With a heavy heart, we heard about the fatal helicopter crash in Pigeon Forge yesterday. According to the latest news report, a sightseeing helicopter went down around 3:30pm, causing fires and explosions. Five people lost their lives, and the Federal Aviation Administration is already on the scene investigating what happened. We want to give thanks to the multiple fire departments and emergency services, which came out to help in the aftermath.

The truth is, helicopter crashes are very, very rare – and we are grateful that they are. Sevier County is (in our opinion) some of the most beautiful land you can find in Tennessee, so there are a tremendous number of tourists and sightseers who visit us each year. We’ve got the best fishing, the most breathtaking mountains, and some of the finest hiking trails and motorcycle routes in the country. There are a lot of helicopter tour companies in this area of Tennessee that offer gorgeous views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the surrounding regions. Having taken a tour or two ourselves, we can tell you honestly: the view is so perfect you’d think it couldn’t be real.

Protecting yourself when you visit

This tragedy serves to remind us that even under the best of circumstances, travel in any form – by land, by sea or by air – poses certain dangers. Any time you want to be a part of the natural world, you have to take precautions to ensure your safety, and even then there is a still a risk you might be hurt because of circumstances beyond your control. The only clue we have now to the Pigeon Forge crash is the account of one witness who claims, “she first heard a puttering from the rotor that ‘didn’t sound right.’” Now we wait to see what the FAA has to say.

In the meantime, we ask anyone who is doing a little sightseeing in the area to please take added precautions during your visit:

• Wear your seatbelt. If you are traveling by car or truck, please – keep your seatbelt on, and obey the traffic rules. If you’re traveling by boat, wear a life jacket.
• Make sure you have adequate Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist insurance. Most tourists who visit here travel by car…. and that means Sevier County roads are filled with drivers who aren’t familiar with the area. Assuring you have adequate uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will protect you if another driver injures you and has inadequate insurance to cover your losses.
• Keep away from animals. If you’re spending time in the Smokies, keep away from the wildlife. We know how pretty the deer are, but where there are deer there may be predators – and they’re not as pretty when they’re hungry. Keep your campsites clean, throw away your trash (or carry it out with you), and stay clam in the presence of any animals you see.
• Purchase travelers’ insurance. If you have an option to buy insurance for your trip, do it. If the worst comes to pass and you or one of your companions is hurt, the insurance may help you recoup some of your financial losses.
• Be aware of your surroundings. We are right next door to Knoxville – a mere 30 miles. If you’re walking around the city, or taking one of those “hop on, hop off” tours, please be careful around drivers and other pedestrians. Instead of keeping your nose buried in a map or glued to your phone, take advantage of our legendary Southern hospitality and ask someone for help if you get lost or turned around.

Our hearts go out to the families of the Pigeon Forge helicopter crash victims. We ask that you all be safe while visiting tourist attractions here in Tennessee.