SWEET BERRIES B and B Only minutes from the Dragon with spectacular mountain views, covered cycle parking. All new in 2010.
GSM MOTORENT Guided and selfguided tours, dual sport motorcycle rentals. Cabin/camper rentals on Little River in scenic Townsend, TN.
SEASONS INN MOTEL BLAIRSVILLE, GA Don't miss north Georgia's great roads. historic Blairsville is a great location. Clean, family owned motel with reasonable rates.
CHEROHALA COTTAGE Near Cherohala Skyway and Tellico Plains TN, off Hwy 360. Two plus bedroom newly remodeled private country cottage. Paved access and garage.
HAMPTON INN - MURPHY NC
On US129/19/74 in Murphy. A central location for north Georgia and western North Carolina Roads.
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, ALCOA TN Locatednear the Knoxville Airport (TYS) off US-129 (Alcoa Hwy) Just 30 minutes to the Dragon.
FAIRFIELD INN, ALCOA TN Located near the Knoxville Airport (TYS) off US-129 (Alcoa Hwy) just 30 minutes to the Dragon.
LUXBURY INN & SUITES in Maryville TN less than a mile from Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson and The Shed. Convenient to the Dragon and Devils Triangle.
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS KODAK Brand New !! Near I-40, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge. Great fitness center, indoor pool, hot breakfast buffet.
WEST BUFFALO CREEK CABIN Private Creekside Cabin on paved road & driveway, on West Buffalo Creek, near Cherohala Skyway.
SNOWBIRD LOG CABIN Secluded Luxury Log Cabin on paved road, located on Snowbird Creek, one of the area's best trout streams.
BEST WESTERN DILLSBORO NC
Located on the Tukasegee River. Walk to restaurants, Smoky Mtn. Railroad and Dillsboro shops. Convenient to all area roads.
MICROTEL - BRYSON CITY NC On US74/19 and convenient to all great area roads. BRAND NEW in 2009 One mile to dining in Bryson City.
SLEEP INN BRYSON CITY NC Located in Bryson City off US-23/74 (Great Smoky Mountain Expy) 32 miles to the Dragon & Cherohala, 15 miles to Blue Ridge Parkway.
CHEROKEE REALTY Located in Robbinsville NC. Offering sales and vacation rentals on Lake Santeetlah, near the Dragon.
HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS - ALCOA TN Located near the Knoxville Airport (TYS) off US-129 (Alcoa Hwy). 30 minutes to the Dragon.
HIGHLAND MANOR TOWNSEND TN
Peaceful location near all the Great Smoky Mountain attractions. Reasonable rates, great views.
WILDWOOD DESIGNS Custom Tail of the Dragon art including this custom picture frame.
BLUE STRADA TOURS Blue Strada Motorcycle Tours has everything you need to enjoy the best American roads. They provide the bikes, luxury accommodations, great food, unique stops, and professional guide.
SOLO GAS STATIONS Solo Gas Station in Robbinsville NC is now a Tail of the Dragon Outlet. Stop and shop.
TELLICO KATS DELI
Great sandwiches at the Tellico Kats Deli on the Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains TN. Dine on the river and enjoy fresh deli sandwiches.
MOUNTAIN MOTORS Located in downtown Robbinsville. Specializing in HD service. Lots of biker gear, leathers, stickers, and gifts.
CHEROHALA MARKET Gas and food stop in Tellico Plains TN on the Cherohala Skyway.
February 6, 2010: Thanks to Darryl and Lori of Killboy.com for doing the Cleveland Show this past weekend. They will also be in Chicago Show Feb 19-21. Stop in and say hello.
The local roads are still clear after dodging another bullet. We had a torrential downpour on Friday, and the forecast is for flurries on Saturday. As of now it doesn't look like anything serious. We suggest that you stay off the Cherohala. Be sure to check the weather before heading this way this time of year. Watch-out for rock slides!!
Another landslide February 5 on the southbound spur road of US 321 from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg had traffic rerouted for a while. We expect even more of these after all the rain and freezing temperatures we've had lately. Stay alert when driving on these mountain roads.
Our Recent Trip to Charleston Read about one of the interesting restaurants you will ever hear about. Bowens Island Restaurant on the way to Folly Island is something out of the past. CLICK HERE
The Greenville SC International Motorcycle Show was great and we enjoyed some of the great places in that city. Too bad the 30 degree weather was too cold for golf. We were forced to practice putting on the hotel room floor.
The show seems to improve each year. Friday, Saturday and Sunday saw large crowds with visitors coming from Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and of course South Carolina.
This year's Ducati stunt riding show was something new. And Ducati offered free expresso at the booth.
The McCoy Motorsports crew had three T-Rexes that had Nancy and I wanting one really bad. The video they had playing was wild. We are working to have some T-Rex Dragon action in our upcoming Tail of the Dragon DVD Volume 5 available in March. CLICK HEREto see more about the McCoys
It is always good to see our friend Lee Parks. He offers one of the best riding courses available in his Total Control Level One and Level Two. Even the most experienced riders can learn more than they could imagine. See more about these classes atDragonSafe.com
We stayed at the Embassy Suites and had an excellent room. We especially enjoyed the hot breakfasts with omelettes made to order. The happy hour is always good for a free drink or two. We spent a lot of time in the pool and hot tub.
We found a good place for lunch at the Pita House on Pleasantburg Drive. This middle-eastern fare is as good as it gets, rated as one of the Ten Best Restaurants by a number of reviewers. Garlicy hummus, fresh baked pitas and meat sampler platter with tahini salad. I'm salivating as I write.
And for dinner we splurged ..... at Northhampton Wines and Cafe in downtown Greenville. Here we tasted some of the best food and wine we have ever had. First night Nancy had grilled quail with bigarade sauce and I had the mixed grill with venison, wild boar and quail. The wine, chosen by our waiter, was a perfect pino noir.
We just had to return and on the second visit Nancy had halibut while I chose the scallops. Truely exceptional was the pomegranate glaze on the scallops and the bread pudding desert. The wine, this night a white, was once again perfect.
Another treat was visiting the Whole Foods Market on Woodruff Road. It reminded us of the St Lawrence Market in Toronto, although much smaller, with a wide selection of quality foods. The third night dinner for us was pizza from the market.
We were impressed with Greenville in many ways. Not only were there great places to eat and shop, but the roads were well planned, maintained and nor overly crowded. It was easy to find our way around. Nancy went downtown every moring to run on the Richland Creek/Reedy River Trails and on the Furman University campus.
EMAIL FROM A TRUCKER DECEMBER 20: "Friday December 19, 2009 I had to come down 129 because of the winter storm. I was driving a 53 foot 18 wheeler and it was 9 PM. I had aleast 75 to 100 cars following me thanks to it being dark I didn't relize how bad it was cause if it would have been daylight I would have just parked and got out and quit. It was snowing. It was a hell of a ride. Took 4 hours to go from one end to the other! My heart has never slowed down from being so damn worked up. Worse road for a truck in the United States!"
Tail of the Dragon hopes that other truckers take note !!!
The season is about over for most riders at the Dragon. There are still good riding days ahead during the winter months, but you’ll have to plan your visits based on the weather forecast. Cages (cars) can run the Dragon just about the entire winter and have the road to themselves. There might be a day or two of snow, but it doesn’t last long.
We’d like to thank all of you who came to the Dragon and had fun this past year. We made a lot of new friends and seeing the many smiles makes it all worth while.
We were impressed with the recent Good Morning America video which brought a group of Indian Motorcycles made in North Carolina to enjoy the Tail of the Dragon. Most people agreed that GMA produced a positive review that saw the good side of it all. We don’t understand those few who criticized this entirely upbeat segment.
We are looking forward to meeting a lot more riders and drivers in 2010. We will be at the usual motorcycle shows this winter, namely Toronto (Dec 11-13), Greenville SC (Jan 8-10), Washington DC (Jan 15-17), New York NY, (Jan 22-24), Cleveland OH (Jan 29-31), and Chicago IL (Feb 19-21). Stop by our booth and say hello.
We will continue to provide breaking news about the Dragon and other area roads during the winter months. Regular updates will resume in March. We now have our 2010 Event Calendar posted. Let us know when your group plans to be here. Watch the site for a winter contest or two.
November 10 - Another rock slide, this time blocking US64 between Cleveland TN and the NC
border in the Ocoee River Gorge. Looks like it will be a couple months before US64 is open again. Click here for Article. There is an AMAZING video of the second slide as it occurred Click here for video. Photo from timesfreepress.com
Rockslide on I-40 at the TN/NC state line closes both lanes. NCDOT reports that getting 2 lanes open using the eastbound side will take up to 4 months, and the entire cleanup could take 5 months. Click here for Article. Photos from Asheville Citizens Times
There is still good weather ahead. We suggest keeping a close eye on the weather web sites and pick your times to get in a few more days at the Dragon before winter sets in. We have even had some good riding Christmas and New Years.
The coming months are also great times for the cagers (cars) to have the local roads to themselves. The Dragon is at a low altitude and is not affected by snow as much as the Cherohala, Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains. The Tail of the Dragon will post when road conditions are bad.
CLICK FOR COMPLETE 2007 TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL FIASCO. The outright harassment of law abiding citizens has cost Tennessee businesses millions of dollars in lost revenue. THP’s reputation was severely blackened, a major detriment to all enforcement agencies. Tail of the Dragon received some 1,000 complaints from riders and drivers many who promised not to spend a penny in the state.
Hopefully in the future Tennessee will provide professional enforcement that will encompass both safety and goodwill toward tourists. Tail of the Dragon will continue reporting their attitude on this site.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR EXPERIENCE. We were cited for "holding a video camera while driving". Video proof that my cameras had no display showing resulted in a not guilty verdict by the judge.
Please report your experiences with LEOs to us so we can pass them on to others. Be sure to determine the correct agency, LEOs name, exact location, nature of the offense and the details surrounding the stop. There are many different enforcement agencies, especially on the North Carolina side. These include HP, SO, Park Ranger, TVA, Cherokee Tribal, Forest Service and Wildlife. We need to know who is involved.
OUR LATEST TWO WHEELED ADVENTURES: Read about a great riding area - Hot Springs, North Carolina. Twisty mountain roads with no traffic, and a soak in the river and natural hot springs.CLICK HERE FOR STORY NORTH CAROLINA LOOP that takes you by some great places to stop and explore. It was so refreshing to ride where we are welcome and not have to worry about going 5 mph over the speed limit. We stopped at many motorcycle friendly businesses and didn't see LEOs at every turn.
Take a listen to instrumentals inspired by the legendary road known as the Tail of the Dragon. Meet Tommy at our Tail of the Dragon outlet at Deals Gap. It's darn good music !!
Misty Dragon, mountain high;
Smoke and leather, do or die;
On golden wings, angels fly;
To tame the dragon in the sky.
Road of thunder, metal flash;
Burning rubber, smoke and ash;
Road to glory, heaven’s gate;
Eleven miles where angels wait.
Tommy Cowell, US 129
WHEELERS PERFORMANCEIf you break it he can fix it !! Full service motorcycle shop, located on US129 between Robbinsville and the Dragon. Dyno Runs too !!
TELLICO MOTORCYCLE OUTFITTERSGear and Farkels for you and your bike at this big city store in small town Tellico Plains. Located just off the Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains TN, on the Town Square.
Gear for the cruiser, tourer, and sportbike rider.
Stop and say hello to Mike - he owns the ice cream too !! Olympia Gear retailer.
GRYPON BIKES OF MAGGIE VALLEYLarge fleet of new Harley Davidson for rental by the day or week. Custom guided tours available.
411 BIKER DEPOT & MOTORCYCLE RENTAL Located on US129/US411 in Maryville. Motorcycle gear, accessories, used bikes. New Kawasaki 900 Vulcan Custom rental by the day or week starting at $79 a day !!
Lee Parks Total Control Riding Clinics are now offered near the Dragon.
IMPROVE YOUR RIDING SKILLS -
Sportbikes, Cruisers, and even Dual Sport riders sign up yourself or bring the entire group when you visit the Dragon. Check the website for current schedule. DragonSafe.com
Lee Parks always gives a great presentation at the IMS Shows. His gloves are the highest quality and his Total Control Classes will make anyone a better rider.DragonSafe.com
Even prisoners attend the IMS Shows.
The Reloaded Riders colors at the Greenville Show
Yes, Greenville is hunting territory.
Unlike the Tennessee Highway Patrol, their South Carolina counterparts promote motorcycling in a positive way.
This 1967 Lambretta Li150 scooter was purchased from
the New York State Police, Troop F, for $10.63 in 1984.
Daisy the Pig at the Mountaineer Restaurant Maggie Valley
View of the Dragon from 50,000 feet in January of 2009. CLICK HEREfor large image. Thanks to Paul for the pict
Mike McCoy of McCoy Motorsports with his new T-Rex. After sitting in one and watching the video we are considering getting one of these animals.CLICK HEREto see more
Remember ... if it doesn't say TAIL it's not authentic Tail of the Dragon gear. There are many cheap imitations, but only one original Tail of the Dragon map and designs. Cherohala Skyway and Devils Triangle merchandise too !! New Tail of the Dragon flags and video The Tale of the Dragon narrated by
Ben "Cooter" Jones of Dukes of Hazzardare in. Also new is a "wicking", warm weather super light T shirt.
LET TAIL OF THE DRAGON DO YOUR EVENT OR BUSINESS T-SHIRTS USING OUR EXCLUSIVE ART WORK AND/OR YOUR CUSTOM DESIGNS.... CLICK HERE FOR INFO.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS One note on area vacation rentals: Be sure to mention that you are riding a motorcycle and ask the details about access. Many rentals in the area have steep driveways, gravel, and limited parking for trailers. It is also a good idea to arrive in the daylight.
TREETOPS, THE RIDGE, THE POINTby Tail of the Dragon. Secluded and private location just off the Cherohala Skyway and 20 minutes from Deals Gap. The Ridge and Point include private gamerooms with pool, ping pong, darts. TreeTops has an open fireplace. All houses have garages, computers with free broad band wireless Internet access, SAT TV, free long distance phone in US, private hot tubs.
FONTANA VILLAGE has something to offer everyone from camping to cabins. Located only 10 miles from the Dragon.
HIDDEN SPRINGS RESORT Luxury mountain cabin rentals minutes from Pigeon Forge. Hot tubs, game rooms, fireplaces, and cabins of all sizes.
TWO WHEEL INNEach room has it's own motorcycle garage big enough for two bikes. Near the Dragon, 2 miles south of Robbinsville NC. CARS WELCOME TOO. March Madness 2010- Stay one night (Sunday through Thursday) and get your second night FREE. Good for the month of March only.
HAMPTON INN LENOIR CITY TN - DEVILS TRIANGLE Located a mile east of I-75 exit 81 and just 4 miles south of I-75. Easy ride to the Dragon (30 miles), and Devils Triangle to the north (35 miles). CLICK HERE for special discount.
TWO SISTERS CHALETlocated on 35 acres 2 miles from the Dragon in the rolling hills of Tennessee. Sleeps up to ten. Fireplace, full kitchen, BBQ grill, SAT TV, deck, garage.
ROBBINSVILLE MICROTEL same great hotel everywhere you go, is located in downtown Robbinsville. Very biker friendly. Meeting room for groups and clubs. Complementary continental breakfast. Free WiFi
DRAGONS REST CABINS the newest motorcycle friendly place to stay in Robbinsville. The Dragon's Rest will offer reasonably priced cabins for rent by the night or week. Winter Rates: $49.95/night until March 15.
SANRAN MOTEL located in Robbinsville 20 minutes from the Dragon and Cherohala. American Owned, Motorcycle Friendly, Reasonable Rates, Clean. Covered Cycle Parking.
IRONHORSE MOTORCYCLE LODGE CABINS, ROOMS, CAMPING Full Cabin Rentals, Cabin rooms with baths, creekside camping, tent rentals, RV hook-ups, bunkroom, breakfast and dinner served. 30 minutes to the Dragon & Cherohala.
ABBEY INNEach room is individually decorated, kitchenettes available, HBO, frig, WFI, phone and a bath with walk-in shower. We provide information on area rides, including the Dragon.
COUNTRY HEARTH INN - ANDREWS NCLocated in Andrews valley. Complementary breakfast, pool, WFI, cable TV, refrigerator, microwave, free maps, meeting rooms.
THE MAGNUSON HOTEL - SWEETWATER TENNESSEEMC friendly, rider owned inn. Special rates for bikers. Secure covered parking, motorcycle motief, meeting room, FREE Breakfast & dinner buffet. Convenient to I-75 and TN 68.
TALLASSEE RENTAL CABINS located only minutes from the famous Dragon. Two and three bedroom cabins with hot tubs, fireplaces, deck, and full kitchens.
SNOWBIRD LODGE Luxurious rooms, unbeatable views, gourmet meals, fireside bar, beer sales. On the Cherohala near Robbinsville. MC friendly, rider owned first class inn.
GRAND VISTA"One of the closest hotels to the Dragon in TN." Vonore TN. Conference Center with meeting facilities for large or small groups. WI-FI, secure parking. Beer sales on site close to restaurants. Reasonable Rates.
CHEOAH OVERLOOKPrivate gated community with tracts ranging from 4 to 17 acres. Surrounded by the Smoky Mountain National Park overlooking Cheoah Lake. Easy access to Hwy 28 and US129. Adventure and solitude REDUCED LOT PRICES.....CALL 706-781-7665
BLUE WATERS MOUNTAIN LODGE on Lake Santeetlah near Robbinsville, 15 miles to the Dragon. Game room billiards and darts. Dining, beer and wine served. Paved access.
EUCHELLA MOUNTAIN/LAKE CABINS features cabins with 3, 4, 5 and 6 bedrooms in the Nantahala area of western North Carolina near the great roads. Many conveniences.
Cherohala Snow December 19, 2009
and it still looks this way.
Read about our latest dining adventure in Charleston. The Bowens Island Restaurant is one odd place.CLICK HERE
Breakfast before leaving for Greenville. Ham and cheese omlette, fried yucca with catsup, grilled bisquit, sprouts, and orange juice.
Our Tail of the Dragon booth stayed busy at the Greenville IMS Show. Be sure to stop by and see us at the Washington, New York, Cleveland and Chicago shows.
This woman was really eyeballing the pink CanAm.
We see
the Celtic Jewelry maker at all the shows. He stays in his van even when the temps are zero.
Just one of the many customs at the IMS show. The seat would limit my riding to only a few miles. This is perfect for the two mile run to Hooters.
Ducati offered free expresso and a great view.
Johnny Campbell Racing Team's Honda CRF450X - First Place 42nd Score Baja 1000, riders Kendall Norman, Quinn Cody, Timmy Wiegand.
1969 Indian
MM5A Mini-Mini 47.75 cc
Suzuki's colorful presentation with truck as brackground
Twisted Throttle presentation. They offer some great motorcycle gear !!
Sign we saw in Greenville SC. The air-born car just might encourage some drivers to hit it hard.
Scallops and wine at Northhampton Wines and Cafe
Lunch at the Pita House. We shared one plate.
Hope this guy made it through hunting season.
And an upclose look at the Swift truck on
July 19 courtesy ofKillboy.com
No ticket for the Swift truck crossing the double yellow on Saturday July 19, 2008 at 4:30 pm. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO Oh yeah, if Lt. Col. Trott doesn't believe us there were several hundred witnesses.
McCoy Motorsports stayed busy with their T-Rex display. I can't wait to take one on the Dragon.
On the way to the IMS in Greenville, South Carolina. The snowcapped mountains were beautiful.
WE ARE NOT the "resort/campground" at Deals Gap. WE ARE here on the web to help you discover this great road and many others in the area. FIND US AT THE DRAGON - look for the TAIL sign on the NC side of the Dragon. The accommodations and businesses listed on our pages are motorcycle friendly and ready to make your visit a memorable occasion. CLICK HERE FOR MAP OF TAIL OUTLETS You can find most of our items at WHEELERS CYCLE SHOP located 2 miles north of Robbinsville on US129 and at SOLO Market (next to McDonalds) in Robbinsville. A selected number of our items can be found at MICROTEL , IRONHORSE MOTORCYCLE LODGE , TELLICO MOTORCYCLE OUTFITTERS, CHEROHALA MARKET AND EXXON, CHEROHALA WELCOME CENTER IN TELLICO PLAINS, TWO WHEEL INN, 411 BIKER DEPOT IN MARYVILLE, SKYWAY CONVENIENCE at US 129 and NC 143, TOPTON GAS STATION at US 129 and US 19, and PARTONS TRADING POST on US 19/74. Our products ARE NOT sold at Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort.
ALL IMAGES & TEXT (GRAPHICS, PHOTOS, VIDEOS, TEXT) ON TAILOFTHEDRAGON.COM ARE PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT. TAIL OF THE DRAGON IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK.