Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen

You know how sometimes just watching a process is mesmerizing and kind of calms our very souls? The almost 100 year old taffy pulling machine at the Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen has that hypnotizing power. For us there are stages to experiencing this adorable spot. First, the taffy pulling machine catches your eye in the window – this leads to standing immobilized while you figure out each task of each section of the machine. Secondly, you compulsively walk in to watch all of the action in the candy kitchen. Your head is full of all of the questions. What are they mixing up over there? How many things do they make in this kitchen? What flavor is being pulled on the machine now? What flavor will I choose?  Thirdly, you notice that you have in fact stumbled in a marvel of mid-century architecture as you notice the disc shaped feature floating above the candy counters – the curves of which run parallel with the back wall of the shop. Evidently Dave and Peggy Dych, the original owners, “envisioned a visually entertaining main street business” and they nailed it.  

The Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen described above is at 744 Parkway, Gatlinburg Tennessee.

This is the location of the great-black-bear-break-in of 2011. He came right in the front door. 

We get it bear, we get it.