Fires in Gatlinburg Claim Westgate resort!

[PeterS Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close PeterS]

Just saw this on the news...

Looks like the resort of over 100 buildings is completely gone...

Check online news for updates...

(not sure which forum this should be in so feel free to move it where appropriate.)

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

4 dead, several buildings destroyed More info when I get it. Gatlinburg will never b e the same. So far Dollywood has been spared This is so sad. My friend was there staying at a ts but I don't know which one They were evacuated,

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

the wife of one of the fireman was posting on Facebook. the fireman were trapped, but finally got out. so many people were trapped because downed trees were blocking roads. It is so terrible.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I did not try really hard, but I could not find anything saying Wastegate was destroyed. It was mentioned briefly in some of the articles, and a couple Honeymooning there was interviewed in NBC Nightly News.

Anyone got a "destroyed" link? I'll look some more.

It appears Dollywood dodged the bullet, and will re-open Friday.

[Larry Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Larry]

I did not try really hard, but I could not find anything saying Wastegate was destroyed. It was mentioned briefly in some of the articles, and a couple Honeymooning there was interviewed in NBC Nightly News.

Anyone got a "destroyed" link? I'll look some more.

It appears Dollywood dodged the bullet, and will re-open Friday.

There are several posts and links on TUG regarding destruction of Westgate property.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

The video is pretty choppy, but it looks like only a handful of buildings survived

http://wate.com/2016/11/29/video-wes...linburg-fires/

[Larry Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Larry]

Looks like Tree Tops at Gatlinburg is also totaly destroyed.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

I saw a before and after picture of westgate, just the shell of the buildings remained


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Orlando Sentinel:

"Our property, the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, has sustained some damage and will be closed until further notice," said Mark Waltrip, Westgate's chief operating officer, in a statement. "At this time, there have been no reported injuries at the resort."

Videos and photos of the blaze show resort buildings completely engulfed in flames. Resort leaders said Tuesday morning all reservations through the end of the year have been canceled.

The extent of the damage has not been confirmed by leaders in the company's Orlando headquarters.
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From http://wate.com/2016/11/29/video-wes...inburg-fires/:

Scott Frederick posted a video showing the remains of Westgate Resort in Gatlinburg, where he works. The video shows several structures left in ruin.

Westgate Resorts issued an official statement Monday afternoon about the current situation there and immediate future plans for the resort.

“A massive forest fire in and around the City of Gatlinburg has prompted an evacuation of the surrounding area. Our property, the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, has sustained some damage and will be closed until further notice. At this time, there have been no reported injuries at the resort. We will post updates to our website as more information becomes available. At this time, we are asking everyone to join us in their thoughts and prayers for our team members, our brave first responders and entire community.”

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville...hoo&yptr=yahoo

A severe drought and gusty winds helped fuel wildfires in and around the popular tourist town of Gatlinburg overnight.

The Gatlinburg Fire Department ordered a mandatory evacuation on Monday. According to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, hundreds of structures have burned in Gatlinburg, a popular entryway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. According to a news alert from TEMA, Westgate Resorts is believed to be completely destroyed (including more than 100 buildings), and Black Bear Falls has likely lost every cabin. (The advisory also said that Ober Gatlinburg, a longtime tourist draw, had reportedly been destroyed, but Ober Gatlinburg tweeted Tuesday morning that its "property is okay.")

I got to hike in Smoky from the Asheville, NC area last May and only a tiny bit.

My prayers go out to the people that live in the area and the folks fighting the fire.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

It's curious why Westgate is not saying the same thing about itself that others are saying about it.

Well, it is for me.

If the resort is "destroyed", why would they not say that?

YMMV

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Are you asking why Westgate won't tell the truth ?

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

One site said Ober Gatlinburg was safe, and the town of Gatlinburg was okay; also minimal damage to buildings in the national park.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

It's curious why Westgate is not saying the same thing about itself that others are saying about it.

Well, it is for me.

If the resort is "destroyed", why would they not say that?

YMMV

Actually, I'm picturing David Siegel calling someone at the resort and asking, "Have you looked outside?"

By the way, folks, I get it . . . some folks are saying Wastegate is destroyed. I'm not saying it's not. I'm not picking a fight with y'all. I'm just saying what I've said, that Wastegate isn't saying.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

Fire - Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa Early Morning Nove...Fire - Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa Early Morning November 29th, 2016. Earlier today Tennessee Emergency Management Agency stated that the Westgate Resort & Spa was destroyed which we've learned is incorrect. However, there appears to be several buildings damaged and destroyed but as seen in this video the facility was not completely destroyed as stated. Scott Frederick is a Independent Contractor at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and he took a few videos which we've combined them together. Scott not only is employed there he also resides at the resort and we want to thank him for allowing us to use his videos and we're glad that he wasn't injured.Thank you Scott for sharing what you experienced.
—https://www.facebook.com/SouthBeachM...6745535034500/