LATEST UPDATE: 03 October 2006
USS W.S. SIMS DE/FF-1059
GATLINBURG REUNION 2006
27 September to 1 October 2006

The Great Smoky Mountains --- there's never been a more natural setting for relaxation, reminiscing, and a tremendous venue for the USS WS Sims 2006 Reunion.  Back to nature, surrounded by wildlife (NOT the same as Las Vegas wildlife -- LOL) and friends -- what better combination could there be?  This small mountain community traces its roots back to the founding of America.  Gatlinburg has been recognized as one of the most beautiful settings east of the Mississippi.  The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited National Park in the continental United States. 

Nowhere did we find a richer heritage of of fine craftsmanship.  The Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community is the largest group of independent artisans in North America.  This area  offered us a wide range of craft shops, including: pottery, woodcarving, candle making, quilting, weaving, broom making, and painting.  A stroll downtown opened up a world of attractions, dining, and shopping.

We discovered many several special area events planned during our reunion, including:

Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival  (15 Sep to 31 Oct) Fall decorations, old fashioned hay-rides, special events and entertainment, local craft exhibits.

Taste of Autumn  (28 Sep) Sample signature dishes from more than 30 of the area's finest restaurants. Live entertainment and auction.

Gatlinburg Heritage Days   (30 Sep to 8 Oct) Enjoy two weeks of traditional crafts, entertainment and yarn-spinning as the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community highlights its Heritage.

We are also organized a few group activities including the following:

Unique as its namesake, Dolly Parton, Dollywood theme park is a one-of-a-kind Smoky Mountain Family Adventure! Spanning 125 acres and nestled in the lush foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Gatlinburg, Dollywood is one of the most popular family vacation destinations. 

Dixie Stampede is a fun-filled, action-packed dinner and show extravaganza for everyone! It's the perfect place for families, friends and groups to gather for spectacular special effects and amazing stunts by the most talented performers in the area. It's the only place that brings together stunning performers, amazing horse feats, fantastic stunt riders, magic and audience participation with a delicious four-course dinner extravaganza. 

Our Reunion Headquarters' Hotel was the HOLIDAY INN SUNSPREE RESORT  just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They have two indoor pools and one outdoor pool as well as two indoor whirlpools.  This hotel was perfect for a family vacation or a getaway. Free high-speed wireless internet was available to us throughout the hotel.

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This was again an exciting opportunity for us to get together and rekindle old friendships, make new friendships with shipmates from other eras, tell sea stories, and generally enjoy the camaraderie between sailors who share "Mighty Fine" memories of the ol' USS WS SIMS.

Please return to this webpage often for continuing updates. 
Email  comments and recommendations to the reunion committee at info@ussSIMS1059.org.   

HERE'S SOME OF WHAT YOU MISSED! Jack and Debi Fullerton took these pictures of the Holiday Inn Sunspree in Gatlinburg, our 2006 headquarters for the SIMS REUNION.  You can see it was a very inviting location, with amenities particularly suited to the way we like to do things at our "Mighty Fine" get-togethers. Spacious sleeping and meeting rooms -- heated pools and spas -- fitness equipment and a great game room. And, we are not traipsing all over to be together. The hotel has put us together, in one area, as a group. We have our Hospitality Room overlooking the pool area and our sleeping rooms are all together in one section of the hotel alongside the Banquet Room, and overlooking the babbling stream outside our rooms.  What a great venue! CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE Main Lobby view adjacent to pool, spa, and arcade, on level below registration.  Banquet Room looks down on pool. Aaaaah... spa! Typical King sleeping room. Typical Double-Double room. Fitness Room will prepare you for hiking! balcony from Banquet Room looking down on the pool area. Spacious room for our Saturday Eve Gala Event. Lobby directly outside of Banquet Room. Relax with Ping-Pong and arcade games. Our hotel headquarters with drive-up to Lobby and Banquet Room. Sleeping rooms are on second floor. Nature comes right up to our hotel view!

The banquet on Saturday was once again the highlight of the reunion, about forty sailors and spouses attended the banquet.  We found around the area hundreds of things to do in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Knoxville area.  Everyone had a unique opportunity to strike out on there own and enjoy the Mountain Community life! WE WILL HAVE MORE PICTURES OF THE ACTIVITIES AND ATTENDEES IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS -- PLEASE RETURN! nfo@usssims1059.org © 2006 USS WS SIMS DE/FF-1059 Assoc. Hosted and Designed by North Star Graphics