38 replies to this topic

[soverbey]

What is the most famous (popular) attraction in the state of Tennessee?

[Bears]

The Smokey Mountains and Graceland. Hard to count tourists to a park but I voted Graceland because it probably gets the most out of town visitors. How may Memphians have actually been to Graceland without a visitior? Not many. Graceland gets the most press too.

Edited by Bears, 03 May 2006 - 06:02 PM.

[Fellowmann20]

Beale St and Graceland.  Beale St has grown in popularity I think over the past couple of years due to the FedEx Forum, Peabody Place, and growth in south downtown.  Graceland probably gets more visitors, but Beale St isn't far behind.

[soverbey]

I agree about Beale Street, I just hope that the commercial influences do not completely damper the soul of the street and area....chain restaurants are not always a good thing, but i guess it is good for tourism.

[Rural King]

I'd definately have to say Graceland as far as a single attraction goes, but the Smokeys attracts alot of folks and is just about as associated with Tennessee as Graceland to most folks it seems.

[flith]

soverbey, on May 3 2006, 05:24 PM, said:

What is the most famous (popular) attraction in the state of Tennessee?

Here are the figures for 2004, the link has the top 50.

http://www.state.tn....pdf/top50nr.pdf


1. Dollywood                                                2,400,000
2. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies               1,600,000
3. Bristol Motor Speedway                             1,145,000
4. Ober Gatlinburg                                           865,623
5. Tennessee Aquarium                                    856,000

Edited by flith, 04 May 2006 - 12:52 PM.

[soverbey]

Beale Street is definitely better than any of these attractions listed above, imo.

Edited by soverbey, 04 May 2006 - 01:14 PM.

[satalac]

where is neyland stadium on that list? they have 108,000 people there every home game. that adds up rather quickly. i say if they count bristol on that list of 50, then they should count football stadiums as well (along with basketball and baseball stadiums).

[Bears]

I've seen that list before and it makes me question what is counted as a tourist. I would've never guessed the most visited attraction in Memphis was Putt Putt   Its not a tourist destination, but a local attraction. Laser tag, batting cages, go-karts, driving range, arcade, simulated rollercoaster, and putt putt.

[Rural King]

Ober Gatlinburg? # 4? Hmmm I wonder how they compiled that number. The others I think seem right, but its seems hard to phathom it drawing more than Graceland.

[Nashvillain]

The forum topic asks what is the most popular attraction and the title above the poll asks which is the most famous.  The stats say Dollywood is the most popular but I voted for Graceland as most famous.  Polls are fun!

[Clobber]

Fellowmann20, on May 3 2006, 07:54 PM, said:

Beale St and Graceland.  Beale St has grown in popularity I think over the past couple of years due to the FedEx Forum, Peabody Place, and growth in south downtown.  Graceland probably gets more visitors, but Beale St isn't far behind.

I think Beale Street gets far more visitors than Graceland.  Beale is free to stroll along, and is therefore almost impossible to measure how many people visit, though.  Isn't it the most visited tourist attraction in Tennessee?  I think I remember that Pink Palace might have been up there too (or maybe that was just museums), but there's a huge number of locals.

I think so far Beale has been able to strike a good balance.  I just hope the number of independent/locally-based establishments (BB's included) stay the same or grow.  It seems to be a nice starting off point for many locally-based chains (BB's, Silky Sullivan's-- I think there's one in N.O., the Pig is opening a second location in Desoto County, I think).  HOpefully they can all grow, and maybe Alfred's and Rum Boogie can maybe open up other locations (don't want any of them to become too ubiquitous like HRC that they lose their luster, though).

[Clobber]

flith, on May 4 2006, 01:48 PM, said:

Here are the figures for 2004, the link has the top 50.

http://www.state.tn....pdf/top50nr.pdf
1. Dollywood                                                2,400,000
2. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies               1,600,000
3. Bristol Motor Speedway                             1,145,000
4. Ober Gatlinburg                                           865,623
5. Tennessee Aquarium                                    856,000

That's of those who reported attendance.  Graceland isn't up there (although I don't think they would've beaten Dollywood based on those numbers).  Beale is almost impossible to quantify; I would bet more than 2.4 mill go through there, and how do you distinguish the folks who look around inside the establishments (without buying) and those who attend often-free concerts at the pavilion and watch the flippers (and often paying 'em tips) from those just strolling through?

[rocky top buzz]

yeah, I think when you look at most popular, that's different from most famous. When I read this poll, I'm thinking that I ask someone in x city "hey, what place or attraction do you think of when you think of Tennessee?" I would think it would have to be Graceland or Grand Ole Opry. I would have never heard of Beale street except here and from my wife's family, and my roots run deep through the south.

[Bears]

rocky top buzz, on May 9 2006, 01:36 PM, said:

yeah, I think when you look at most popular, that's different from most famous. When I read this poll, I'm thinking that I ask someone in x city "hey, what place or attraction do you think of when you think of Tennessee?" I would think it would have to be Graceland or Grand Ole Opry. I would have never heard of Beale street except here and from my wife's family, and my roots run deep through the south.

I agree. I live in Michigan and I have yet to meet someone who knows what Beale Street is. In my experiences, the Grand Ole Opry and country music  is known to people in the Western society.  Almost everyone in touch with modern society knows Elvis.

[HABANERO7]

I have to ask this question… If I were from somewhere else, what part of Tennessee would I hear about most often? Well, based on my world travels to this point (5 foreign countries) plus my interaction with folks from other parts of this County plus other nations around the world I would have to say that Elvis is at #1, therefore Graceland would reflect that #1 ranking as most famous. I think that the Grand ol’ Opry and that county music traditions of the south rank at #2 and The Appalachian mountain chain with the Smoky Mountains as the main center of attention for the southern region would rank #3.

I have to ask this question… If I were from somewhere else, what part of Tennessee would I hear about most often? Well, based on my world travels to this point (5 foreign countries) plus my interaction with folks from other parts of this County plus other nations around the world I would have to say that Elvis is at #1, therefore Graceland would reflect that #1 ranking as most famous. I think that the Grand ol’ Opry and that county music traditions of the south rank at #2 and The Appalachian mountain chain with the Smoky Mountains as the main center of attention for the southern region would rank #3.

[flith]

[quote name='HABANERO7' date='May 11 2006, 03:18 PM' post='427034']
I have to ask this question… If I were from somewhere else, what part of Tennessee would I hear about most often? Well, based on my world travels to this point (5 foreign countries) plus my interaction with folks from other parts of this County plus other nations around the world I would have to say that Elvis is at #1, therefore Graceland would reflect that #1 ranking as most famous. I think that the Grand ol’ Opry and that county music traditions of the south rank at #2 and The Appalachian mountain chain with the Smoky Mountains as the main center of attention for the southern region would rank #3.


I have to agree.  I'm in the military and have been plenty of places, and it is usually the same three things they know about.  Not always that order though.  I think it would have to be a tie with Elvis and the Grand Old Opry.

On a side not it seems when you mention UT most people in the military they think of University of Texas, I know that my come as a shock to Tennessee fans.

Edited by flith, 12 May 2006 - 07:20 AM.

[northernbizzkit1]

Isn't Graceland the second most visited house in the world after the White House?

[soverbey]

northernbizzkit1, on May 17 2006, 10:29 PM, said:

Isn't Graceland the second most visited house in the world after the White House?

yes you are correct!

[HABANERO7]

soverbey, on May 18 2006, 09:21 AM, said:

yes you are correct!

Would the Biltmore house in Asheville NC be 3rd?