Can someone tell me about the Rogersville area?

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Well, it's official, we're becoming Tennessians! We have had a great trip-fell in love with the state the first day we were in-country. Landed in Nashville about midnight, headed East early the next morning, looked at a place by Rogersville that afternoon. That one didn't do it for us. Over the next couple of days we saw places around Watauga Lake, Dandridge and one way up in the mountains. Our realtor was an awesome trooper. A place popped on on Zillow in Del Rio, we saw it at 7:00 pm, made an offer, and after a somewhat stressful wait, it was accepted! Gotta go back and finish some projects on our house in Idaho and get it on the market, hope to be moved in by late August or September!

Met some really nice people and had some really great conversations. Love the state-reminds me of Idaho, but with broadleaf trees rather than pines-and no 5 months of winter! Our place is in the Cherokee National Forest-a good fit for us. Pretty excited right now!

[VinceTheExplorer]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

Well, it's official, we're becoming Tennessians! We have had a great trip-fell in love with the state the first day we were in-country. Landed in Nashville about midnight, headed East early the next morning, looked at a place by Rogersville that afternoon. That one didn't do it for us. Over the next couple of days we saw places around Watauga Lake, Dandridge and one way up in the mountains. Our realtor was an awesome trooper. A place popped on on Zillow in Del Rio, we saw it at 7:00 pm, made an offer, and after a somewhat stressful wait, it was accepted! Gotta go back and finish some projects on our house in Idaho and get it on the market, hope to be moved in by late August or September!

Met some really nice people and had some really great conversations. Love the state-reminds me of Idaho, but with broadleaf trees rather than pines-and no 5 months of winter! Our place is in the Cherokee National Forest-a good fit for us. Pretty excited right now!

That’s great news! Del Rio is a nice, peaceful area. Great access to everything outdoors but “out in the sticks” to some. We love it there and have passed through many times on our way to places like Max Patch and Hot Springs, which you’ll have great access to as well as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

The CNF is a true gem so be sure to check out places like Lovers Leap, Paint Rock, Max Patch and the Laurel River when you land. Lots of great hiking and trails nearby to explore so good luck!

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

Well, it's official, we're becoming Tennessians! We have had a great trip-fell in love with the state the first day we were in-country. Landed in Nashville about midnight, headed East early the next morning, looked at a place by Rogersville that afternoon. That one didn't do it for us. Over the next couple of days we saw places around Watauga Lake, Dandridge and one way up in the mountains. Our realtor was an awesome trooper. A place popped on on Zillow in Del Rio, we saw it at 7:00 pm, made an offer, and after a somewhat stressful wait, it was accepted! Gotta go back and finish some projects on our house in Idaho and get it on the market, hope to be moved in by late August or September!

Met some really nice people and had some really great conversations. Love the state-reminds me of Idaho, but with broadleaf trees rather than pines-and no 5 months of winter! Our place is in the Cherokee National Forest-a good fit for us. Pretty excited right now!

Congrats! Very cool.

That's a stunningly beautiful area you bought in.

The winters over there will be much, much easier than what you are used to. You might get 2 or 3 "big" several inch snows. A lot of light snows, but nothing bad.

Winter is 2-3 months, tops, with 50-60 degree days sprinkled in.

So close to everything too, as compared to out west.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Originally Posted by VinceTheExplorer

That’s great news! Del Rio is a nice, peaceful area. Great access to everything outdoors but “out in the sticks” to some. We love it there and have passed through many times on our way to places like Max Patch and Hot Springs, which you’ll have great access to as well as Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
The CNF is a true gem so be sure to check out places like Lovers Leap, Paint Rock, Max Patch and the Laurel River when you land. Lots of great hiking and trails nearby to explore so good luck!

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

Congrats! Very cool.

That's a stunningly beautiful area you bought in.

The winters over there will be much, much easier than what you are used to. You might get 2 or 3 "big" several inch snows. A lot of light snows, but nothing bad.

Winter is 2-3 months, tops, with 50-60 degree days sprinkled in.

So close to everything too, as compared to out west.

Thanks! We headed back over to the house today to look things over again, and got to meet the neighbors. They are really nice, have been mowing the yard for the former owners and said they will continue to do so until we move in. Best of all there is a little bar/campground about 4 miles from the house with a sign saying "bikers paradise"-works for me. Today we drove down to Hot Springs, and took the long way back to Pigeon Forge (where we're staying for a couple nights). Getting really excited for the move.

[VinceTheExplorer]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

Thanks! We headed back over to the house today to look things over again, and got to meet the neighbors. They are really nice, have been mowing the yard for the former owners and said they will continue to do so until we move in. Best of all there is a little bar/campground about 4 miles from the house with a sign saying "bikers paradise"-works for me. Today we drove down to Hot Springs, and took the long way back to Pigeon Forge (where we're staying for a couple nights). Getting really excited for the move.

We love Hot Springs and almost bought a home there on a creek in the downtown area. Owner just wanted too much $$$ for all of the issues it had so in the end we walked on the deal, eventually finding our spot in Erwin.

HS is a pretty remote area but also very pretty, just like Del Rio which to us would be a fine area to call home but we have children in school so easy access to schools and college is a necessity ... for now.

Be sure to take a road trip to nearby Asheville for a fun time or over to the Cherokee / Bryson City area. Deep Creek in Bryson City has great tubing and camping. Planning our annual trip there sometime in July which always ends up being a great time.

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

Originally Posted by VinceTheExplorer

We love Hot Springs and almost bought a home there on a creek in the downtown area. Owner just wanted too much $$$ for all of the issues it had so in the end we walked on the deal, eventually finding our spot in Erwin.

HS is a pretty remote area but also very pretty, just like Del Rio which to us would be a fine area to call home but we have children in school so easy access to schools and college is a necessity ... for now.

Be sure to take a road trip to nearby Asheville for a fun time or over to the Cherokee / Bryson City area. Deep Creek in Bryson City has great tubing and camping. Planning our annual trip there sometime in July which always ends up being a great time.

Really looking forward to the opportunity to get to explore the area and meet some more people. The area itself really impressed me, very pretty country, all along East TN. Well, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg aren't my cup of tea, way too crowded, touristy and overdone. But most everywhere else I went was wonderful! We spend a couple nights in Townsend and I really enjoyed that area.

What made the biggest impression on me was the friendliness of the people. First night there, I walked across the street from our hotel to a convenience store to buy a map (in Bulls Gap)-spent probably 45 minutes talking with the manager about the area, housing, etc. No map there (seems like most places don't sell them any longer with the prevalence of cell phones, I still like one for the "big picture" when planning a route). Anyway, went down the street to another store and asked a person working there-same deal-no maps. But-he gave me his Atlas he had in his car-tried to pay him for it, he wouldn't take anything. Just one example, throughout the trip, people were uniformly nice. To the point it makes me want to be a better person!

Another observation-I had seen some comments on an East TN Facebook page about slow drivers, so I was kinda expecting that. I learned it was quite the opposite-I was consistently running 10 over...and getting my doors blown off. Best of all, people know how to drive and don't sit in the fast lane! Makes me think some people take Nascar pretty seriously! Which is one other thing that makes me happy-Newport has a race track! I used to enjoy going to them growing up-several near where I lived in WNY. Not much here in Idaho, just one short (I think 1/4 mile) track in NID.

Also very impressed with the roads-nice condition, without the ruts from studded tires that we have, and very few potholes or chip-sealed roads. And as far as motorcycle roads-outstanding! We took a ride and did the Cherahola Skyway and Tail of the Dragon. Unfortunately in a rental car, can't wait to get there on a bike! Looks like lots of nice little roads to explore on an adventure bike as well. Our road ("Old 15th") turns to gravel a few miles past the house, and goes on for a good while.

[vintagemorgans]

So, Toyman, we used to live in Athol, ID and now live west of Spokane. We are considering a move to East Tennessee and I have enjoyed hearing about your adventure. Some of the same reasons as you listed.
It's not just the 5 months of winter, but the drought and fire danger really ruins the summer months.
We want rural acreage.
Please keep posting about your experiences.