's still in your family. I grew up and still live in hamblen and jefferson counties, not too far away, and I have always visited and loved gatlinburg. We are losing our history, landmarks, and natural landscapes at an alarming rate. If I had the ability or influence I would save, restore, and/or rebuild them all in their former glory. ❤️ As an artist who loves history, nostalgia, and historical architecture, I hope to contribute to that effort as much as possible with the time I have left on this Earth. I would love to see you get your old mountain view back! 😊
I am a history buff. Of all the videos I have seen about old places----- this one is tops. I loved the way it was presented form pass to present. These places want be around forever. Its what we used to be and how we started. Thanks
I am a newer resident of Knoxville and enjoy learning about the past in and around this beautiful area of TN. I just watched your beautiful homage to a bygone era. I plan to visit very soon, just because I watched your video. Thank you so much.
I loved going here when I was a kid. It was the highlight of my year every summer vacation. I remember my grandfather on the chairlift behind us singing love songs to my grandmother as loud as he could.
After making my first visit to the Smokies on my honeymoon in 1984, my famiy has made many trips back, and Gatlinburg never looks the same, even from year to year. I find it very sad that many of the places we loved to visit are now gone. Bob's Big Boy restaurant, which was there in '84, was turned into a parking lot just a few years later. Now there's an aquarium in its place. In more recent years, The Acorn, which had been doing business in Gatlinburg for many, many years, finally shut down. Ogle's Buffet, gone. Stewart''s Drugs, gone. Battle's Grocery, gone. The Mom and Pop places are quickly dwindling, and the chains are taking over. I miss the old Gatlinburg. This video was nicely done, and I thank you for bringing to the attention of others what I've been seeing for years.
BOB S BIG BOY IS WHERE NO WAY JOSE MEXICAN CANTINA IS TODAY IN THE SAME BUILDING THERE WAS A PARKING LOT WHERE THE AQURIUM SITS AND AN OLD HOTEL WHERE THE PARKING GARAGE SITS NOW BOBS LATER MOVED TO AIRPORT RD AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS
I agree, I know very little about old Gatlinburg but living here, I've been disgusted of what it's turned into but it isn't all bad. But seeing old pictures and videos, seems to be that back then everything was pretty and very interesting, now, there's literally 35 stores that sell the SAME t-shirts as a tourist trap, atleast 12 different moonshine, whiskey, beer, wine stores. Seems to be that this town is turning to t shirts and shine!
I know things enevitably change and Gatlinburg was no exception. This town has turned from a personal experience, to a commercial experience. It sucks but hey I still love living here but won't forever. The foreigners are buying up land and building businesses that cater to tourists. Soon even the local artists will fade out...then as a town it will be nothing it once was
It always ignites my imagination to see videos like this. I think of all the people that worked there, and all the tourists who visited there, and the bustling life that preoccupied the area at one time, and then suddenly "nothing." I also enjoy very much looking at the old photos of people who were there and seeing the style of clothes they wear, and how the women looked back then. Also seeing the vintage old cars etc. Nice to see you take the time to incorporate all that stuff in your video to give it the proper feel. Great video Jordan.
+Grant P yes it is i live here still been my home since i was born i love going and exploring this stuff all the time you relly got to visit sometime:)
@@jordanlilesI know you filmed the fun mountain video almost 10 years ago. But if you remember when you climbed that hill with the path you found when you couldn't go any farther how far of a dropoff was that hill. I tried going up that same path that you did but 10 years later it is completely filled in with trees.
See , that's what you do if you want to explore abandon places. You do research tell the whole story, or as whole as you can, and honor it. Not like some of these yahoo's who think nothing of going in, poking fun, not trying to understand the history or historical significance of the sight. Thank you for putting together a thoughtful piece. My wife and I love going to Gatlinburg and knew nothing of this place . "Progress" can be very sad if not thought thru. Be careful and God Bless.
+Spawn 1960 Thanks! I'm glad you respect the way I made the video. I think if you check out Tennessee Wonderland you will love it too! Link: th-cam.com/video/zfaTpunhJRs/w-d-xo.html.
I rode this very sky lift with my dad when I was about 9 years old. Even have photos of me & him on it. Thanks for the video...brought back alot of memories.
Stunning! I like knowing the history of these abandoned places-and it appears that greed trumps history over and over again. Sad that such a beautiful place was basically destroyed for nothing.
So cool it’s so sad when people just walk away.then nature slowly takes back what we took from her.it almost haunting to watch.so cleverly put together really took me back in time .its people like you that keep it alive .well done.from the United Kingdom.
I am not from Gatlinburg, but it is the one place that feels like home. Thank you for sharing, I am always interested in learning more about Gatlinburg.
In 1963, my 5th grade class in Knoxville was part of a pilot education program. Our class was bussed to Gatlinburg and the teaching methods were demonstrated to a meeting of top educators at the Mountain View Hotel. That afternoon the educators seemed to be preoccupied with something else, leaving the room and whispering amongst themselves. It was only when we returned to school late that Friday afternoon that us 10 year olds were told the reason for all the distraction. The date was November 22. The images of that hotel on that day are still firmly ingrained in my memory almost 53 years later.
Ken Smith Wow. Just, wow. A double whammy for you. The slow disappearance of an iconic getaway, and the instantaneous moment when a light went out forever. Both events changed us forever.
Fantastic! We have vacationed in the Smokies since I was a small boy, I am 67 now. We also have a cabin in Sevierville, but i love the pics and backround you discovered about "Fun Mountain" which I actually was at once when open, but never went on the chairlift to see what was at the top! Amazing photography and editing, beautiful piece, thank you.
Great video and research on it I had almost forgotten it all Myself and its a shame they couldnt preserve the chairlift and amusement park or restore it,such a loss.Good work on this find!
Wow I remember fun mountain. I was little when it was in operation. One of those women in the pictures of the old hotel I swear was my great grandmother. Awesome thank you so much for sharing this!!!!
ihawk424 Thank you for watching! I ask if possible that you share the video around with friends and family in the area. Currently I am spending a little bit of advertising money on TH-cam to get the video to show to more people in the area, so I am glad you got to see it!
ihawk424 I live in West Tennessee (proud Tennessean all my life), and own a Westgate timeshare unit that, sadly, was completely destroyed by the late fall 2016 wildfires (determined to be arson). The mountains continue to beckon; Westgate is rebuilding; we're planning on returning there in 2018! Jordan Liles has definitely sparked my exploring spirit, and I appreciate and thank him for the awesome work he does on all his productions.
I was here just a few days ago. I remember this area well- always wanted to ride the ferris wheel that used to be here. We rode the sky lift instead- hadn't been on it in years. While there is still a lot to do in Gatlinburg, many of the places I loved when I was young are gone now. Thanks for this- I wish I could have gone with you!
Mr Liles , I am a native of Tennessee and lived here my entire life. I never knew that place existed. While I was watching your video when one of my coworkers told me that his aunt worked there while attending UT Knoxville in the early 50's. What a neat informative video. Thanks for your efforts.
Very cool. Type "picturing the smokies" into Google and you'll find a place to order a DVD that has interviews with Mountain View Hotel staff from sometime in the 50s or 60s, so maybe your coworker's aunt was interviewed. It's a good DVD.
I want to thank you for the effort you put into following up on the history of Fun Mountain and the hotel that once stood there. I live in Greeneville, TN, also a very historic place, and it is about an hour from Gatlinburg. I never knew about the lost hotel nor the abandoned park that now resides there. It's such a shame that the old hotel couldn't be appreciated for what it was. Now, the area has so grown so much to stimulate all the people that find relaxing on a porch in the mountains boring...Next time I am down there, I'm gonna try to find it for myself.
Really enjoyed the tour of the chairlift and park. So many dreams of success. Like you, I love to explore and see whats around the next bend and the next bend.............Thank You!
I used to visit this place when I would visit Tennessee back in the days. This saddens me that this had to happen. I never knew about the history of the place till I watched your video. This video is the best i've seen so far. Thank you for posting.
That was a neat little film. Thank you for making it possible for me to see this once awesome place. It always makes me feel so sad to see these places the way they were and they way they are now. I am getting much to old to explore them myself, but thankfully there are people like you who can bring it to me so that I may enjoy it just a little before I pass. Thank you
Hi Elizabeth. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy my film. They're a bit shaky every now and then, but I hope that my interest in all of the history shined through for you!
Haunting images of times gone by. You should take this and throw a pitch to the travel channel. This type of film, researching the past abandoned places, would make for a great show
Sunday afternoon is a great time to watch one of my short films, like this one where I discover an abandoned theme park on the site of a historic hotel! Tennessee Mountain View: Exploring an Abandoned Chairlift in Gatlinburg #Gatlinburg #GSMNP #Sevierville #Memphis #Nashville #Tennessee #Knoxville
Can't watch it with the audio on. It put me to sleep. Your speculations and generalizations were comical however. "I think this is a hill, yep, it's a hill." REALLY?!?!
Fascinating. I have family from East Tennessee, and have spent time in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but never knew any of this history. Thank you for putting it together.
I remember seeing this when we went in 2015 (the chairlift). We were at a parking garage, about to walk to somewhere, and I look over the back and I see a completely empty chairlift with leaves and trees blocking a lot of it. Cool to know what it was! :) Nice video
Sarah Abston It is just east of the Ripley's aquarium. (Safe screenshot links of Google Maps ->) gyazo.com/12f385985316f917f6e1361509e088b0 This is the parking garage I mentioned up close, and you can see a circle to the left of it. That is the chairlift. In this one (gyazo.com/63880c71fa5e1877ab895ca58ee9b56d), the chairlift is in the very bottom corner (I rotated the map). Hopefully this one helps as it has the aquarium and a few restaurants. The parking garage is just north of it. A bigger picture (gyazo.com/a61b1d9c62db732907652ffc660b115a) shows the garage at the bottom center. This map shows the national park. Hopefully this helped!
I was Just There Over The Weekend 6-10 thru 613-2022 was parked in the same lot were the chir lift is and walked up to the tunnel. Unfortunately nothing has changed . thank you for a great history lesson. keep up the good work will be moving to the area really soon.
Thank you for portraying the decay of abandoned sites in a thought provoking way. I am currently attempting a still photography work regarding an old mining/lumber town and it's changes from the gold rush to today and your films have provided inspiration and ideas.
Thanks for the video. I worked there in 1994-95 when I was 21. The chair lift went up the mountain 1/3 of a mile. About 2/3 of the way up it crossed a valley that put you over 100 ft in the air. The view was spectacular. I got "treated" with a 45 min pause at that highest point my 1st day on the job when the lift broke down during its warm up that morning. (Did I mention I was scared of heights?) Anyway that brought back lots of memories. Thanks.
I just found this video. Thanks Jordon for your hard work and dedication. It was extremely informative and we never knew it existed even though we live in Tennessee and visit Gatlinburg often. Again Thanks!!!
Very Professional, Great Pics, I live in Memphis, have been going to Gatlinburg as per from when I was a kid. I have seen the change from a mountain village to a commercial money maker. Thanks
I hope you all enjoy the film. It's a bit long for a TH-cam video, but know that there's an interesting and perhaps unexpected turn of events in the ending. Watch the whole thing to get the complete experience.
Do you remember Magic World in Pigeon Forge? That was my favorite theme park as a kid. Every thing in it made you think you were in one of those 1950's science fiction movies about dinasaurs, flying, saucers, magic carpets, and anything else you can think of. You even had to go through a big volcano maze to get into the park. It made you think you were entering into another time and place. It was a mom and pop type business that you just don't see anymore.
I thank you very much for posting this. It breaks my heart seeing what we once were and what we have become. My Sevier Co. in unrecognizable from what I have loved so much. Mary T.
+Mary Thompson I feel ya sweetie. I'm from Knoxville and I remember going up to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg as a kid in the 70's and early 80's. It was such a fun family thing to do a couple of times a year. I remember Hillbilly Village was one of my favorite stops. I refuse to go up there now. That old timey mountain atmosphere is gone and replaced by a tourist money trap. It's overcrowded and traffic is always packed. I don't take my kids up there. It's all about making money now.
Great video ! Been going to Gatlinburg since I was in middle school and I'm 41 now . I remember seeing the park just above the parking garage but never visited it . Good bit history there ! I'll be there in a week and I'll make sure to point it all out to my daughter . Thanks again !
The lift looks like it was built by the Riblet Tramway Co. They were headquartered in Spokane, WA. There are tons of Riblet chairs from the 1960s-70s still running at ski areas up here in Washington. They were the best in the business and their lifts were built to last a century. If you hooked up electricity to this thing, I bet it would still run.
Thanks for the history lesson, Jordan. Love this neck of the woods. Always making room for new and improved items for visitors. But this was sad to watch
Mr.Liles, thank you for sharing this video. Very well done. I just got back from my first visit to Tennessee. I live in Southeast Texas. I rented a cabin I Wears Valley in Pigeon Forge. I visited Gatlinburg as well. I am still on a Smokey Mountain high so much so that im cotemplating moving there for retirement. The beauty and majesty of the mountains and the friendly people were wonderful, im definitely subscribing to your videos!
In my research of the place it seemed to be a smaller scale amusement park with carnival rides, as you can see later in the video. It wasn't to the scale of what Opryland USA used to be, or what Dollywood is now. That may be one reason why it eventually shut down. Thanks for watching!
I went to Fun Mountain quite a few times when it was operating. The pictures of that Ferris Wheel really brought back memories! Closed in 2001, has it really been 13 years ago?!? 2001 seems like last year! LOL I also remember when Fun Mountain got a Sling Shot ride, and it was pretty high up too, kinda like the one down at Myrtle Beach. It sucks that Fun Mountain went out of business, I missed going to it. It also sucks Magic World in Pigeon Forge closed in 1994. :( I used to love to ride the Spider ride that sat out front of the park. Now all you have is Dollywood & a few go-cart fun centers.
My sister married in Gatlinburg. Beautiful area. The only ski lift I saw was in operation, so it wasn’t this one obviously...but wish I had seen this one instead. LOVE abandoned stuff!
Thank you for this video and for the time and energy you put into obtaining the history. So many abandoned places leave you curious about why and what happened. Its good to know about this place.
Excellent!. Very well put together and presented. That spread was created just a year before I was born. Hard to believe they had cars that looked like that; & those bathing suits! What a riot. Brings back a lot of memories though. Sad what uncontrolled development had done. In the future, those towers & chairs will prove a safety hazard & will need to be taken down. I hope they do it soon enough & not denude the hillside, stripping of its vegetation just to get to the system. Thank you for the trip into the past and present.
Awww. so sad. Makes me wish I lived back then and could have gone to that old hotel!!! This was REALLY INTRIGUING!!! Thank you for making this! I used to live in TN back in 1988. Wish we could have seen this. Why didn't they save that carousel and the other things? They were so beautiful!!
what an amazing video. beautifully done. you are a truly gifted artist. thank you for sharing it with the world. I look forward to watching all the other videos.
I'll add one more thing. I and my parents rode that chair lift at Fun Mountain and one part of it , the seats were VERY high off of the ground! Thank God that thing held us up over that highest part that it passed over in those woods going up that hill and back down that hill! Of course, that was long before everything was grown up, weeds, and such like in the video. When we rode it, it was in the year ' 99 or 2000, I can't remember which year. I rode in a separate chair lift seat (alone), and my parents behind me. We were the only ones riding it by the way. lol
My son and i actually rode this chair lift when it was operation i cant remember the exact year,but it broke down while we on it,we where over the part that is at its highest off the ground, which as i remember was pretty high or seemed to be . we sat there for over an hour while it was repaired, was great time together takeing in the beauty around us.
It's really nice that someone other than myself wanted to know the history of this park. In the late 80's I rode that chair lift and it was quite an experience. After you reach the top of the mountain the lift crosses a deep deep deep gulley/valley. We all prayed we would never ride another chair lift if we lived to get off. I often wondered if something happened crossing that valley/gulley and that resulted in the closing. Very very very scarry. I was hoping you would make it to the top. I would love to see the huge deep gulley again without riding the chair lift. This was very informative. Thanks for the research.
Thanks! There's apparently a way to get to the top by roads, then all you have to do is walk 2-3 minutes to reach it, but it's private property. If you go I suggest you knock on the door and ask kindly if you can go look. I'm glad you liked the video!
This was an amazing video for me to watch. It wasn't ten days earlier that I was there staying for a few days. Thank you so much for making this video. I have a new favorite. lol
Jordan, this is amazing. I'm going to share this with the Knoxville group on Facebook. On my Dad's side we're from Sevier County, and I still have a lot of family there. I know they will love this.
+Denise Painter Thanks Denise. That would be nice. Did you simply find my video using TH-cam search, or did you find it because of an article? Sometimes I notice new viewers coming in because of a new article I haven't yet seen. Maybe through a Facebook page?
I love urbex. Do a little myself at times. I haven't done an amusement park yet but I'd like to, and like I said, I grew up near one of the biggest tourism areas in the country. Your video came up while watching abandoned amusement park videos.
WHAT A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL TO THE GREATNESS OF MENS THOUGHTS IN THE PAST AND HOW TODAY THE SEEKING OF WEALTH AND DOLLARS RUINS ARCHITECTURE AND WISE MENS SENSIBILITIES IN THESE THEY LOSE BRILLIANCE AND SUBLIME ART , A KEEN PHILOSOPHY WITH PHILANTHROPHY SO SAD REALLY THANKYOU FOR THIS OUTSTANDING VIDEO JORDAN
What an interesting, but sad story :( Whenever I see old photos like the ones you showed in your video, I get transported back to that time. I know it sounds tacky, but I would love a time machine to travel back to places like that just to experience the grandeur when they were at their height. At least we still have some photos, and that marvellous video of yours to remember them. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome video, love the ending 👍... and for future reference, most E-stop buttons push in and stay to shut off equipment. Then you have to pull them back out to reset the system 😉
Jordan, Wow.... thank you so much! I have no special attachment to this place, but like you, love exploring abandonments to photo and video document them and research the history. This video was heartbreaking. Anyway, thank you. I know this took a lot of time and research and want you to know how appreciated your efforts are by making this public. Many thanks!
That was really nicely shot and the score was amazing! It made me rather emotional as you quite literally brought this forgotten place back to life.... The editing was also fantastic! You should be proud of achievement sir!
It's on the left as you enter Gatlinburg. There will be a traffic light where you can either go right (around a curve) on into Gatlinburg, or take a left to go uphill. Go left, & this property is immediately on your right as you go up the hill. It looks like a vacant lot from below.
I miss the Smoky Mountains. They are beautiful, but in my opinion, the beauty is being quickly ruined by those cabins being built on the mountain sides. When millions of visitors come to the Smokies, they don't want to see houses, they want to see the mountains. Wonderful video, Jordan. I can't wait to see what other places you have visited.
It was called fun mountain it was my first job when I was 14 nice video bears use to come a lot to the top of the mountain where the chair lift ends good video
I drove through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge several years ago and I am not sure which of the cities it was but it was loaded with charmless attractions... sort of a family version of Las Vegas. Great video and I appreciate your respect for history.
Both those towns are tourist trap classics. These places still attract a lot of people, but the new generations are losing interest and want newer tech. I think there will always be a consumer base for places like this, but mostly limited to families with children 12ish and under. Once children reach the age of independence these days, they couldn't care less about most of the attractions in these places. Newer generations want higher thrills, more action, more intensity, more tech, otherwise they just play with their phones.
I grew up on this property. My great grandfather was Andrew "Andy" Huff. Pretty much the whole family and extended family were deeply saddened with the loss of the mountain view hotel. I enjoyed your film very much. I actually still own a small percentage of this land that was given to me by my grandmother. The tract of land is about 24 acres and the top is accessible by way of silver bell lane in Gatlinburg. If you have "Spielberg" level of success one day, come rebuild the old mountain view for us :) Thanks for sharing your work.
I was there in 1973 and 74 its sad nothing looks the same!!!
Huff family still owns or did own the hampton inn on the parkway, which is one of only a few open breezeway hampton hotels left in the world. Opened in 1937, to this day its still a nice place and well kept. The Huff family are very very well known to the town of Gatlinburg 👍
The Mountain View was a wonderful place. So many memories. I am also a Gatlinburg native, and I mourn the loss of the Mountain View. Your aunt Sue taught my father and me and my siblings.
I can't imagine the loss you and your family must feel... what a wonderful and beautiful piece of history. I am happy to hear it's still in your family. I grew up and still live in hamblen and jefferson counties, not too far away, and I have always visited and loved gatlinburg. We are losing our history, landmarks, and natural landscapes at an alarming rate. If I had the ability or influence I would save, restore, and/or rebuild them all in their former glory. ❤️ As an artist who loves history, nostalgia, and historical architecture, I hope to contribute to that effort as much as possible with the time I have left on this Earth. I would love to see you get your old mountain view back! 😊
I am a history buff. Of all the videos I have seen about old places----- this one is tops. I loved the way it was presented form pass to present. These places want be around forever. Its what we used to be and how we started. Thanks
Thanks! I have a new film coming soon that will be my biggest project yet. I'm targeting end of 2016 right now. The trailer will be ready soon.
I am a newer resident of Knoxville and enjoy learning about the past in and around this beautiful area of TN. I just watched your beautiful homage to a bygone era. I plan to visit very soon, just because I watched your video. Thank you so much.
Laurie Almy I hope you enjoy visiting!
I loved going here when I was a kid. It was the highlight of my year every summer vacation. I remember my grandfather on the chairlift behind us singing love songs to my grandmother as loud as he could.
After years when the park closed did you ever go back
After making my first visit to the Smokies on my honeymoon in 1984, my famiy has made many trips back, and Gatlinburg never looks the same, even from year to year. I find it very sad that many of the places we loved to visit are now gone. Bob's Big Boy restaurant, which was there in '84, was turned into a parking lot just a few years later. Now there's an aquarium in its place. In more recent years, The Acorn, which had been doing business in Gatlinburg for many, many years, finally shut down. Ogle's Buffet, gone. Stewart''s Drugs, gone. Battle's Grocery, gone. The Mom and Pop places are quickly dwindling, and the chains are taking over. I miss the old Gatlinburg. This video was nicely done, and I thank you for bringing to the attention of others what I've been seeing for years.
BOB S BIG BOY IS WHERE NO WAY JOSE MEXICAN CANTINA IS TODAY IN THE SAME BUILDING THERE WAS A PARKING LOT WHERE THE AQURIUM SITS AND AN OLD HOTEL WHERE THE PARKING GARAGE SITS NOW BOBS LATER MOVED TO AIRPORT RD AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS
I agree, I know very little about old Gatlinburg but living here, I've been disgusted of what it's turned into but it isn't all bad. But seeing old pictures and videos, seems to be that back then everything was pretty and very interesting, now, there's literally 35 stores that sell the SAME t-shirts as a tourist trap, atleast 12 different moonshine, whiskey, beer, wine stores. Seems to be that this town is turning to t shirts and shine!
I know things enevitably change and Gatlinburg was no exception. This town has turned from a personal experience, to a commercial experience. It sucks but hey I still love living here but won't forever. The foreigners are buying up land and building businesses that cater to tourists. Soon even the local artists will fade out...then as a town it will be nothing it once was
It always ignites my imagination to see videos like this. I think of all the people
that worked there, and all the tourists who visited there, and the bustling life
that preoccupied the area at one time, and then suddenly "nothing." I also enjoy
very much looking at the old photos of people who were there and seeing the
style of clothes they wear, and how the women looked back then. Also seeing
the vintage old cars etc. Nice to see you take the time to incorporate all that stuff
in your video to give it the proper feel. Great video Jordan.
+Grant P Thanks again Grant!
+Grant P yes it is i live here still been my home since i was born i love going and exploring this stuff all the time you relly got to visit sometime:)
@@jordanlilesI know you filmed the fun mountain video almost 10 years ago. But if you remember when you climbed that hill with the path you found when you couldn't go any farther how far of a dropoff was that hill. I tried going up that same path that you did but 10 years later it is completely filled in with trees.
See , that's what you do if you want to explore abandon places. You do research tell the whole story, or as whole as you can, and honor it. Not like some of these yahoo's who think nothing of going in, poking fun, not trying to understand the history or historical significance of the sight. Thank you for putting together a thoughtful piece. My wife and I love going to Gatlinburg and knew nothing of this place . "Progress" can be very sad if not thought thru. Be careful and God Bless.
+Spawn 1960 Thanks! I'm glad you respect the way I made the video. I think if you check out Tennessee Wonderland you will love it too! Link: th-cam.com/video/zfaTpunhJRs/w-d-xo.html.
I rode this very sky lift with my dad when I was about 9 years old. Even have photos of me & him on it. Thanks for the video...brought back alot of memories.
What was it like when you went over the road and the valley and what was at the top
Brought back old memories. We took our 2 sons to that park a couple times as kids. They are now 26 and 23 years old. Going to share this with them.
It's so sad. It makes you wonder what these abandoned places could to tell you if they could speak, the pain they must be in from being left to decay.
The only pain is from knowing all that precious land is going to waste!
MotoAtheist Well that too I suppose.
Stunning! I like knowing the history of these abandoned places-and it appears that greed trumps history over and over again. Sad that such a beautiful place was basically destroyed for nothing.
So cool it’s so sad when people just walk away.then nature slowly takes back what we took from her.it almost haunting to watch.so cleverly put together really took me back in time .its people like you that keep it alive .well done.from the United Kingdom.
I am not from Gatlinburg, but it is the one place that feels like home. Thank you for sharing, I am always interested in learning more about Gatlinburg.
Anna SmallTownLife I’m from here. Its awful. Fun to visit, but terrible place to live.
In 1963, my 5th grade class in Knoxville was part of a pilot education program. Our class was bussed to Gatlinburg and the teaching methods were demonstrated to a meeting of top educators at the Mountain View Hotel. That afternoon the educators seemed to be preoccupied with something else, leaving the room and whispering amongst themselves. It was only when we returned to school late that Friday afternoon that us 10 year olds were told the reason for all the distraction. The date was November 22. The images of that hotel on that day are still firmly ingrained in my memory almost 53 years later.
Ken Smith Wow. Just, wow. A double whammy for you. The slow disappearance of an iconic getaway, and the instantaneous moment when a light went out forever. Both events changed us forever.
Ken Smith JFK was shot
Fantastic! We have vacationed in the Smokies since I was a small boy, I am 67 now. We also have a cabin in Sevierville, but i love the pics and backround you discovered about "Fun Mountain" which I actually was at once when open, but never went on the chairlift to see what was at the top! Amazing photography and editing, beautiful piece, thank you.
Great video and research on it I had almost forgotten it all Myself and its a shame they couldnt preserve the chairlift and amusement park or restore it,such a loss.Good work on this find!
Wow I remember fun mountain. I was little when it was in operation. One of those women in the pictures of the old hotel I swear was my great grandmother. Awesome thank you so much for sharing this!!!!
What do you remember about fun mountain from being there.
I remenebr going to Fun Mountain all the time as a kid in the late 90s. This is insane to see now!
So interesting and so sad. I wish someone had been accountable to clean up all of the equipment. Thank you for posting all of your work.
I live in Knoxville tn, and I want to thank the people who are supporting gatlinburg TN, thank you.
ihawk424 Thank you for watching! I ask if possible that you share the video around with friends and family in the area. Currently I am spending a little bit of advertising money on TH-cam to get the video to show to more people in the area, so I am glad you got to see it!
ihawk424 I live in West Tennessee (proud Tennessean all my life), and own a Westgate timeshare unit that, sadly, was completely destroyed by the late fall 2016 wildfires (determined to be arson). The mountains continue to beckon; Westgate is rebuilding; we're planning on returning there in 2018! Jordan Liles has definitely sparked my exploring spirit, and I appreciate and thank him for the awesome work he does on all his productions.
The backround music really Fitts this video when it's a cloudy day
Very amazing video. Wow!!!
I was here just a few days ago. I remember this area well- always wanted to ride the ferris wheel that used to be here. We rode the sky lift instead- hadn't been on it in years. While there is still a lot to do in Gatlinburg, many of the places I loved when I was young are gone now. Thanks for this- I wish I could have gone with you!
I grew up in pigeon forge Fun Mountain was always a blast! Thanks for sharing the pics, brings back great memories
Fabulous!!! Love your work...hope to see you on Discovery Channel one day... Best, Kelly & Sugar Bush
Mr Liles , I am a native of Tennessee and lived here my entire life. I never knew that place existed. While I was watching your video when one of my coworkers told me that his aunt worked there while attending UT Knoxville in the early 50's. What a neat informative video. Thanks for your efforts.
Very cool. Type "picturing the smokies" into Google and you'll find a place to order a DVD that has interviews with Mountain View Hotel staff from sometime in the 50s or 60s, so maybe your coworker's aunt was interviewed. It's a good DVD.
Fantastic work!! Thank you so much for taking the time to create this and share.
I want to thank you for the effort you put into following up on the history of Fun Mountain and the hotel that once stood there. I live in Greeneville, TN, also a very historic place, and it is about an hour from Gatlinburg. I never knew about the lost hotel nor the abandoned park that now resides there. It's such a shame that the old hotel couldn't be appreciated for what it was. Now, the area has so grown so much to stimulate all the people that find relaxing on a porch in the mountains boring...Next time I am down there, I'm gonna try to find it for myself.
Really enjoyed the tour of the chairlift and park. So many dreams of success. Like you, I love to explore and see whats around the next bend and the next bend.............Thank You!
I used to visit this place when I would visit Tennessee back in the days. This saddens me that this had to happen. I never knew about the history of the place till I watched your video. This video is the best i've seen so far. Thank you for posting.
What do you remember about fun mountain
I was born and raised an hour from the Great Smokey Mountains. I have been there more times than anywhere else in the world. I remember Mountain View.
You remember the old hotel? What memories do you have of it? Feel free to share even the smallest memories. I'm interested!
Very nicely done. What a pleasant surprise to find out the story behind the story. Great story and follow up Jordan!
very nicely done, this sort of thing happens everywhere..thanks for sharing
That was a neat little film. Thank you for making it possible for me to see this once awesome place. It always makes me feel so sad to see these places the way they were and they way they are now. I am getting much to old to explore them myself, but thankfully there are people like you who can bring it to me so that I may enjoy it just a little before I pass. Thank you
Hi Elizabeth. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy my film. They're a bit shaky every now and then, but I hope that my interest in all of the history shined through for you!
***** You did a great job and I will be looking forward to more of your films! Thanks again for your hard work!
I lived in these woods foa year as a homeless vet. I enjoyed this particular are.
Amazing video. The best I have seen of fun mountain😊
Love Gatlinburg its a very special area. This was a very neat video!
Haunting images of times gone by. You should take this and throw a pitch to the travel channel. This type of film, researching the past abandoned places, would make for a great show
Wonderful presentation Jordan. Thanks for sharing
Wow, amazing video. Your work is excellent ! Very sad to see a beautiful hotel demolished and forgotten.
Sunday afternoon is a great time to watch one of my short films, like this one where I discover an abandoned theme park on the site of a historic hotel! Tennessee Mountain View: Exploring an Abandoned Chairlift in Gatlinburg #Gatlinburg #GSMNP #Sevierville #Memphis #Nashville #Tennessee #Knoxville
Very nicely compiled Jordan !
This is true portrayal of how gold rush kills preservation.
Can't watch it with the audio on. It put me to sleep. Your speculations and generalizations were comical however. "I think this is a hill, yep, it's a hill." REALLY?!?!
gtm2k
PPLLEEAASSEE.....
***** I am only interested in God fearing women.
Why'd this place close down? Deaths or legal troubles?
Fascinating. I have family from East Tennessee, and have spent time in both Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but never knew any of this history. Thank you for putting it together.
I remember seeing this when we went in 2015 (the chairlift). We were at a parking garage, about to walk to somewhere, and I look over the back and I see a completely empty chairlift with leaves and trees blocking a lot of it. Cool to know what it was! :) Nice video
Yep this is it. There's something striking about places that are abandoned, particularly with amusement parks and hotels.
Chris L. when you go to Gatlinburg on the main strip where is this located, I have been going for years and have never noticed it
Sarah Abston It is just east of the Ripley's aquarium. (Safe screenshot links of Google Maps ->) gyazo.com/12f385985316f917f6e1361509e088b0 This is the parking garage I mentioned up close, and you can see a circle to the left of it. That is the chairlift. In this one (gyazo.com/63880c71fa5e1877ab895ca58ee9b56d), the chairlift is in the very bottom corner (I rotated the map). Hopefully this one helps as it has the aquarium and a few restaurants. The parking garage is just north of it. A bigger picture (gyazo.com/a61b1d9c62db732907652ffc660b115a) shows the garage at the bottom center. This map shows the national park. Hopefully this helped!
I was Just There Over The Weekend 6-10 thru 613-2022 was parked in the same lot were the chir lift is and walked up to the tunnel. Unfortunately nothing has changed . thank you for a great history lesson. keep up the good work will be moving to the area really soon.
Sad memories...Excellent job!
I've seen that many times when I passed near Gatlinburg, I always was told that it's been haunted and not many people visit over there.
We are going to the area for the first time next weekend - this was a great video - thanks for making it and sharing it.
Thank you for portraying the decay of abandoned sites in a thought provoking way. I am currently attempting a still photography work regarding an old mining/lumber town and it's changes from the gold rush to today and your films have provided inspiration and ideas.
That's really cool! I'd love to see it when you're done.
Thanks for the video. I worked there in 1994-95 when I was 21. The chair lift went up the mountain 1/3 of a mile. About 2/3 of the way up it crossed a valley that put you over 100 ft in the air. The view was spectacular. I got "treated" with a 45 min pause at that highest point my 1st day on the job when the lift broke down during its warm up that morning. (Did I mention I was scared of heights?) Anyway that brought back lots of memories. Thanks.
I just found this video. Thanks Jordon for your hard work and dedication. It was extremely informative and we never knew it existed even though we live in Tennessee and visit Gatlinburg often. Again Thanks!!!
Very Professional, Great Pics, I live in Memphis, have been going to Gatlinburg as per from when I was a kid. I have seen the change from a mountain village to a commercial money maker. Thanks
My heart will always remain in Tennessee
I hope you all enjoy the film. It's a bit long for a TH-cam video, but know that there's an interesting and perhaps unexpected turn of events in the ending. Watch the whole thing to get the complete experience.
I remember riding this as a child. Theres pictures of us on it in and old photo album.
Do you remember Magic World in Pigeon Forge? That was my favorite theme park as a kid. Every thing in it made you think you were in one of those 1950's science fiction movies about dinasaurs, flying, saucers, magic carpets, and anything else you can think of. You even had to go through a big volcano maze to get into the park. It made you think you were entering into another time and place. It was a mom and pop type business that you just don't see anymore.
What's this address
I thank you very much for posting this. It breaks my heart seeing what we once were and what we have become. My Sevier Co. in unrecognizable from what I have loved so much. Mary T.
+Mary Thompson I feel ya sweetie. I'm from Knoxville and I remember going up to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg as a kid in the 70's and early 80's. It was such a fun family thing to do a couple of times a year. I remember Hillbilly Village was one of my favorite stops. I refuse to go up there now. That old timey mountain atmosphere is gone and replaced by a tourist money trap. It's overcrowded and traffic is always packed. I don't take my kids up there. It's all about making money now.
worth it to watch. it really make you thing . to thing to preserve the land and history he dose a great job
Totally Awesome Video! Thank you very much for the research and insight! Looking forward to seeing other videos of yours!
Really enjoyed your video... I have been traveling to Gatlinburg since the late 80's. And I never heard of that place....I'm glad u shared it with us
Great video ! Been going to Gatlinburg since I was in middle school and I'm 41 now . I remember seeing the park just above the parking garage but never visited it . Good bit history there ! I'll be there in a week and I'll make sure to point it all out to my daughter . Thanks again !
The lift looks like it was built by the Riblet Tramway Co. They were headquartered in Spokane, WA. There are tons of Riblet chairs from the 1960s-70s still running at ski areas up here in Washington. They were the best in the business and their lifts were built to last a century. If you hooked up electricity to this thing, I bet it would still run.
Thanks for the history lesson, Jordan. Love this neck of the woods. Always making room for new and improved items for visitors. But this was sad to watch
Mr.Liles, thank you for sharing this video. Very well done. I just got back from my first visit to Tennessee. I live in Southeast Texas. I rented a cabin I Wears Valley in Pigeon Forge. I visited Gatlinburg as well. I am still on a Smokey Mountain high so much so that im cotemplating moving there for retirement. The beauty and majesty of the mountains and the friendly people were wonderful, im definitely subscribing to your videos!
very good video! It's sad to see what's come and what's gone...
I usually don't leave "thumbs" on YT vids but this one is in a class by itself. Wonderful job!!
Wow I have been going to Gatlinburg all my life. I was born in 71 and never even heard of this place. it looked cool
In my research of the place it seemed to be a smaller scale amusement park with carnival rides, as you can see later in the video. It wasn't to the scale of what Opryland USA used to be, or what Dollywood is now. That may be one reason why it eventually shut down. Thanks for watching!
Worked there for 2 years and operated every ride. Good memories.
this was a great video and it is sad to see places like this just left to decay ... subscribed :)
I went to Fun Mountain quite a few times when it was operating. The pictures of that Ferris Wheel really brought back memories! Closed in 2001, has it really been 13 years ago?!? 2001 seems like last year! LOL I also remember when Fun Mountain got a Sling Shot ride, and it was pretty high up too, kinda like the one down at Myrtle Beach. It sucks that Fun Mountain went out of business, I missed going to it. It also sucks Magic World in Pigeon Forge closed in 1994. :( I used to love to ride the Spider ride that sat out front of the park. Now all you have is Dollywood & a few go-cart fun centers.
My sister married in Gatlinburg. Beautiful area. The only ski lift I saw was in operation, so it wasn’t this one obviously...but wish I had seen this one instead. LOVE abandoned stuff!
Thanks for sharing this Jordan.
Thank you for this video and for the time and energy you put into obtaining the history. So many abandoned places leave you curious about why and what happened. Its good to know about this place.
That was awesome, thanks for sharing!!
Excellent video. We vacation in Gatlinburg all the time but don’t remember that park. Thanks for the history lesson. I’d love to explore that area.
Excellent explore. Came here after watching the JP Video recent visit 👍
Absolutely fascinating!
Thank you so much for sharing.
Excellent!. Very well put together and presented.
That spread was created just a year before I was born. Hard to believe they had cars that looked like that; & those bathing suits! What a riot. Brings back a lot of memories though. Sad what uncontrolled development had done. In the future, those towers & chairs will prove a safety hazard & will need to be taken down. I hope they do it soon enough & not denude the hillside, stripping of its vegetation just to get to the system.
Thank you for the trip into the past and present.
Awww. so sad. Makes me wish I lived back then and could have gone to that old hotel!!! This was REALLY INTRIGUING!!! Thank you for making this! I used to live in TN back in 1988. Wish we could have seen this. Why didn't they save that carousel and the other things? They were so beautiful!!
Fine video. A small crack in the wall of the past.
what an amazing video. beautifully done. you are a truly gifted artist. thank you for sharing it with the world. I look forward to watching all the other videos.
I'll add one more thing. I and my parents rode that chair lift at Fun Mountain and one part of it , the seats were VERY high off of the ground! Thank God that thing held us up over that highest part that it passed over in those woods going up that hill and back down that hill! Of course, that was long before everything was grown up, weeds, and such like in the video. When we rode it, it was in the year ' 99 or 2000, I can't remember which year. I rode in a separate chair lift seat (alone), and my parents behind me. We were the only ones riding it by the way. lol
My son and i actually rode this chair lift when it was operation i cant remember the exact year,but it broke down while we on it,we where over the part that is at its highest off the ground, which as i remember was pretty high or seemed to be . we sat there for over an hour while it was repaired, was great time together takeing in the beauty around us.
What was at the top of the chairlift and do you remember what number cart you got on
It's really nice that someone other than myself wanted to know the history of this park. In the late 80's I rode that chair lift and it was quite an experience. After you reach the top of the mountain the lift crosses a deep deep deep gulley/valley. We all prayed we would never ride another chair lift if we lived to get off. I often wondered if something happened crossing that valley/gulley and that resulted in the closing. Very very very scarry. I was hoping you would make it to the top. I would love to see the huge deep gulley again without riding the chair lift. This was very informative. Thanks for the research.
Thanks! There's apparently a way to get to the top by roads, then all you have to do is walk 2-3 minutes to reach it, but it's private property. If you go I suggest you knock on the door and ask kindly if you can go look. I'm glad you liked the video!
C McBroom i dont like chair lifts either . Mom didnt mind them but they made me a nervous wreck...always had visions of falling out...yecchhh !!!
This was an amazing video for me to watch. It wasn't ten days earlier that I was there staying for a few days. Thank you so much for making this video. I have a new favorite. lol
Nice work on the video and the research, thanks for posting!
That would of been freaky if it would of started up when you hit the "Start" button
I dug deep on TH-cam and I found rare footage of the chairlift in operation
Jordan, this is amazing. I'm going to share this with the Knoxville group on Facebook. On my Dad's side we're from Sevier County, and I still have a lot of family there. I know they will love this.
+Denise Painter Thanks Denise. That would be nice. Did you simply find my video using TH-cam search, or did you find it because of an article? Sometimes I notice new viewers coming in because of a new article I haven't yet seen. Maybe through a Facebook page?
I love urbex. Do a little myself at times. I haven't done an amusement park yet but I'd like to, and like I said, I grew up near one of the biggest tourism areas in the country. Your video came up while watching abandoned amusement park videos.
Well, another great job on this video.
Enjoyed your production. Well crafted.
I like the before and after pictures.
WHAT A WONDERFUL MEMORIAL TO THE GREATNESS OF MENS THOUGHTS IN THE PAST AND HOW TODAY THE SEEKING OF WEALTH AND DOLLARS RUINS ARCHITECTURE AND WISE MENS SENSIBILITIES IN THESE THEY LOSE BRILLIANCE AND SUBLIME ART , A KEEN PHILOSOPHY WITH PHILANTHROPHY SO SAD REALLY THANKYOU FOR THIS OUTSTANDING VIDEO JORDAN
What an interesting, but sad story :( Whenever I see old photos like the ones you showed in your video, I get transported back to that time. I know it sounds tacky, but I would love a time machine to travel back to places like that just to experience the grandeur when they were at their height. At least we still have some photos, and that marvellous video of yours to remember them. Thanks for sharing.
WOW that's said I just came across this and this is heartbreaking to see history being abandoned for so long. :( Thank you for sharing this
Awesome video, love the ending 👍... and for future reference, most E-stop buttons push in and stay to shut off equipment. Then you have to pull them back out to reset the system 😉
Jordan, Wow.... thank you so much! I have no special attachment to this place, but like you, love exploring abandonments to photo and video document them and research the history. This video was heartbreaking. Anyway, thank you. I know this took a lot of time and research and want you to know how appreciated your efforts are by making this public. Many thanks!
Thanks Billy!
I love your videos. They're so interesting and informative!!
Thank you!
That was really nicely shot and the score was amazing! It made me rather emotional as you quite literally brought this forgotten place back to life.... The editing was also fantastic! You should be proud of achievement sir!
I am going to Gatlinburg July 15th. I will need to look for this. Nice job on the video.
It's on the left as you enter Gatlinburg. There will be a traffic light where you can either go right (around a curve) on into Gatlinburg, or take a left to go uphill. Go left, & this property is immediately on your right as you go up the hill. It looks like a vacant lot from below.
I miss the Smoky Mountains. They are beautiful, but in my opinion, the beauty is being quickly ruined by those cabins being built on the mountain sides. When millions of visitors come to the Smokies, they don't want to see houses, they want to see the mountains. Wonderful video, Jordan. I can't wait to see what other places you have visited.
Melinda Kirkley Sadly, all most want to see is tshirt shops and moonshine.:(
Wow! Thank you for the history on that location. I'll definitely be subscribing!
It was called fun mountain it was my first job when I was 14 nice video bears use to come a lot to the top of the mountain where the chair lift ends good video
I drove through Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge several years ago and I am not sure which of the cities it was but it was loaded with charmless attractions... sort of a family version of Las Vegas. Great video and I appreciate your respect for history.
Both those towns are tourist trap classics. These places still attract a lot of people, but the new generations are losing interest and want newer tech. I think there will always be a consumer base for places like this, but mostly limited to families with children 12ish and under. Once children reach the age of independence these days, they couldn't care less about most of the attractions in these places. Newer generations want higher thrills, more action, more intensity, more tech, otherwise they just play with their phones.
MotoAtheist
It is just a bunch of crap.
Great video. Thank you!