Don’t Miss Good Eats & Exciting Entertainment at Ole Red Gatlinburg
There are tons of fantastic things to do in Gatlinburg Tennessee, and you need some delicious food to keep you going. Ole Red Gatlinburg is the best place to go for a night of entertainment and dining in the Great Smoky Mountains.
The multi-level, $9-million venue has a two-story bar, restaurant, performance area, dance floor, and an outdoor terrace. You’ll be enthralled by the live entertainment!
This is the only spot in town that features live music with talent hand-picked and selected by the restaurant’s Nashville team. It also showcases the best talent from Music City and the Southeast. And, there may be some surprises on the stage, or you might even meet a celebrity!
The History of Ole Red Gatlinburg
If you enjoy listening to country music, you know that this entertainment venue’s name comes from Blake Shelton’s hit single “Ol Red.” The country music singer wanted to make Gatlinburg a more vibrant place to party and enjoy the evenings. But, the restaurant is also great for families during the day.
The Ole Red restaurant opened to locals and visitors in March 2019, and patrons have enjoyed good music, good food, and good times ever since. You’ll see top country talent every night on its state-of-the-art stage!
In fact, the stage is built to give you a concert experience while you enjoy a meal and cocktail from your bar stool.
Other Ole Red Locations
Ole Red Gatlinburg TN is part of a franchise with four other locations — Nashville Tennessee, Orlando Florida, Tishomingo Oklahoma, and Las Vegas Nevada.
The Nashville location is the flagship bar, restaurant, and entertainment venue on Lower Broadway.
No matter which location you visit, you’ll find the personality of Blake Shelton and the spirit of Ole Red combined when you enter.
The Ole Red Gatlinburg Menu
Ole Red Gatlinburg has many delicious menu options that you’ll love! Enjoy unique appetizers and sides, such as Redneck Nachos, Southern Tater Tot Poutine, and Honey Drizzled Skillet Cornbread.
Then, there are awesome burgers, sandwiches, and entrees — Oklahoma Onion Burger, Sloppy Joes, Austin Brisket Sandwich, Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf, and Ole Red Smoked Meat Platter.
Blake Shelton Restaurant Music & Entertainment
Beyond eating at the Ole Red restaurant, you’ll have the opportunity to listen and dance to a variety of country music talent, from Elijah Wise to Bailey Callahan and even the Classic Country Roadshow.
Spending an evening here means that you get previews of the rising stars of country music. Then, when they make it big, you can say that you’ve heard them before.
You can rent Ole Red Gatlinburg for private events and configure the room any way you want.
Things to Do Near Ole Red Gatlinburg
As we mentioned above, Gatlinburg has a ton of things to do and see. For instance, you can go horseback riding in the Smokies or white water rafting near Gatlinburg. But, here are a few entertaining things to do in Gatlinburg within 1 mile of Ole Red.
Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
If you’re looking for just one place with a lot of activities, head to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. This two-story venue is full of amazing aquatic experiences and wildlife — sea turtles, stingrays, jellyfish, eels, and exotic fish species.
The upper level features an Ocean Realm, Shark Lagoon, Touch-a-Ray exhibit, and Tropical Rainforest. The lower level has a coral reef, Discovery Center, gallery, Stingray exhibit, Penguin Playhouse, and live shows.
At the Penguin Playhouse, you can watch African penguins parade around the aquarium. At the Shark Lagoon, you can hop into a glass-bottom boat and watch the sea predators swim underneath you.
Gatlinburg Space Needle
As an iconic landmark, you can’t miss the Gatlinburg Space Needle. This 407-foot tower has an observation deck that overlooks the downtown area and the Great Smoky Mountains. Informational panels at the top make it an educational experience too.
The Gatlinburg Space Needle has an arcade and is home to the Slice Pizza Bakery.
Hollywood Star Cars Museum
If you’re interested in cars from movies, the Hollywood Star Cars Museum has an amazing collection. All of the cars are displayed in recreated settings from the movies and TV shows that they appeared in.
The most famous car at the museum is the Batmobile from the 1966 “Batman” television series. Other popular vehicles include the Ecto-1 from “Ghostbusters,” Drag-u-la from “The Munsters,” General Lee from “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and Eleanor from “Gone in 60 Seconds.”
Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
For a ride in the Smokies, head to Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. It operates an iconic yellow chairlift 1,800 feet above sea level.
The ride goes to SkyBridge, North America’s longest pedestrian cable bridge at nearly 700 feet across a deep valley. About 30 feet of the bridge has a glass bottom that you can walk over.
While you’re at the park, you can also hike on the SkyTrail, a scenic walkway that connects each side of the bridge. It cuts into the natural hillside, highlighting the bridge’s spectacular engineering.
Shopping Near Ole Red Gatlinburg
Shopping is a popular pastime in the Smokies. Many great shops in town sell traditional Smoky Mountains souvenirs, such as T-shirts, plush bears, and postcards.
You’ll also find unique shops in Gatlinburg if you’re looking for something different to take home. Here are a few unique shops that we recommend.
Misty Mountain Soap Co.
The Misty Mountain Soap Co. offers handcrafted soaps and bath products made with the highest quality natural ingredients. A mother and daughter set out to create handmade soaps and bath and body products that are more natural for skincare. They currently have two locations in Gatlinburg.
All Sauced Up
All Sauced Up has delicious gourmet food and sauces for you to take home. This fun store opened in 2008 and has over 4,000 products — nuts, dips, kitchen gadgets, and so much more.
You can also enjoy delicious samples, such as salsas, jams, jellies, peanut butter, and barbecue sauces. There are more than 150 samples in the store each day, so you can try the products before you buy them.
Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen
Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen is the best place to shop if you have a sweet tooth! This candy shop, which was established in 1950, sells delicious homemade taffy. Some of the taffy is moonshine-flavored — blackberry, apple, cherry, and white lightnin’.
Among the other sweet treats that you can get is everything from gummy bears to peanut brittle and other chocolate-covered candies.
Celtic Heritage
Celtic Heritage is a unique shop in Gatlinburg Tennessee. Here, you’ll find a wide range of gifts from Ireland and Scotland. Some of the products that you’ll find include jewelry, clothing and clan heraldry, music, and other collectibles.
The Village Shops has housed this store for over 25 years, so it’s a popular choice for residents and visitors! Because of its exclusive products, many customers stop by the shop every time they visit.
Lodging Near Ole Red Gatlinburg
The Edgewater Hotel offers a relaxing vacation in Gatlinburg Tennessee. It’s a great choice for budget-minded travelers because it’s close to the best attractions in town.
For instance, Ole Red Gatlinburg is just a 2-minute drive or an 8-minute walk away! It’s also an easy walk to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies and Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. Or, you could take the Aerial Tramway to Ober Gatlinburg.
The Edgewater Hotel has king, queen, and Jacuzzi rooms, as well as suites. No matter what you choose, you’ll have a private balcony, a hot continental breakfast, and access to the hot tubs and indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools.
Plan Your Visit to Ole Red Gatlinburg & the Great Smoky Mountains
The next time that you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, don’t miss the opportunity to eat and dance at Ole Red Gatlinburg. We recommend spending time at one of the nearby attractions before you head to the restaurant for the evening. Of course, you can always stop by during the day too!