Tree Tops Resort has always been such a wonderful place for us to visit.  When we left it Monday morning 28th of November, we never realized it would be the last time we would see it in the light of day.  We spent the day shopping and returned to Tree Tops at about 6:30p.m.

When we arrived, several people were packing their cars and leaving the Resort.  We walked up to the office to see if we needed to be alarmed.  The ladies at the front desk assured us that Tree Tops was safe and should anything change we would be notified.

We went to our room and was relaxing when alarms started to go off at 8:39.  We called the front desk and was told the smoke had set off alarms in some areas but the units were safe.  After listening to the alarms for some time we decided to be on the safe side and packed everything. I got a couple of suitcases and carried them down to the car. As I was putting them in the car I saw fire against building four. I moved the car closer to the elevator and stairwell then went back to the room and told my wife we needed to leave. We grabbed all that we could carry and hurried to the car.

After loading the car we pulled across the bridge and joined a line of traffic moving very slow. I noticed cars were moving both ways which seemed strange until one stopped beside me and explained. “There is a wall of fire down there. A car is stuck in the ditch. Everyone is turning and coming back.”

We continued on until we came to the stuck car and I could see the wall of fire. The fire had crossed the road and houses were burning on both sides. Like everyone else, we turned around and drove back to the resort. By this time, the smoke was terrible and the fire was getting worse. No one knew what to do.

I thought of several things, but none of them were good. I finally decided that the road itself would not be on fire and unless burning objects had fallen onto it, I might be able to drive through the fire. Stupid I know, but it seemed better than any other idea. I drove back down the road passed the stuck car toward the fire. As I got nearer, I could see a gap in the flames where the road was.

Those familiar with the road know how close the cabins and the creek are to the road. As I drove, the smoke became much worse.  Using the fires as a guide, I tried to stay to the left because I could not see the road or creek.  We could feel the heat and I worried what the car would look like when we got through.  We ran over several things, but made it through by the grace of God.

We turned left on 321, thinking we could drive into Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and find a room for the night.  When we arrived at the intersection in Gatlinburg the police were blocking the road.  The officer told us he advised against trying to find a place in Gatlinburg and informed us that the road between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge was closed due to the fires.

Following his advice, we turned around and took 321 to Cosby.  This however was not that easy.  We saw fires burning on both sides of the road and firefighters and utility company workers often had to remove fallen trees from the road to keep us going.  At about midnight we arrived at a hotel in Sevierville.

All that was left to do was to thank God for our safety and for His guidance as we drove through the flames.  We also thank God for those men and women who unlike us journey toward the flames to help and aide others.

Gatlinburg has always been a special place to my family.  As a child, I remember going there many times with my family.  I can remember the time my Grandfather Mullins went with us and sitting in the backseat of the car with me as we drove into the mountains looking for bears.  I can also recall our trip to Ghost Town where my Grandfather and I had our pictures made with the dance hall girls.

Gatlinburg was also one of the places my wife and I stopped at on our honeymoon thirty-six years ago.  In the years after, I can’t recall a single year that we did not make at least one trip to the Gatlinburg area.  We loved it so much we purchased a time share at Tree Tops Resort.

Like Gatlinburg, Tree Tops became very special to us.  It was wonderful to sit in the living room in front with a nice fire in the fireplace, snacking on something and watching a movie.  All things we seldom had time for at home.  In the mornings, we enjoyed sitting on the balcony drinking a hot cup of coffee, watching and listening to the stream as it flowed by.  I cannot begin to guess how many books I have read sitting there.

As time passed, we were blessed with two beautiful daughters and we came to enjoy other parts of Tree Tops and Gatlinburg. Our girls played on the swings, climbed the walls, crossed the bridges and enjoyed everything else the children’s area had to offer.  They played in the pool, threw rocks in the stream and hiked with us up the nature trail.  The past three years have been even more special as we were able to bring our grandson to Gatlinburg and to Tree Tops.  We were blessed to watch as he played on the swings, he threw rocks in the stream and he walked up the nature trail, all the little things his mother had done.

My grandson and daughter were with us this weekend in Gatlinburg and at Tree Tops.  I thank God that they left for home Sunday.  My wife and I had intended to stay the entire week.  None of us could have guessed what Monday the 28th  of November  would bring to Gatlinburg and to Tree Tops.