In Dolly’s Footsteps: New Self-Guided Walking Tour in Downtown Sevierville

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There is a new, self-guided walking tour in downtown Sevierville that features places where Dolly spent time when she was a child. Created by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce and local historian, Carroll McMahan, this free experience takes you to nine locations that were important hometown spots for Dolly, with stories, photos, and videos that can be uploaded to your cell phone at each location.

Here are the nine stops on the In Dolly’s Footsteps self guided walking tour.

  • Dolly Parton Statue (125 Court Avenue)
  • The original Red’s Cafe (119 Court Avenue)
  • Carr Dry Goods Co. (140 Court Avenue)
  • Temple Milling Company (106 Bruce Street)
  • Raymond’s Shoe Store (110 Bruce Street)
  • Easy Way Five and Dime Store (137 Bruce Street)
  • Kilpatrick’s Drug Store (139/159 Bruce Street)
  • Old Post Office (167 Bruce Street)
  • The Pines Theater (230 Court Avenue) where Dolly had her first paying performance.

First, start at the Sevier County Courthouse and find the Dolly statue. Next, find the granite and bronze square on the sidewalk and find the QR code on a white card in front of you.

Next, open your mobile device and press the yellow box found at the bottom of the QR code box to open the presentation. Then, scroll to read and listen to items that interest you in the tour.
Screenshot of the webpage that opens in your phone.
Screenshot of a video of Dolly herself that you can watch during the tour .

Look for the granite and bronze markers to find the QR codes.

I may not have found the QR code for one of the spots until a lady called it to my attention. Can you see it? I like this location!

I didn’t know all of the locations downtown in Dolly’s early life so I used the addresses above to guide me. It is quite easy to take the tour and go at your own pace. Sundays are a very quiet and peaceful day to do this tour and parking is plentiful

As an appropriate end to the tour, I sure many visitors will return to the statue of Dolly Parton for a final look and photo.

Dolly Parton was a beloved artist and philanthropist in this area so this new experience honors her in a unique way. The Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, Carroll McMahan, and all those involved in the Walking in Dolly’s Footsteps self-guided tour have created an extraordinary experience for visitors and locals to learn more about Dolly Parton. I was very impressed and will bring friends to see it as well as recommend it to everyone.

From this tour, you can see where Dolly Parton was out and about in Sevierville.

See you at the statue.

Footsteps to Faith: Meet Local Author of a Hiker’s Prayer Journal for Walking the Camino De Santiago

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Walking the Camino de Santiago ( The Way of St. James) in Spain is well known as a spiritual pilgrimage. There are physical and mental challenges, highs, lows, astonishing landscapes, and spiritual benefits for those who attempt any part of the trek. I know because I was lucky to walk 171.5 miles in June 2022 with my friend, Lisa Stone. Three years later, Lisa finished the Camino Frances route with her niece, Jessica. From start to finish, the entire route is about 490 miles in all and it is quite an accomplishment to complete it.

Screenshot from Inspiring Maps.com.

As a result, Lisa’s trek inspired her to write a prayer journal for other pilgrims, titled Pilgrimage with the Psalms. Within the book, there are 30 journal days, each with a specific Psalm excerpt, and a spiritual prompt for the day’s journey. The prayer journal accompanies the Camino, but would actually fit any journey you may wish to take.

Earilier this year, April 2026, Lisa presented a session about her journey at the Sevierville Public Library.

At the presentation, Lisa talked about the history and different routes of the Camino in Spain.

Packing information and useful items.

Lisa gave the audience a wide overview of the trek and told of her inspiration to write a prayer journal.

We had the opportunity to buy books and have them signed by the author at the end. Of course, I got one and hope to use it some day!

In addition, Lisa has written a Spanish version of her book for those who want that language option. Excellente!

Exciting news…Now, you have a second chance to meet this author and learn about her book: Pilgrimage With the Psalms.

Come meet local author, Lisa Stone, at the Sevier County Public Library 2026 Literary Showcase on Saturday, October 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the King Family Library, located at 408 High Street in Sevierville.

Screenshot of the event info from the Sevier County Public Library Facebook page.
Screenshot of author, Lisa Stone, from the Sevier County Public Library Facebook page.
Screenshot from the Sevier County Public Library Facebook page. Follow the library Facebook page— I did. Lots of great community activities going on!

Lisa Stone has a new website at Soloadventuringwithlisa.com

The author can be contacted for book information and speaking events at this email address lisamcintyrestone@gmail.com

A QR code to order books below.

See you Saturday at the Literary Showcase.

Buen Camino!

Thank you, Dolly.

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Here, I share the love of Dolly through art that I have found over the years.

In the lower level of DreamMore Resort, Dollywood.
Young Dolly enjoying her favorite hamburger at Red’s Cafe. Mural on Bruce Street.
Young Dolly Parton with country music legends on Court Avenue. She performed at the Pines location when she was 10 years old. A star was born.

Dolly mural near Asheville, North Carolina.

Art on the wall in the the Central Cofee shop in downtown Sevierville.
Mural in downtown Knoxville.

Dolly definitely won the hearts of the world.

Without a doubt, Dolly is the best thing to ever come from Tennessee.

Thank you, Dolly.

Fresh and Clean: The Laundry Opens in Sevierville

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My no-frills washer and dryer has a hard time with large, bulky items so I got excited when a Facebook friend mentioned a new laundry in town that she had used to clean her comforter. The Laundry has opened in a convenient location in Sevierville so I made a trip to check it out with a duvet cover that needed attention. Having not used a laundrymat in years, I did a quick orientation and was ready to go.

First, I appredicated the automatic doors as they prove to be handy when one has one’s hand’s full with baskets and bags of laundry items. Excellent start!

The interior is clean with ample lighting through the front windows.

There are different washers for about every possible load size.

I had to orient myself from coin laundry to digital laundry payments and notifications, but it was so much easier and it wasn’t hard to do.

There seemed to be at least two bathrooms and both were spotless. There are snacks and laundry items that you can buy, but bringing your own would be most economical. I did not see any single load boxes of soap so I made note to bring my own next time.

I forgot to take soap, but there is a Dollar General store just a half mile away so I will remember to take my own pods on the next trip.

I was really glad that I saw this sign so I didn’t place the washing powder in the wrong place—because I was about to. I saw this just in time.

The Touch Plus Control is easy to use.

I had heard that college laundries had text notifications when the machines finish so I got to experience that for the first time. I also sat on a seat by the front door and had a clear view of the machine—just in case. The bright sunlight was good for reading and texting.

In the late morning,it got a little busy with locals doing laundry for cabin rentals and other businesses, but I found them very helpful when I had a question and they were very focussed on getting work done. It was a good vibe. My duvet cover was done after two sessions in the dryer and then I was ready to go.

The Laundry is located at 1012 Blue Ribbon Dr, just off Middle Creek Rd. in a new development.

There are several things close by so you can mark some other things off your list while there.

I have not used a laudrymat in years so I am not sure what the prices are now, but I felt safe, comfortable, and close to other things so it was worth it for me to wash a bulky duvet cover there. I will go back again.

The Laundry is a nice addition to that part of Sevierville and is a comfortable place to clean clothes. Efficient and modern, I think that it serves the community and local businesses very well. When it is time to get some bulky items fresh and clean that don’t fit in my small washer and dryer then I will return to the Laundry.

See you fresh and clean out and about in Sevierville.

Dinner at Do

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Last Sunday evening, we decided to have dinner for the first time at a fairly new restaurant in downtown Sevierville. Do (pronounced ‘dough’) is an Italian restaurant that features scratch made pasta and pizza baked in a stone-fired oven. We tried a little bit of everything and liked it all.

Do is located across the street from the Sevier County Court House at 160 Court Avenue and around the corner from the ‘sister restaurant,’ Graze Burgers. Because it is open for dinner only, parking should not be a problem. On weekends, parking will be even better. When we went on a Sunday evening, we were able to park on the street and very close to the restaurant. Convenient!

The design is upscale, and modern, yet comfortable and intimate. The large windows add ample light in the open area and you can look into the kitchen, if you like. This would be a good place to have a graduation party or any other celebration. We could tell that Do is a place to take one’s time and enjoy a meal like the European way. And so we did.

Tables are attractive and ready to serve.

The table lamps are pretty as the sun sets behind the courthouse.

The bar is cozy and offers refreshment and entertainment on the large TV.

We looked at the menu and decided to order what we wanted, but to split a pizza—which was the perfect balance.

Here is a link to the menu.

https://dopizzapasta.com/sevierville-do-scratch-made-pizza-and-pasta-food-menu

I started with a side salad that was quite fresh and packed with greens.

Friends enjoyed the Italian sausage and potato soup with two pieces of Italian bread on top. Next time, I may try the chicken and white bean soup.

We decided to share a Neopolitan mushroom pizza. The waiter alerted us that it did not have a red pizza sauce, but we decided to try it—and it was excellent. Four ladies were able to have one generous slice + half of another. That is all we wanted with our soup or salad. There are many tempting items on the menu that are worth exploring in the future. In addition, the children’s menu looked good, including a child’s pizza.

We did not order dessert, but the Tiramisu and Lemon Italian Cream cake looked divine.

Although we walked in at a good time to get a table, I would recommend having a reservation in advance.

Hours are Sunday – Thursday 4pm to 9pm.

Friday – Saturday 4pm to 10 pm.

Our waiter was very efficient and helpful, but not intrusive. He did a great job and kept things moving, but at a relaxed pace.

Here is a link to the Do website. You can see a menu and order online as well.

https://dopizzapasta.com/

As we prepared to leave, we walked by this large table with a good view of the street and the courthouse. This would be my favorite table for a larger group.

A quiet Bruce Street on a Sunday evening.

As you can see, Sunday evenings are great time to try Do restuarant in downtown Sevierville. We will return again and wish it much success!

See you out and about in Sevierville.

Meek’s Kitchen: Best Burgers in Tennessee

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It took 5 months since they opened, but we finally made it to Meek’s Kitchen—and we weren’t disappointed. It is the best hamburger that I have had in Tennessee. Even more, it is tied for first place with my favorite burger ever: Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. Things could not have been better because we got the best seats in the kitchen, across from the grill, and got to observe the kitchen in action.

First, you need to know that Meek’s Kitchen is located in a Marathon gas station across the street from the Sevierville Walmart on the parkway. (Yes, the really busy one). Lisa and I have visited Gas Station Tacos in Pigeon Forge so going into a gas station for lunch was not unusual for me, an adventurous foodie. We went at noon, a busy time, but easily found parking on the side of the Marathon station and walked in to find our friend Anita.

As luck would have it, Anita got there first and saved us seats at the counter, right in front of the grill so we got a really good view of the busy kitchen.

You come here ready for a hamburger or hot dog and the menu delivers. I found the prices to be excellent due to the high quality product.

Meek’s uses grass fed ground beef in the ‘smash burger’style. The flavor is everything that you want in burger.

Order at the counter or the cash register and you can watch the work in progress.

There is also an interesting warm potato salad dish that I will try some day.

A big advantage to having lunch in a gas station is the access to any kind of drink that you could want. We were able to have caffeine free Diet Sprite, which is hard to find in eateries. Definitely a perk!

Burgers are all cooked fresh and fries and onion rings are hot. I love burgers served like this! This photo is the first option on the menu, the Gourmet Cheeseburger.

Each burger contains two 3 ounce patties with spring mix lettuce on a brioche bun. The brioche bun is my favorite and the best choice for this kind of burger. They were outstanding and we had to get ‘to go’ boxes to finish the rest later as the burgers were generous portions.

I have been reading my friend Tad’s assessments for Meek’s Kitchen for 5 months and it was even better than I imagined so Anita, Melinda, and I plan to go back again and again. Meek’s Kitchen delivers an outstanding hamburger and fries,etc. You will not be disappointed.

My friend Tad says, ” nothing will ever top a REAL Frank Allen’s cheeseburger, but Meek’s Kitchen comes very close! They do have the original recipe for Frank’s slaw, and it is delicious. The restaurant area is spotlessly clean, as well.”

We didn’t order cheesecake, but imagine that they are wonderful—just look at the flavors.

Here are some tips for first timers.

  1. Meek’s Kitchen is quite popular so this is a place that you may not be able to grab a quick lunch. Plan for it to take a while to order and get your food, then enjoy it.
  2. I noticed the crowd thinned out more after 1:00 p.m. so a late lunch would be a good idea too.
  3. I sat across from the grill and noticed the next day that my jacket smelled like cooking hamburgers (not a bad thing), so be aware that you may attract animals or other foodies by sitting close to the grill.
  4. It looked like some customers were doing take-out so that seems to be an option.
  5. There are places to sit at a long counter and several table areas. People ordering to-go seemed to be standing around waiting for their orders so it may look more ‘peopley’ during the lunch rush. Worth the wait!

Meek’s Kitchen is a local treasure and a place that I want to go on a regular basis. It is convenient and one of the best hamburgers that I have enjoyed during my foodie adventures so I bet that you will like Meek’s Kitchen too. Who wants to go next week?

See you out and about in Sevierville.

Bertie the Dog: Sculpture of a Beloved Downtown Pet

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The Dolly Parton sculpture is the first in downtown Sevierville. A second sculpture can be found across the street from that one on Court Avenue, across from the courthouse The second sculpture is rather unique and tells an interesting story with a bit of local history. Come downtown and meet Bertie the dog.

The plaque (pictured above) tells the story according to local historian, Carroll McMahan. In this day and time, it is beyond belief that someone could send bank deposits by dog, but this was a special, trusted pet that always returned with the slip daily.

Bertie sits tall with the bank pouch in his mouth, ready to make a deposit.

I enjoyed reading this article in the local paper so I include a clipping here. The interviews and memories were special.

The Sevier County Courthouse is across the street. You can see the Dolly Parton sculpture in front of the right corner of the building.

Take a look at Bertie the dog next time that you are out and about in Sevierville.

Brunch at the Cottage in Pigeon Forge

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We noticed a new restaurant had opened to good reviews in Pigeon Forge so it was time to make a visit. In fact, I have made 2 visits in the past month with two different groups of friends who were curious and wanted to try it. The Cottage is located at 3215 Parkway in Pigeon Forge and offers breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Come along and see what we ordered on both trips.

The dining room is bright and pleasant in nuetral colors. An inviting space for brunch.

Coffee is good and I enjoyed the individual creamer. I appreciate dish ware and enjoyed the cup as well.

In addition, mimosa options can add a festive vibe to the meal.

Can’t decide? Have a mimosa ‘flight!’ Or, share a flight with friends.

Voila!

Whether an appetizer or a meal, the fried green tomatoes with a generous serving of pimento cheese and pork belly jam is filling—and shareable.

I often order avocado toast so that was an easy decision. It was served on crusty bead with two eggs to your preference. Consequently, you will be full for the next 6 hours.

Someone in your party will probably order Eggs Benedict with home fries. They look so good!

Shrimp and grits are a good choice as well.

When the server brought our plates, my friends gasped when they saw the height of my order: the egg souffle sandwich. It is a show-stopper! You will notice it immediately on the tray.

I asked if there was cheese in the egg to make it so solid. The waiter asked the cooks and they simply whip the eggs and then cook them in a narrow thing to allow the egg to climb and achieve height . It was excellent and I will order it again some day. But to be sure, I could only eat a quarter of it. Definitely be hungry to attempt the egg souffle sandwich!

The brunch menu offers both sweet and savory choices so everyone in your group should be able to find something to suit their taste. But make sure to bring an appetite if you come to the Cottage. We think that it will be nice addition to the local restaurant scene so go and enjoy!

Here is the website to learn more. https://www.thecottagepf.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL3Y3hleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5Snk3UzNuc0RrT2NKTFZQAR6PeyC-emi47bINLF4bKIdiSYK71r5D45qSGVNiH__BBXRwSdA3qpmGauBpXQ_aem_p5WbgM6Fp2d_9l3qsBHflw

Only a few miles from Sevierville, the Cottage is worthy of a visit with friends or family. Buen provecho!

Lunch at My Little Italy

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Friends and I recently met at My Little Italy restaurant to have lunch with an Italian flavor. The restuarant is located in the small, former Cheesy Steaks building on Highway 66, but has plenty of parking and dining area. We could smell the wonderful aromas of tomato and garlic as we walked into the door, signaling a good meal to come. Here is what we found.

Within a moment of entering the restuarant, I recognized that the quiet soundtrack playing in the background was correct!

We sat inside the dining area closest to the kitchen and the side door. This is an additional dining area that should accommodate customers well.

I usually like to order lasagna at Italian restaurants so I kept it the same here. There are lots of dishes to choose from and something for everyone. The owner /chef of My Little Italy spent decades working in restaurants in the Little Italy neighborhood in New York City—and you can tell because the flavors really capture that experience.

Here are the dishes that we ordered for lunch.

Greek salad was a starter.

Lasagna with plenty of sauce was excellent.

Of course, spaghetti was very good. The meat sauce was very satisfying.

And the exclamation point at the end of the meal: an order of Tiramisu to share with tablemates.

Wrapping up our meal, I asked the server who was the little boy depicted in the restuarant rugs and signage. The picture of the little boy is the server’s son, the owner’s grandson. Truly, it is a nice representation of a local family business.

You can find My Little Italy restaurant on Facebook to get the latest news. For example, there is a lunch special going on right now between 11:00-3:00 that offers pasta, house salad, drink, and bread for $12.99 . Maybe check Facebook before you visit as they will alert you if there is a repair need and they may have to close, as is the case right now with a kitchen hood repair.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574463236974

My Little Italy is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. It is closed on Sunday.

My friends and I will return again before the summer is over to have another taste of Italy. Anyone who enjoys Italian food will enjoy dining at My Little Italy on 1758 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. See you out and about in Sevierville.

Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort

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A while back, I was driving home from the REI store when I realized that I was across the street from the entrance of the Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort. Being a local, I may never stay there so I decided to go and take a peek and maybe see my friend Heidi in the coffee shop. Five minutes later, I was walking into the new resort at Dollywood. Here are the beautiful things that I saw during my quick trip to see the new Dollywood Heartsong Hotel and Resort.

There is a spectacular view when you walk into the front door of the Heartsong Hotel and Resort.

A beautiful photo of Dolly Parton in the entrance area.

Outdoor areas have multiple fire pits and seating areas. Very inviting.

I imagine that this outdoor area is pretty spectacular at night.

There are several lounges for relaxation and meeting friends.

The Acoustic Lobby was the most interesting place on the ground floor and I was attracted to the colors.

Same room, better view!

There is memorabilia in this room that requires some time to examine to appreciate it.

Things to do and open spaces to enjoy relaxing days.

The indoor pool looked rather large through the window and the gift shop had all kinds of amenities.

The coffee shop had a wide variety of treats, snacks, and things to tide you over until meal time.

Pretty things on the walls.

If I get a chance to stay overnight at the Heartsong Lodge and Resort then I will certainly do so because it is a relaxing, inviting place in the Smoky Mountains.