This is my 6th trip to the area in the past 2 decades, though 4 of the trips have been in the past 2 years. I have been to the area on Sport bike, SUV and Sport cars and have visited many of the roads the area has to offer. I have stayed at campgrounds for 2 wheels only and resorts that are dedicated to the motorsports industry. The following is from our latest trip to the "tail of the dragon" area and i hope to provide information and knowledge of venturing to the area.
The planning of the trip was a bit of a struggle, as it was being masterminded by someone other than myself, i found my self getting information very late and partial. Planning began in Early September, but didnt gain real traction until late September. Host booked a bunch of rooms at Fontana Village Resort, I have stayed here before and really enjoyed the atmosphere and location of the facility.
I have still yet to explore all it has to offer, but i hear there is a lot to do here. I do now know it has multiple bars/grills, community and activity center. I am also told it has rafting, river/lake access as it is on the fontana dam/river. I plan to go back and spend a bit more time exploring all it has to offer, but if you ever go to the area in a car, this is the place to go. centrally located to everything the area has to offer.
Our driving group contained 6 vehicles, 4 couples and a couple of 14/15 year old boys. 2 of the couples left Wednesday the 17th and stayed in Lexington Kentucky before heading down on Thursday. The rest of us Left Thursday morning, though not without issues. I should start off saying the cars on the trip were a 911 Carrera , a BMW 135CI, Porsche Cayman,Porsche Boxter, Maza MX5, and my C7 Z06. Our trip was scheduled to be on the road at 4 am Thursday morning, however I did not shut off the power to the Vetter after getting fuel and I woke to a dead battery and an unaccessable car. A quick youtube search showed me how to get in, but once in I had no way of starting car. Vette is parked under lift that has daily on it, which also blocks access to attic, an attic that contains my jumper cables. So with no way to start it, i messaged my travel partner to see if he had left his house yet and had jumpers. He had left and didnt think he had any. I jumped in truck and headed to gas station to see if they had any, they did not. Remembering brother in law gets up early, i hit him up via messenger and he had a charger and cables. so quick drive to his house, picked up both and began process of starting vette. Cars are way to computer, electronic needy by the way. Its now 4:45 and I finally get it charged enough to get moving.
A quick stop for coffee at Dunkin Donuts and we are on our way. We get out of Illinois ok, but once past Crown Point, the car most likely to break down did just that as we were moving, lost all power. we pulled over while he cycled the computer, killed the driver aids and we are back on the road. Our Thursday plan included a stop in Crossville TN so the wife and I could meet with a builder that we are interviewing for construction of our home there.
http://zurichhomes.com/model.html
take a look at the house we visited if interested. after interviewing 5 builders in the area, this is the home we plan to build. simply amazing construction and attention to detail. i may start another thread just to get feed back/ ideas for it. After spending some times viewing the model and talking with the builders we stopped for lunch at what will be our local watering hole once we move down there. Spikes bar and grill. Spike is from our area, kinda anyhow, he is from Dubuque. simple family orientated bar and grill, with a large patio and weekend live music.
From there we continued on for another 2 hours to Fontana Resort, this required a night time run of the dragon. this was a first time attempt for one of the ladies, and a first time attempt at night for all. Everyone made it through just fine, ran into maybe 1 or 2 vehicles coming at us in the other direction otherwise we had it to ourselves. Not only had to run the dragon but had to run route 28 to the resort which is very entertaining in its ownrite.
Arrived at resort and checked in.
Once checked in, we met for dinner and a cocktail before calling it a night. We ended up with cabanas, which are like apartment buildings off the pool. 2 story 10 units per floor, 2 floors. Our room was on the second level with patio access to pool and fire pit. rooms each have their own patios on the pool deck, pretty cool.
End of day 1, 860 miles.
The planning of the trip was a bit of a struggle, as it was being masterminded by someone other than myself, i found my self getting information very late and partial. Planning began in Early September, but didnt gain real traction until late September. Host booked a bunch of rooms at Fontana Village Resort, I have stayed here before and really enjoyed the atmosphere and location of the facility.
I have still yet to explore all it has to offer, but i hear there is a lot to do here. I do now know it has multiple bars/grills, community and activity center. I am also told it has rafting, river/lake access as it is on the fontana dam/river. I plan to go back and spend a bit more time exploring all it has to offer, but if you ever go to the area in a car, this is the place to go. centrally located to everything the area has to offer.
Our driving group contained 6 vehicles, 4 couples and a couple of 14/15 year old boys. 2 of the couples left Wednesday the 17th and stayed in Lexington Kentucky before heading down on Thursday. The rest of us Left Thursday morning, though not without issues. I should start off saying the cars on the trip were a 911 Carrera , a BMW 135CI, Porsche Cayman,Porsche Boxter, Maza MX5, and my C7 Z06. Our trip was scheduled to be on the road at 4 am Thursday morning, however I did not shut off the power to the Vetter after getting fuel and I woke to a dead battery and an unaccessable car. A quick youtube search showed me how to get in, but once in I had no way of starting car. Vette is parked under lift that has daily on it, which also blocks access to attic, an attic that contains my jumper cables. So with no way to start it, i messaged my travel partner to see if he had left his house yet and had jumpers. He had left and didnt think he had any. I jumped in truck and headed to gas station to see if they had any, they did not. Remembering brother in law gets up early, i hit him up via messenger and he had a charger and cables. so quick drive to his house, picked up both and began process of starting vette. Cars are way to computer, electronic needy by the way. Its now 4:45 and I finally get it charged enough to get moving.
A quick stop for coffee at Dunkin Donuts and we are on our way. We get out of Illinois ok, but once past Crown Point, the car most likely to break down did just that as we were moving, lost all power. we pulled over while he cycled the computer, killed the driver aids and we are back on the road. Our Thursday plan included a stop in Crossville TN so the wife and I could meet with a builder that we are interviewing for construction of our home there.
http://zurichhomes.com/model.html
take a look at the house we visited if interested. after interviewing 5 builders in the area, this is the home we plan to build. simply amazing construction and attention to detail. i may start another thread just to get feed back/ ideas for it. After spending some times viewing the model and talking with the builders we stopped for lunch at what will be our local watering hole once we move down there. Spikes bar and grill. Spike is from our area, kinda anyhow, he is from Dubuque. simple family orientated bar and grill, with a large patio and weekend live music.
From there we continued on for another 2 hours to Fontana Resort, this required a night time run of the dragon. this was a first time attempt for one of the ladies, and a first time attempt at night for all. Everyone made it through just fine, ran into maybe 1 or 2 vehicles coming at us in the other direction otherwise we had it to ourselves. Not only had to run the dragon but had to run route 28 to the resort which is very entertaining in its ownrite.
Arrived at resort and checked in.
Once checked in, we met for dinner and a cocktail before calling it a night. We ended up with cabanas, which are like apartment buildings off the pool. 2 story 10 units per floor, 2 floors. Our room was on the second level with patio access to pool and fire pit. rooms each have their own patios on the pool deck, pretty cool.
End of day 1, 860 miles.