Randy Watson, the General Manager of Gatlinburg SkyPark, was born and raised in the area. Watson's family has deep roots in the region, with his grandparents having worked for the Little River Lumber Company before the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Watson discusses beginning his career at the Gatlinburg Skylift at age 14 and eventually following in his father's footsteps to become the general manager. Throughout the conversation, he recounts witnessing the evolution of SkyPark from a single-chairlift attraction to a major tourist destination featuring the SkyBridge, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. Watson also addresses the impact of the 2016 wildfires on SkyPark and the subsequent rebuilding efforts, which led to significant improvements and expansions. The fire devastated the top of the mountain where SkyPark is located, destroying the original SkyLift infrastructure. However, the rebuilding process transformed SkyPark into a reborn attraction with improved facilities. His stories highlight the resilience of the Gatlinburg community, the importance of family in local businesses, and the ongoing commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains while enhancing visitor experiences. Watson emphasizes the focus on stewardship and creating lasting memories for visitors, all while maintaining the integrity of the environment.

[0:10] Speaker A (Tom): Welcome to for the Love of Gatlinburg, the podcast where we celebrate the charm, the history, and the vibrant community of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I'm your host, Tom Goodwin, and I hope you'll join me each week as I bring you stories that connect the past with the present as we explore the people that make Gatlinburg a beloved destination and where every story is a piece of our mountain heritage. I'm excited today for you to meet Randy Watson, the general manager of Gatlinburg sky park. Randy is 62 years old and has spent every day of his life here in Gatlinburg. He is the longest running general manager of the SkyPark and he's got quite a few stories. So join with me as we dive into the heart of Gatlinburg together. Well, it's a beautiful day in Gatlinburg, and I can't think of anything better to do than to be sitting here with Randy Watson, who's the general manager of this Gatlinburg Skypark. [1:04] Speaker B (Randy): Correct. [1:05] Speaker A: And, Randy, you have a long history, a lifetime history here in Gatlinburg that probably predates even you with your family. [1:13] Speaker B: Yes. [1:13] Speaker A: But welcome to the podcast. We're so glad to have you. [1:15] Speaker B: Well, thank you for having me, Tom. [1:17] Speaker A: Absolutely. Randy, when did you fall in love with Gatlinburg? Or when did you realize I love this place? [1:23] Speaker B: Oh, well, it all goes all the way back to my grandparents. You know, I've always just heard the history and then getting to live in the Great Smoky Mountains, you know, in the. Right. In the area of the Great Smoky Mountains. So I fell in love at first sight when I seen it. Right. [1:40] Speaker A: You know, as long as you can remember. [1:41] Speaker B: As long as I can remember. I have been in love with these Great Smoky Mountains. You know, I can go to the beach and after seven days, I'm ready to come back. But when I look out to these wonderful mountains that God's put out here in front of us, I just. I just don't get tired of. I just don't get. [1:58] Speaker A: They're different every day. They're different every day and even throughout the day. I've been sitting here doing a few interviews today, and the view of the mountains has changed beautiful from beginning of the day till even right now. Yeah. So you've had this view and this experience in Gatlinburg for 62 years. [2:15] Speaker B: That's going on 62. [2:17] Speaker A: Going on 62 years. So that's all you've ever known? [2:20] Speaker B: That's all I've ever known. [2:20] Speaker A: So you're a local boy to the community. And I know that because you went from kindergarten through senior year of high school with my wife Susan. [2:29] Speaker B: I sure did. [2:30] Speaker A: So tell me about that or don't tell me about Susan. What did you know about Susan? [2:34] Speaker B: Susan is just genuine, wonderful, a one person. That's what I say about Susan. She was the same always. And she was just that wonderful person to be around. And she is always. She was always one of the smartest ones in the class. So that's who we like to run to if we could get help, any help in any way on helping us to get ready for a test. [2:54] Speaker A: I still do the same thing. Yes, I'm a smart husband in that respect. [2:58] Speaker B: Yes, you are. [2:59] Speaker A: Great. So you were born here and when did your family move to the Gatlinburg area? [3:04] Speaker B: Well, they came. They've been here, you know, ever since now. My grandparents, my McCarter grandparents, they came over and lived in the Sugarlands and so. And then my. [3:16] Speaker A: Which is in the national park. [3:18] Speaker B: That's in the national park, yes. And then my father's side, my grandparents, the Watson side, they came in and they lived also in the national park. My. Both my grandfathers worked for the Little River Lumber Company. Back before. Yeah, before it was the national park. You know, Little river up in there. So that's why really, most of your national park is second growth. You know, you've got. There is some virgin timber areas. But, you know, these guys, that's what they did. That was their living to go in and. And lumber out and pull out the trees and, you know, send them off to the log to get logs and. But both my grandparents were there, so my family has always been right here. Has always been right here. Right here in the national park. And once the park came in, you know, of course it was a tough time for our. For my grandparents, both sets to move out of the national park. Their home, that was their home. But they did. And you know, it was tough then, but now it's a blessing for us because when we look up there to those highest peaks in the Smokies, you don't have rental cabins right all the way to the top of the mountain. So what a wonderful preserve it was at the time. But it was tough. It was tough for our grandparents. So our families came off from them and we've been right in the Gatinburg area ever since. [4:50] Speaker A: So they moved from the sugar lands. Do you know where their original homestead was in Gatlinburg then, or White Oak Flats at that time? [4:57] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, One was out toward where Buckhorn Road is, out in the Glades area. That was my grandfather Watson, my grandfather McCarter. They settled in the Roaring Fork area. [5:10] Speaker A: Okay. And you still live in the community? [5:13] Speaker B: I still live in the community. I live out near the Gatlinburg Pittman High School. You could bow, throw a rock and hit the high school. [5:20] Speaker A: Okay, right out. 321. [5:21] Speaker B: Yes, sir. [5:22] Speaker A: That is really outstanding. So as a child, without giving away too many secrets, what was it like growing up in Gatlinburg? I'm sure so many people when they meet you for the first time. Hey, where are you from? I'm from Gatlinburg. Oh, I didn't know anyone was. I didn't know anyone was from Gatlinburg. Right. And so what was it like growing up here? [5:42] Speaker B: Well, all we've ever known is tourism. Right. Because of course, we are the most visited national park. They are in the country. Right. And so everybody. And where Gatlinburg's located, it's right in the hub. You know, of all we border, is it eight states? I think we tie with Missouri on state borders. And you know, people can watch the weather and be here in four hours. [6:06] Speaker A: Yes. [6:06] Speaker B: So that's all we've ever known was tourism. Right. People coming to the national park. But even then, you know, as a kid, you know, we've always had the traffic and things like that. But still, it's the beauty that surrounds us that the good Lord has just put all around us is what makes this such a wonderful place to live. Even with all the tourists and all the traffic and everything else. But it's like my grandfather said, we got to remember, that's what butters our bread here. [6:36] Speaker A: Yes, yes. That's what my mother in law, Dot Egley said. This is bread and butter. [6:41] Speaker B: That's right. [6:41] Speaker A: Right downtown. [6:42] Speaker B: So as a child, it was just. I always just. I never had, you know, I just. I just love living in the area. I can't really describe it. It's just being at home. The mountains are home. [6:55] Speaker A: That's great. And we are saddened by your grandparents having to move out of their homestead in the sugar lands. But the benefit and the gift that was to future generations from here on out that we get to enjoy these majestic views and the pristine nature of the national park. And there are natural things that happen with the. The blights and the fires and so forth that the. The land gets repurposed. But we don't have any timber. Timber, cultivators of the land, you know, out There. So it really preserves that, which is really a blessing. [7:31] Speaker B: Yeah. And the other blessing for Gatlinburg, you know, that is the main entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's right downtown Gatlinburg. And what is it anywhere you can say anywhere from 12 to up to 14 million visitors a year, just depends on what kind of a good year it might be. [7:50] Speaker A: Goes interestingly, there's. There's a lot of entrances to the. [7:53] Speaker B: National park, a lot of entrances from. [7:54] Speaker A: North Carolina to, you know, all the way different parts of Tennessee. But whenever people associate a town and the Great Smoky Mountains national park, the town is Gatlinburg. And it comes from that, that type of rich history because 50, 60 years ago, any of the other sister communities that we're really involved with and in our chambers and so forth were not anywhere near what they are today. But Gatlinburg always has been kind of the heart of the Smokies. [8:23] Speaker B: And that's where that word blessing comes in. Right. What a blessing it has been for the residents here in Gatlinburg. [8:29] Speaker A: It really, really, really is a blessing. So, Randy, tell us a little bit about your career path, graduating from GP then what happened in your life since 1981? [8:40] Speaker B: Well, I graduated from GP in 1981. I little college called Maryville College. For a while I was a musician. I'm a bluegrass musician. I play the five string banjo ever since I was 12 years old. Well, I went and played, you know, basketball and went to school at Maryville College for a little time. And then my music overtook me. I had an opportunity to come back and make a career of getting to play music. And then also I worked at the Gatlinburg Skylift. Started when I was just a teenager, but I played music for 15 years right downtown at a little place called the Riverside Motor Lodge. [9:24] Speaker A: Sure. [9:25] Speaker B: And so I would work at the Gatlinburg Skylift during the day and then go down and do the show of the nighttime. [9:32] Speaker A: Did you do. Was it a solo show or did you. [9:34] Speaker B: No, it was a five piece band. A lot of the old timers here, remember, it was Jack grooms and Fred McMahon. Fred used to be the city mayor here in town. And we would take our bass fiddles and banjos and guitars and fiddles and mandolins and we would. [9:50] Speaker A: Wait a second. What town in America has the mayor playing? What is he playing? The bass. [9:57] Speaker B: He played the upright bass, as we call the doghouse bass. Right. [10:01] Speaker A: You're gonna have to provide us a photo of that. We'll have to Include that. That people can see that that really happened. [10:07] Speaker B: Yep. [10:08] Speaker A: And that is. That's amazing. [10:10] Speaker B: And what was fun about that? We would go out and advertise, of course, in the restaurants. So we'd go in each restaurant. The restaurants were so good to let us come in and advertise. And we'd play a little cut of Rocky Top, get the people's antennas up. Cause what better place to hear Rocky Top than where it was roped Right down here at the Gatlinburg Inn. Right. And so we would go in, play Rocky Top and we'd say, hey, our show starts at 8:30, come see us. And then we'd get out about 10:30. So that was my routine. I would play music of the nights and I would go work at the Gatlinburg Skylift of the daytime. [10:48] Speaker A: Well, you know that song that I was country when country wasn't cool. But country has always been cool. It's always been cool here in Gatlinburg. So what are some of your highlights of playing any big moments that you all had? [11:00] Speaker B: Well, it was just getting to meet all the different people. We made so many friends, you know, like I say, all the visitors that come to Gatlinburg and it was a family show. We'd come in and we just. I've just met so many wonderful people. That's my biggest highlight of making a lot of friendships through my music. You know, getting to play down there. And just the highlight of that's when I'm learning and getting to play in a band. You know, the best thing for a musician is get that actual experience to play in a band. And that makes you even better when you have that band experience. So I was blessed to get to play that way for 15 years, you know. [11:40] Speaker A: Are you playing at all still? [11:41] Speaker B: I still play. [11:42] Speaker A: I still play. Where do you play? Where can we hear the Randy Watson five string banjo? [11:48] Speaker B: We play in a little band called Misty River. I don't know if you're familiar with BlackBerry Farms. Oh sure, we play over at BlackBerry Farms quite a bit. We've played over there for 25 plus years. Whenever people will come in and would like some acoustical music, we've been blessed enough for. [12:05] Speaker A: That's a highfalutin place that wants to bring in some local country music. That's awesome. [12:10] Speaker B: Yeah, I've. I mean we've got to play for some good country. You never know who's going to be there, right? [12:15] Speaker A: You're right. [12:16] Speaker B: We play for country music stars and we pray for race car drivers, basketball. [12:22] Speaker A: Professional basketball players ever invite any of them up from the audience to come sing with you? [12:27] Speaker B: No, we pretty much just. We try not to bother them, you know, but they're at their private. Sure, but we have made a lot of friendships that way. One that stands out. Just not real long ago. We're playing there, and Dave Matthews happens to be there, so we got to meet. We've got pictures with Dave Matthews, and he struck it up with us. You know, he's a musician, right? [12:48] Speaker A: Yes. [12:48] Speaker B: And we just struck it up good. And we just had a great time. [12:51] Speaker A: Well, maybe you can open for his next concert. [12:53] Speaker B: That'd be wonderful. [12:54] Speaker A: Or he can open for yours. Yeah, that would be. That would be awesome. Well, great. Well, next time you're playing, I need to know, because I might want to raise my hand and come up and sing with y'all. So that would. That would be a stretch for me. It'd be a lot of fun. [13:06] Speaker B: We'd love to have you. [13:07] Speaker A: It'd be a lot of fun. Well, back to your childhood and growing up. What were some of the iconic moments or people of long days ago in Gatlinburg that you would want to give tribute to and say there's some really great people or great events or momentous occasions that happened in Gatlinburg that you would. You would want to give a shout out to, even right now? [13:35] Speaker B: Well, first, you know, like I say, the ones that stand out in my mind the most are my grandparents. Right. My grandfather, if you're familiar. In the main entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains national park, there was a riding stables up there. [13:48] Speaker A: Yes. [13:48] Speaker B: Called the McCarter Riding Stables. That was my grandfather. [13:51] Speaker A: And they're still in operation. [13:53] Speaker B: Well, the stables is. My grandfather has passed, and the. It came out of the McCarter family, but they still rent rides up there. But something that fascinates me. So, like I said, we grew up in Roaring Fork. Well, at the time, my grandfather had a barn over on Roaring Fork, and he had all the horses names on the stalls. Right. It was so cool as a kid going up. But what he would do, he would take those horses and lead them to the Mountain View Hotel. I don't know if you were familiar with the Mountain View Hotel. It was the number one oldest. Yeah. The huts. And so that's where his horseback riding rentals started. Right there. And he would walk his horses from Roaring Fork to Mountain View. [14:43] Speaker A: Yes. [14:43] Speaker B: Every day, back and forth. And they would let him rent rides there and let the. We'll let you do it. We won't charge you just give our customers first choice. And so they give the hotel guests first choice. And then of course, other visitors in Gatberg came. That turned in to. It really flourished. And then he ended up in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. [15:08] Speaker A: That's amazing. [15:08] Speaker B: And that's. And for years and years. But you asked me the question my highlights. My father worked also for which was his father in law, my grandfather, Curtis McCarter. But he would take me up there and just getting to sit on the horses, ride the trails and thing that, that was a big standout for me. Getting to be in the Great Smoky Mountains national park riding horses, you know, it was just so cool. [15:35] Speaker A: They are pioneers of today's hospitality. When you think of people giving exquisite experiences as we. I work in the vacation rental industry and you always are looking for those partnerships that are one of a kind. So there you've got Pauline Huff at the Mountain View Inn. That's bringing the horses on over for private rides for their customers. It doesn't get any better than that. That is a forecast and a vision of. Well, the pioneers here were smart, they were partners and they did those things that really created lifetime memories. I mean, here you are, the memories 50 years later, 55 years later, recounting those special memories. [16:16] Speaker B: Yes. [16:17] Speaker A: I remember the Mountain View Hotel and that we have a Jim Gray painting of the Mountain View. It's just. It was just beautiful. You wish that was still here. We've got the Gatlinburg Inn still. And part of this podcast is to preserve some of those memories and to make sure that we're documenting these stories of these families like yours. So that's a. You just triggered a good memory of. Pauline Huff was a good friend of the family. [16:43] Speaker B: Wonderful family. Wonderful, wonderful family. [16:45] Speaker A: Wonderful people. [16:46] Speaker B: And as a child, I remember, you know, we went to Piba Beta Phi where Susan and I went to grade school. Right. And I would walk home to ro up on Roaring Fork and I always loved to cut through. We had her little shortcut and we cut through at the Mountain View Hotel because they had an elevator and that was big then. So we'd go ride the elevator home, you know. Right. What many places in Gatlinburg at the time had an elevator? [17:11] Speaker A: You know, so that was awesome entertainment as a child, sneaking into the hotel. [17:15] Speaker B: And then we'd take our little shortcut on up through the woods and go on home. But we'd always cut through the Mountain View. [17:21] Speaker A: Well, Susan always stopped at the Donut Fryer. [17:23] Speaker B: Oh, I did too. I used to love that, yes, that. [17:26] Speaker A: Was, that was a go to. So what are some of the things that you, that you did that you think, oh, boy, I got away with murder when I was a kid here in Gatlinburg, or do you have any deep, dark secrets like that? [17:38] Speaker B: Of course, I had my mischievous times, my moments. I sure did. You know, Halloween was always one of those times that we would get into the mischievous moments, you know, and so, yeah, we dodged a lot of bullets as far as getting out of trouble. [17:55] Speaker A: And you've lived to tell. [17:56] Speaker B: And I live to tell. But then the ones I didn't dodge, I deserved it. And every one I got, and I really deserve more than you might say. [18:06] Speaker A: That's good. As I always say, as parents, we hope our kids get caught so it doesn't turn into something much worse. [18:13] Speaker B: That's right. [18:14] Speaker A: But there's not too much bad that you can do here in Gatlinburg, maybe today compared to when you were growing up. Yeah, there's a lot of fun, fun, fun memories with that. Now you have made your career here in Gatlinburg and you started working at the Sky Park Skylift. How old were you then? [18:33] Speaker B: I was 14 years old. [18:35] Speaker A: And have you stopped working there or have you been a continuous employee? [18:38] Speaker B: I've not stopped, you know, as when I was going to school, you know, back when I went to Maryville College a little while, but still, you know, we'd work on our. And things like that. But yeah, I've been there since I was 14. [18:52] Speaker A: How many years is that's 48 years. [18:55] Speaker B: 48 years. [18:56] Speaker A: You're gonna be celebrating your 50th work I'm working on. Who can say that? [19:00] Speaker B: That's amazing, but my first paying job at the Gatlinburg Scholar. My father was the general manager at the time. And like I said, I went to PI Beta Phi and he hired me. We didn't have weed eaters right at the time, so he handed me a hand sickle, a file and some Bush loppers. And I got to cut the hill at the Gatlinburg Skylift. Where the chairs go up. That was my job. [19:29] Speaker A: Crockett Mountain. [19:29] Speaker B: Crockett Mountain. We cut me and one other gentleman cut Crockett Mountain. And that was my first paying job at the Gatlinburg Skylift. [19:38] Speaker A: This episode of for the Love of Gatlinburg is sponsored by Mountain Laurel Chalets, the family owned company of choice for your cabin rentals in the smoky Mountains. Since 1972, Mountain Laurel Chalets has served thousands of visitors to the Smokies with excellent accommodations. They love treating you like family and they look forward to hosting your next trip to Gatlinburg. So Susie Greengold was on a previous episode with us and her family ended up acquiring Crockett Mountain and the land there in many, many, many years ago. And she grew up at where the Ober Mountain tram is. Okay, so just hearing all of those different stories and when Crockett Mountain sold, they were buying this, the street front area where the, where your, the main chairlift goes, goes up. And the person was telling, well, you gotta buy all the way up to the top of the mountain. They're like, what in the world would we need to have all that land for? All the way at the top of the mountain. She goes, I'm sure glad my ancestors did that. [20:39] Speaker B: Yeah, that's right. [20:40] Speaker A: Somebody was thinking the SkyPark has evolved over the years. So it was, it's always been an attraction. I loved seeing the old vintage photos. [20:51] Speaker B: Yes, sir. [20:52] Speaker A: With the date and the number of the rider and you know, the two seaters with no bar and no protection. [20:58] Speaker B: And you know, it's still, that's such a family tradition. I talk to people now that tell me, oh, when I was just a little boy, my grandfather brought me here, my grandmother brought us here. And now they're bringing their children, they're bringing their grandchildren. That iconic picture is just so amazing of what that's produced. Enjoyment and memories. And you still, for millions of people. [21:23] Speaker A: You still take those photos. [21:25] Speaker B: We still take them at the top of the mountain before you get off. And you know, just the wonderful thing about the Gatlinburg skylift, it's. It's the oldest running attraction in Gatlinburg. [21:39] Speaker A: Wow. [21:39] Speaker B: We came in in 1954. Like you said, it was the single chair, just one rider. Right. And then in the 1970s, we went to a double chair, you know, and then we put another lift. They've been three different lifts go in down there. And then now we're at, like you said, we've evolved to a three place chair, you know, so seen a lot of changes come through and like, you know, one of the biggest changes that altered everything for us was, was the. [22:09] Speaker A: Wildfires, you know, November 27, 2016. [22:12] Speaker B: Yes, sir. [22:13] Speaker A: And we all remember those few weeks. It seemed like before we could catch our breath and realize what has really happened. And most people were outside of the city. There was a lot of protection because there were still some recovery work being done and finding people. But one thing we were so thankful for when it all was said and done that most of the town was preserved. Yes, except your attraction. [22:39] Speaker B: Yeah, we were one of the unfortunate ones. But there's always a silver lining around the cloud, aren't they? But talking about the devastation, it completely wiped us out at the top of the mountain. I'll never forget that day. Like many people here, as long as we will live, it was such an eerie day. You know, we knew there were fires in the mountains. We knew, you know, there were different fires, you know, that was going on. So it's kind of smoky and hazy. [23:11] Speaker A: But that felt like you were on a perpetual campfire. [23:14] Speaker B: It really did. [23:15] Speaker A: Ashes coming down in the air. [23:18] Speaker B: It was, it was just a perfect setup for a perfect firestorm. [23:23] Speaker A: Yes. [23:23] Speaker B: But that day it was like you said, it was an eerie pinkish orange tint in the air, ashes, like you say, falling. We literally had ashes falling through our ductwork inside, through the air conditioning units. And I called our headquarters, which is in Boyne Falls, Michigan, and I said, guys, I don't know what's happening here, but we're not staying. And this was. So we left at 12 o'clock at noon that day. Little did we know even then, I mean, you know, we're thinking the fires are up in the mountains, right. But little did we know that the 87 mile an hour winds kicked up hurricane force, blew the fire right down into Gatlinburg. [24:10] Speaker A: Just lit up. [24:11] Speaker B: And I've never been just so thankful. Just so thankful. See, we run day and night at the chairlift. [24:17] Speaker A: Yes. [24:17] Speaker B: I still am so thankful, you know, that we closed and got out of there that day, you know, and it's just, it just still today, you know, I tell people, you know, they say you can't live in the past, but I have to live in the past to keep me humble. [24:35] Speaker A: Yes. [24:36] Speaker B: Because this is all we ever known here is our, you know, our tourism business. And when it's all said and done and you stand at the top of the mountain and you look down and you think, this is our livelihoods. Right, it's our livelihoods. And what are we going to do? I think of a king in Bible times, king Jehoshaphat in Second Chronicles, Chapter 20. And he speaks of that when he hears this disturbing news of these enemy countries, this three different enemy countries going to come in and he didn't know what to do. And you know, when I'm standing up on that mountain that day, I think, you know, I just. The words that I said, you know, just like he. I said, lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. That's all we knew to do because we had five employees that lost everything. They had one boy come in with a pair of socks. That's all he brought. So we had five employees that just lost completely everything. But our company was so good. You know, we talk about those silver linings. Not one employee missed a paycheck during that whole process. And the very first thing our we did, our owner said, go to the bank, get ten $100 bills and give them to every person that has lost everything just to get their that day going to find them a place to stay. [26:09] Speaker A: There's some hope. [26:10] Speaker B: There's some hope. [26:11] Speaker A: This is not enough, but this is not enough. [26:13] Speaker B: And then like I say, they followed up and the just, the people were just so good. Our company was so good. Like I said, they didn't miss one paycheck. And it just, it was, it was, it was a blessing. And you know, and then when I stand on that mountain today, I still, like I say you've got to be, you got to live a little in the past, you know, you really do to count your blessings, you know, really. Eight years later, I stand up there and I see the transformation of what's happened. And it's just, you know, I think of the verse in Psalms 121:1, King David said, I'll lift my, I'll lift my eyes up into the hills. [26:59] Speaker A: Then he asked a question. [27:00] Speaker B: Yeah, he asked that question. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of the heavens and the earth. And when you're standing on that sky bridge now and you look out and see the maker of the heavens and the earth and man, it's just popping you right in the face right there. It gives us so much to be thankful for. [27:19] Speaker A: Heavens declare the glory of God. [27:21] Speaker B: Amen. [27:22] Speaker A: Yeah, I do remember our. We actually, we're deeply spiritual community. [27:27] Speaker B: Yes sir. [27:28] Speaker A: And founded on deep, rich roots of church and faith. And Dot had a verse out in front of the office that stated, thus far the Lord has helped us. It's from the Old Testament and through difficult times of being in exile continually. But the Israelites always said, thus far the Lord has helped us. So up to this point we are going to trust in him because he has helped us now. And so Randy, I think when you say looking at the past is such a healthy grounding thing to do and remembering the stories of the past because we sit on, we rest on those stories, it's a mantle it's almost like a red carpet that has created the opportunities that we have here in Gatlinburg. [28:13] Speaker B: That's exactly right. [28:14] Speaker A: And it's not just opportunities for financial or economic well being. It's the opportunity for significant relationship, meaningful, meaningful conversation. Memories that are created that last far beyond anything you can pay for. [28:30] Speaker B: That's right. [28:31] Speaker A: So you can, you can buy a ticket to go on this, the Skylift and go up to the sky park. But what you're creating are those unforgettable memories, generation after generation. When you're coming, when your grandparents took you, when you were two years old on the two seater, and now you're bringing your grandchildren. [28:48] Speaker B: That's right. [28:49] Speaker A: That's what happens here. [28:50] Speaker B: That's what happens. And that's where the memory start, right? [28:53] Speaker A: Yes. [28:53] Speaker B: When the memories start and they never forget. [28:56] Speaker A: And I think we kind of share some of the same heart in that. I think one word that stands out to me is that we are stewards. We take what has been given to us and we want to return in multiple levels of increase. That's right. To our guests, to our families. [29:16] Speaker B: Yes. [29:16] Speaker A: We want to be a blessing to those that have gone before us and we want to represent them well, make them proud. I think the story of the Skypark and the Skylift is a bit of a microcosm of the whole Gatlinburg story and its journey. And you have a legacy to preserve. It's really appreciated. [29:34] Speaker B: That's what I tell our team. We've got so many stories we can tell. We are the longest running attraction. But through that, it's like you say, the blessing of all the stories we can tell. We can, we can tell right up there. [29:50] Speaker A: Can you think off the top of your head any of your favorite stories of guests? [29:55] Speaker B: Let me think. There's. There's so many. There's just so many. I'll have to tell you. Here's a funny one I'll never forget. We had a gentleman come up and, you know, you drop things off the. [30:08] Speaker A: Chairs, sunglasses all the time, maybe six. [30:12] Speaker B: I don't know how many times I've retrieved pocketbooks and cell phones now and things like that. But this time a gentleman came up and lost his uppers of his false teeth. So here we are. Well, we'll find them for you. We went down and we're hunting. We never found the uppers. We never found them. And the amazing thing, it was about a year or more later. I know it was over a year. We're coming down the lift one day and There's a little chipmunk sitting on a stump and he had those uppers just having a ball with them. So they were found, but we didn't have the address. We didn't have, but they were found. But what a day he was having. He didn't know what he had, but he was having fun. [31:06] Speaker A: We could go down a rabbit trail with that one. That is funny. I imagine sunglasses and cell phones and pocketbooks and notebooks, you name it, Polaroid cameras, you name it, all sorts of things. [31:20] Speaker B: Yes, sir. [31:21] Speaker A: So now the skylift has evolved into the sky park. There's a lot of future things coming. It's very exciting and I do think the tragedy led towards kind of a rebirth. [31:33] Speaker B: It did. [31:34] Speaker A: And an opportunity to say, okay, how do we steward this land, these views, the majesty of what people and the awe inspiring views that lead people to really a deeper, soulish experience when they go up there. Tell us what's, what's happened at the sweat park. [31:51] Speaker B: You know, just going back, that's what we like to call is the beauty from the ashes, right? We've always heard that it's the beauty from the ashes. And so we are, we're evolving and we're being more. One of the, you might say the bad things was, you know, we lost. The arborist came in and said, you're going to have to cut about every tree. We had trees well over 100ft tall, all in our park area right there. And mind you now, the plan for the sky bridge was before the fires. And so when we marked our places for the, for the sky bridge, I went out one day and I thought, hmm, what's are we going to see? We're all about enhancing the view. Everything we do at the sky park, everything we do, we want to enhance the views of the Great Smoky Mountains national park and the beautiful quaint little town of Gatlinburg down below, right. And so I'm thinking when I'm snapped there, how are they going to see the town? Because the big trees, right, the big tall trees, and you couldn't see the bottom where you get on the chairlift. And I thought, have we made a mistake? And so I thought, well, maybe if we get to the center of the bridge, the belly of the bridge, yeah, they'll be able to see the park. You know, that's the highest spot and everything, you know, so then the awful fires come, right? And then it wipes out everything. But, but in turn we had to cut all those standing trees because over 90% of those big, huge Oak trees were compromised. Poplar trees, tulip poplar trees, the big poplar trees, they were compromised, so we cut them down. The silver lining around the cloud, what'd that do? We've always had a wonderful panoramic view, but man did that. When those trees. When those burnt trees hit the ground, wow, what a panoramic view it gave us. [33:54] Speaker A: Well, where we're seated right now had the exact same story. So this is eight and a half acres, and there were hundreds of trees, and it had a very small sliver of a view. But when the fires occurred, we had to do the same thing. The arborist said, these. These are. These are dangerous, and they're done, and you gotta protect anyone that would be walking around. And so when we cut the trees down, we were like, wow, has this always been out? I know. It has always been there, and it's a treasure. [34:22] Speaker B: Wow. You know, but you do. And it just opened up a view for us, and it just helped us do what our goal is to enhance the view of the Great Smoky Mountains, man. [34:33] Speaker A: So question on that. Have you replanted local, indigenous. Indigenous trees? [34:38] Speaker B: But you know, how the good Lord just provides. A lot of people will say, now, did you plant those pines that's down there? They came back. [34:49] Speaker A: They just came back. [34:50] Speaker B: It was amazing the way that. But we did. We did plant around a thousand saplings also. You know, some of the areas we had to do heavy construction of having to make cut roads to pull the old trees up the lift line and things like that. So we had to, you know, skid those trees back up the mountain. So that scarred the property a little bit. So we did plant about a thousand pine trees in those areas. But the regrowth has just been amazing of how it replaced. [35:22] Speaker A: It's been eight years. [35:23] Speaker B: It's been eight years. It's hard to believe. [35:25] Speaker A: It's amazing what healing has occurred. [35:28] Speaker B: It has. We've got trees down there now from those eight years, and shoot, they're getting close to 20ft high. I mean, the little saplings, it's just all of a sudden, they're sprouting up. It's just amazing. I still have to pinch myself, and I'm standing there looking, saying, this is where we're at right now after seeing what we've seen. [35:52] Speaker A: So your father was the general manager. He was general manager, and now you're the general manager. How many employees do you have? [35:59] Speaker B: When my father was there, we just had the skylift, right? And we had the little viewing area at top with the little coin Operated views. [36:08] Speaker A: Are they still there? [36:08] Speaker B: Yeah, we've got some up there still. But at that time, at top rate in middle of the summer, we had 25 employees that was running, that was all throttles. Right now we're right at 100 employees. [36:25] Speaker A: That's great. [36:26] Speaker B: And you talk about a little shock for me. I was general manager before and then after and just, you know, making sure you can't handle everything. Now you gotta learn how to delegate. When you get that many people, you gotta rely on your team, right? [36:44] Speaker A: That's right. [36:45] Speaker B: And so that was a lesson I had learned. And you gotta learn. It's harder to learn names, you know, but you want to be. You want to be as close to people as you can. [36:54] Speaker A: Do you have any family members working for you now? [36:57] Speaker B: I've got a nephew, he's the director of operations. My son, both my sons worked there also. My youngest son, Marcus Watson was. He was director of marketing there and then he's down in Pigeon Forge now. He's over top. He's a director of marketing at Top Concepts. There are different attractions and candy stores and just a lot of different businesses. He's had the opportunity to working with great team down there with Chuckie Blaylock and just a phenomenal team. And then my oldest son who was a lift operator here and he was ticket seller here, he's off at in Collegedale down near Chattanooga. He's the tax director for Little Debbie Snack Cakes. [37:47] Speaker A: Oh, good. [37:48] Speaker B: So the Lord just provided a wonderful job for him and the way that all worked out. But. But he and his family are down there. So yeah, all of our families had a little touch. My sister who was six years older than I, she also, she sold tickets, you know, down there. So we kept it the family. [38:07] Speaker A: And you probably have some employees that have been with you for as long as you've worked there. [38:10] Speaker B: Yeah, we had, well, one of our latest ladies who just retired, she had put in 56 years for us. [38:18] Speaker A: Goodness. [38:19] Speaker B: She worked for my father, Ms. Bonnie Trenum. She's actually, you know, our company is. It's called Boyne Resorts. Boyne resorts. And there's 13 different resorts in the company. There are all about ski resorts, but the skylift was the second one of all the resorts and she was. Ms. Bonnie is the longest runner of the whole resort. Sold tickets for 56 years down there. [38:46] Speaker A: What a. I bet she has some stars. [38:47] Speaker B: What a champion she was. She is a jewel. [38:49] Speaker A: We'll have to get her on the podcast. That would be a treat. So when people get on the Chairlift, the sky lift. Then what do they experience when they get stop. And many people have been, but there's some people, maybe they'll listen to the podcast that haven't. Why should I go to the sky park? What would I experience? [39:04] Speaker B: You'll see one of the most beautiful views you've ever seen. You jump on the chair, you enjoy the quiet ride up to the top and what a lot of people won't do. But it's so neat to get them to do it. When they get three quarters of the way up, turn around and look, you know, because everybody's looking. But when you turn around and see the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains, it just staring you right between the eyes right there even before you get off, you know, and see that and say, wow, I'm going to get to see this when I get on up. They get to the top and that's another one of our, you might say, claim to fames. We're the only attraction, we're the only lookout area as an attraction goes. You can see the three highest peaks in the Great Smoky Mountains, you know, and so when they get off at the top, they turn around and on a beautiful day like today, there's not a cloud in the sky. You just see, you look out there and you see those, all those mountaintops. It's just, I think that's the big, that's the big one right there when you turn and see that view. But then, you know, like I said, when the fires took the souvenir shop that was rebuilt, it turned into a double, a two story shop. And it's got another wonderful opportunity to see the views from the top deck there. And then we have a water feature that you see when you get to the top, when you take the 64 steps up to the bridge abutment to cross the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. [40:34] Speaker A: That's right. [40:36] Speaker B: We're 680ft long and you can see. [40:40] Speaker A: And there's about a four foot section in the middle. That's all plexiglass. [40:43] Speaker B: That's right, actually. Yeah, we changed that. You were right there for a while. It was a small one, but then we noticed how the people. It's a true, what they say, a true pucker effect, right. They come up and it's just so fun to watch. Everybody's different, their reactions when they come to that glass. But we have 30ft of that glass, 30 now. And we're right now in the next few days replacing that because, you know, over the time we have Hiking. We've got some hiking trails. You know, and the rocks get in the shoes and it scratches the glass when they get on the bridge. So we're replacing the glass. Gonna be beautiful. But when you're standing on that glass, you're looking 150ft down. And so it just fuse, fuse, fuse. [41:25] Speaker A: Up, down and all around, up, down, all around. I love. You've got the fire feature up there, the fire pit, rocking chairs. Yeah. [41:32] Speaker B: And as we speak, we're hoping by Thanksgiving when you cross the bridge that's gonna be our. What we call our western plaza. And actually they're calling it Clayton's Landing. That's my father's name. I was. I was just so. I was just so thankful. Yeah. That our company wanted to do that. But you'll be at Clayton's Landing and you'll have another plaza area just like you've got on the east side where you first started. And there'll be more fire pits that. There'll be a wonderful viewing deck over there. You can just sit and just take in the westward. Well, all the view. But it really promotes the westward view of the Great Smokies where you don't see as many buildings, but you still get to see the town. But it's just another nice perspective. That's great of seeing that. And then you're going to find a smash burger. We're going to have a smash burger up there. So people can go get that. The best smash burger in Gatlinburg. You'll be able to get that on top of our Crockett Mountain. And you can go over and sit down in our gliders on that west side of Clayton's Landing and just enjoy your Smash burger and take in the beautiful views. [42:36] Speaker A: That's. That is awesome. [42:38] Speaker B: By the fire pit, right? [42:39] Speaker A: Yes. All weather. [42:40] Speaker B: Yeah. [42:41] Speaker A: All times a year. And then once you buy a ticket, can you go up multiple times or is it. [42:44] Speaker B: You can. We do have a all day wristband you can purchase and you come back till we close. This is many times you like and I really like for people to do that if they do arrive a day. Because my favorite time up there is right when the lights start coming on downtown. You have the silhouette of the Great Smoky Mountains. And so come back of a night and just sit and enjoy that. And you know we have music up there. We've got acoustical music. [43:14] Speaker A: Have you played up there? I've played up there. [43:16] Speaker B: We actually My Misty river played the grand opening of the. Of the Skybridge. [43:21] Speaker A: That's great. [43:21] Speaker B: But we've got a phenomenal guitarist up there, Richard Bennett, and he plays along with. He'll bring friends that very accomplished musicians. So it's something about the acoustical music and a rocking chair and looking out at the Great Smoky Mountains. That's a wonderful menu. That's just a wonderful recipe right there. Enjoy that music and get you some hot chocolate or whatever and just sit there, man, and just, you know, when. [43:49] Speaker A: You think of all of the high intense attractions, but yours is such a peaceful, relaxing. It creates moments. [44:01] Speaker B: It does. [44:02] Speaker A: It feels like, gosh, I'm going back to the 50s. [44:05] Speaker B: It really does. And we want to create that. You know, we keep saying, listen, there's wonderful attractions in our town. Wonderful attractions. But we want to be and stay with what got us where we're at. And it's those beautiful mountains that God put right out there in front of us to come up here and enjoy for generations and generations of families. But we just want to be always say, let's do something that an 8 year old and an 80 year old can all do. [44:33] Speaker A: I love that. [44:34] Speaker B: And that's kind of our. That's kind of our deal, you know. [44:38] Speaker A: Because those eight year olds, before you know it, become 80 year olds. [44:42] Speaker B: Yeah. [44:43] Speaker A: And our life flies by and it goes those moments that have been created over time. And when we go back to those moments, it creates something deep within our soul that makes us feel at rest. [44:56] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. [44:58] Speaker A: I think you've captured this is that is the heart of Gatlinburg. And you can experience that here more than maybe many other places around the country. [45:06] Speaker B: Yeah. I like to call it thrill. No skill. Hey, come on. You know, just come on up. You don't enjoy because everybody. There's something about those mountains that everybody tends to like. [45:18] Speaker A: That's awesome. Well, Randy, it's just so great to have you here today to share your stories, to learn more about you. And next time when we meet, I'm gonna have to hear a little bit more about Susan's stories. [45:30] Speaker B: Absolutely. [45:31] Speaker A: We'll have her on a podcast eventually too, to share maybe some Randy Watson stories. But so great to have you. Thank you so much for being such a vibrant part of this community and also really representing the heart and soul of Gatlinburg. So thanks for being with us, Randy. [45:47] Speaker B: Thank you so much. [45:49] Speaker A: Thank you for joining me on this episode of for the Love of Gatlinburg. I hope you enjoyed exploring the stories that weave together the rich tapestry of our mountain town. Whether you're reminiscing about past visits or dreaming of your next adventure. Remember that every corner of Gatlinburg has a story waiting to be discovered. If you loved what you heard today, please take a moment to subscribe, rate and review our podcast. Your support helps us share the charm and history of Gatlinburg with even more listeners. And don't forget to connect with us on social media. Until next time, keep the spirit of Gatlinburg alive in your hearts. Safe travels and see you soon.