Thanks bushpilot!

Thanks Bushpilot! Great idea to start the map thing. I think I marked my spot up on Minneapolis (I'm in St. Paul but apparently Google thinks Minneapolis is more important than St. Paul, even though St. Paul is the capitol of MN).

Man we really have to zoom out to see / find Bob ;)
You can change the icon too if y'all like.

Looks like we are all over the place! If i get to come and the wife comes to, there has to be shopping, or fishing or something besides BS and beer!
We have her house on vacation rental and August is Full and Sept is almost. So time is limited in the next few months. Gatlinburg is great and lots of shopping to do for the women. I love the idea! Sam

I'm good with a 10 hour drive from home for a "long weekend" that puts Gatlinburg on the far end but doable. Sure would be nice to put some faces to the ones who encouraged my through the process.

With enough time/planning anything is possible, I think this is something to consider for next year but am open to suggestions.

Anchors Down RV Resort is centrally situated (In Tennessee).

Calculating milage for those at the edge/distance wise....

under 1000 miles for both Bob86ZZ4 (Bob W) & I
650 miles for Solo318i (Stephen)
400 for Petrel


I marked Anchors Down Resort (Dandridge Tennessee) on our map.

Many of the (concrete pads) RV slots at Anchors Down Resort have outdoor fire places (see attached picture) and all the sites have a great view.

There is LOTS of fishing at Douglas Lake and Anchors Down Resort has its own boat launch as well as rentals for: golf carts, jet skis, pontoon boat.

There are other resorts slightly closer to Knoxville, but they don't seem as nice -

Riverside RV Park & Resort
Two Rivers Landing RV Resort

Knoxville is 25 miles from Anchors Down (less from the Other resorts).
There are all kinds of OUTLETS (shopping) less than 15 miles away too (since someone mentioned that).

I know there is consistently the cheapest fuel at exit 412 on i40 (4 miles from the RV campground)...and there is a Loves truck/tire stop at the same exit.

Anyway just thinking out loud....

I like the way this is heading. My only drawback about this place is the probable tears when we leave the lake. :)
The reviews make it sound hard to get reservations, So proper planning would be needed.

I would say spring or fall (so we can take advantage of the fire places) ;)
But even the hottest summer in Tennessee is cooler than Texas (or Florida).

I know about the Loves Truck Stop and Fuel - because we stop there for (cheap) fuel and its close to where I had the steer tire blow-out....there is a great CB Shop there too (If you're looking for some high power, Illegal, stuff) ;)

As it turns out - I also discovered that I know some folks in the Dandridge Tn.....with the sheriff's department.....and they're connected to the Anchors Down RV Resort owner (I don't know if it'll help us but ill certainly leverage any relationship that I can). Our friends kids have even worked at Anchors Down & I'm told they run a tight & orderly ship, no pun intended.

I know some local sheriffs officers here. But mostly because they like the picture on my D.L.

Meet and Greet
 

i would love to try and meet up as a group. I’ve met a few in my travels and I attended the East Coast HDT rally in TN once. Very nice group. Keep me posted. I’m in western N.C. most of the year and winter at my home in FL. Ronnie
2014 HaulMark usually towing a 2009 Jeep Wrangler

Anchor down would be awesome,I agree about the next year timing also. My twin boys are wanting to go and play in the lake! Close to summer is good for me, but this place seems to book up pretty fast. Was browsing around on their website and it was booked through August and maybe longer for this year.

We're flexible - no kids at home (I work from home).

Im sure we'll be in Virginia the late part of May (Grandson's birthday) - so either side of that would work well but, I'm not afraid to drive.

Folks chime in w/ dates (holiday weekends could make availability a challenge)....I'll be happy to call and ask for rates / availability if we can get a RANGE (to check available weekends).

The rules for the Anchor resort have a little line in there that reads: CAMPER / RV: All units must be factory manufactured only.

Do you think that may cause a problem for some of our members?

I doubt it, I mean how would anyone know.

It reminds of the airstream crap "air streams are hand build"....well DUH, ALL trailers, 5er's and Coaches are hand built....even our Haulmark!

Truck conversions aren't stamped out like cars on a automated assembly line.

Ive been places where people ask (when we made a reservation) what year our coach was....I told 'em what they wanted to hear.

Its not like even the most savy folks (like us) can tell the year by looking at 'em.

Freightliner used the Columbia Cab/Body for more than 10 years....mine could be a 2010 for all people know.

Ok. Although it is buried pretty deep in their rules, I'd hate for someone to be excluded.

Well if one of you fellas is willing to pay for the weekend. I'll drive up and see if the squawk about mine. :)

I am in for sure that's just a hop skip and a jump for me!

Sam

Let's get this going! Any ideas for dates?

I was in Pigeon forge this past week. We took a drive over to Anchors Down campground.


NICE place. They were closed when we were there but we drove through anyway. they had only one rv in the place and it looked like employees. The sites looked ok but I would question the size for our rigs. roads were on the narrow side and NO ROOM FOR TRAILERS. they have overflow parking but it's extra cost. It looks very high end.
I would stay there for a rally, But I would not choose to camp there otherwise. My wife and I are planning to head back that way this spring. We'll pop in and see what it looks like occupied. Most of the activities seem to be based upon the lake access.


T mobile cell service was non existent.



This trip we stayed in the Pigeon forge KOA. The roads were just as narrow and the spaces just as tight, BUT it is walking distance to the trolleys and the old mill. The "upper spaces" nearest to Veterans drive were very nice.

There was 2 other conversions there as well. A Gentleman with a converted Columbia and a HUGE renegade on a Volvo chassis.

If your still there, check out Riveredge RV Park

Address: 4220 Huskey St, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
We stay there a lot and have no problem with our 42'.


Also we have stayed once here, Not as big or nice, but we fit and that is all we were looking for that trip.
Riverbend Campground
Address: 2479 Riverbend Loop # 1, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863