Views From Deer Ridge And Beyond

These are my personal images and photos that show the beauty of the view from Deer Ridge Mountain Resort and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cobbly Nob and the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area.

Just click the Play button to watch - or click Big Picture to see a much larger slide show on a dedicated page here at DeerRidgeOwners.com.

Deer Ridge Litigation Fund

Do you, as an owner at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, believe we are ALL entitled to have access and be able to copy the books and records of our Homeowner's Association?

So, do I.

But, apparently, Employee Joe Thomas and President Luther Parker and the Board disagree - and are doing all they can to block access, publication and candid discussion of the Asinine Assessment, special deals and favored treatment - at the expense of all Owners.

What ARE they so afraid of us finding out?

Maybe it has to do with the HUGE $10,000 overcharge for my HOA Fees, special assessments, water and cable TV bill - which, in my personal opinion, is due to fraudulent intent or at least gross negligence by the Deer Ridge Board of Directors and / or General Manager Joe Thomas. Please see the posts for details.

We have no choice but to file a lawsuit against GGRC and RML in order to finally, once and for all, make it clear that OWNERS do have a right to all the information about our property and our investment at Deer Ridge.

If you have thoughts and ideas and suggestions, please post them here on this blog.

If you have any clout with the Board, convince them to stop the charade - and let the owners have the information that all owners own!

If you want to help cover the legal costs to get us the right to see the bids for $50,000 for nuts and bolts - and the other background documents for the $353,500 Asinine Assessment, please click on the Donate Button below.

With enough in donations, we can hire BOTH an attorney AND a forensic accountant for the whole process through the Court in Sevier County to make absolutely certain we win EVERY point - and never have to fight Employee Joe and the Board on this stuff again.

Even a $100 contribution will help show that you are in favor of an open and FULLY transparent homeowners' association at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort!

Thanks so much to those of you who have already contributed!


Disclaimer

Legalese On

GENERAL DISCLAIMER FOR ALL PAGES AND POSTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE I DO OR SAY REGARDING DEER RIDGE AND ANY AND ALL RELATED PARTIES:

Note: The following, and the information on any and all other posts and pages by me about General Manager Joe Thomas, GGRC, RML and /or the Board of Directors and its members, or any related topics, are my personal opinions based on my ongoing investigation into the actions and inactions of the GGRC and RML Board of Directors and / or Joe Thomas, General Manager.

While I believe these allegations to be true based on my objective analysis, these opinions remain as only allegations until I, or others, prove things in court.

My goal is to offer all owners all the information and evidence that I have available so that everyone can reach their own conclusions.

Please note the obvious:

Everything I ever say or write in person, via emails, or on my blog, about Deer Ridge or any and all related entities and organizations or any and all affiliated personnel or owners, is strictly my own personal opinion of course - based, in part, from my owning a unit at Deer Ridge for over five years - and on my own personal history.

That history includes earning a Presidential MBA degree, being awarded a Bachelor of Science, With Honors, in Engineering Physics from UT, working for NASA as a rocket scientist at Marshall Space Flight Center, 30 years of CEO experience directly employing and managing many hundreds of people at multiple companies I personally started and operated (including one that I took public), 15 years experience buying and selling over $100 million of property and managing more than 45,000 rental units - AND being able to read and do four-function arithmetic.

Legalese - And Powered Wig - Off

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Welcome to All Deer Ridge Owners

Welcome to all owners of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort condos in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

My goal is to help all Deer Ridge owners to have a voice in the management and operation of your property.

Click on the TITLES of any of the following subjects to read the whole posting - and see the comments made by your co-owners. You can also type any term into the below search box, or any word or term in the search cloud.

Click the big image at the top of the page to return to the front page at any time.

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Investment Analysis For A Rental Condo At Deer Ridge


Will you really lose $40,000 cash if you buy a rental condo at Deer Ridge and use Ridge Management Ltd?

Click To Download!

As an owner-occupied home, Deer Ridge is an incredible value with THE best view in the Smokies and great amenities.

However, several owners and would-be owners of Deer Ridge condos have asked me if these units are a good rental property investment or not. To help answer that question objectively, I had to analyze the real moving parts of buying and owning here.

Get my complete, detailed investment analysis based on buying a rental condo unit at Deer Ridge Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

It shows what you MUST do to make money when you buy a rental unit at Deer Ridge.

Just click the picture or click Investment Analysis

Recommended Cameras

Gross Negligence – Or Is It Fraud?

Every Dollar You Pay For Deer Ridge Is The WRONG Amount!

Please read the various posts here on this Deer Ridge Owners Blog - and see my evidence and analysis which I believe shows conclusively that EVERY dollar of HOA Fees, EVERY dollar EVERY special assessment, EVERY water bill and cable TV sent out for YEARS to ALL Deer Ridge Owners has been wrong!

In many cases at least ONE THIRD of ALL owners have been GROSSLY overcharged. My calculations show that I have been overcharged more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in the past 50 months I've owned at Deer Ridge.

The Board has been WRONGLY and arbitrarily ignoring the requirements of the Master Deed and the Bylaws for YEARS.

If my analysis is correct, the Board has zero choice. They MUST abide by the Master Deed Percentages.

But they haven’t.

However, if the Board knowingly ignored the clear directives of the Master Deed and the Bylaws when allocating costs to various unit types, and overcharging certain unit types on a regular basis, my opinion is that the Board and Joe Thomas may have acted fraudulently.

If they have not been fraudulent, then they have been, at the very least, grossly negligent.

Read the various blog postings - and judge for yourself.

Comments Welcome From All Visitors

You are welcome to leave your comments on the various posts on the blog. You no longer have to be registered to comment. (Even regular contributors had trouble remembering their log on passwords!)

Note that SPAM blockers are in place - and all comments require approval to be visible.

So, let's hear from you on these topics!

To view the comments, you need to click on the post topic to see the entire post and the comments.

"We do not believe any group of men adequate enough or wise enough to operate without scrutiny or without criticism. We know that the only way to avoid error is to detect it, that the only way to detect it is to be free to inquire. We know that in secrecy error undetected will flourish and subvert." — J. Robert Oppenheimer. This includes the Board of Directors of Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.


Gatlinburg Drive Through Shooting From Sugarlands Vistors Center Smoky Mountains HQ To Light 3

share save 171 16 Gatlinburg Drive Through Shooting From Sugarlands Vistors Center Smoky Mountains HQ To Light 3

This is a high def time lapse drive through Gatlinburg, Tennessee from the Sugarlands Visitor Center which serves as Park headquarters for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The turn at Light 3 in downtown Gatlinburg is 13.3 miles to Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.

As always, the video is definitely best seen in high def and full screen!

Consider Gatlinburg for your family vacation – lots to see and do in the Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge Tennessee area!

share save 171 16 Gatlinburg Drive Through Shooting From Sugarlands Vistors Center Smoky Mountains HQ To Light 3

Near Deer Ridge: Dragon Tail – 318 Curves 7 Cops 11 Miles – Motorcycle Heaven – Time Lapse Hi Def – Gatlinburg

share save 171 16 Near Deer Ridge: Dragon Tail   318 Curves 7 Cops 11 Miles   Motorcycle Heaven   Time Lapse Hi Def   Gatlinburg

Here is a cool excursion fairly near Deer Ridge Mountain Resort.  This is especially great with a convertible or a motorcycle.

Dragon Tail – 318 Curves, 7 Cops – All In 11 Miles – May 2011
Hi Def Time Lapse — The Complete Run
Deal’s Gap, NC To Foothills Parkway, TN
50 Minutes Compressed To 9 Minutes

The following is our video on YouTube.  Much better seen full screen and in hi def!

Dragon Tail – 11 miles of road with 318 curves. A great drive with the top down and especially for motorcycles. One end is at Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort and the other end is at the entrance to the Foothills Parkway. Most of the road is in Tennessee. This was our second time on the tail….the first time was last fall with all the fall foliage. Both time with the top down on the convertible – which accounts for some of the windshield glare. Sorry about that – but was too beautiful a day to leave it up! Last time we drove the Dragon, we saw 3 wrecks – all motorcycles – so be careful. Don’t end up with bits and pieces on the Tree of Shame!

The day we drove this for the photos and movie, we counted SEVEN cops – almost all speed traps. Enjoy – but drive safely. (See if you can spot all seven!)

BTW, Movie Trivia: Where we pull off the road, you can see the dam used in the movie, The Fugitive, with Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones – where Dr. Richard Kimble jumped from the dam to escape Deputy Samuel Gerard. The freight train wreck that was staged for the movie is down the road from this shot, just outside of Dillsboro, North Carolina. The train wreckage is still there.

share save 171 16 Near Deer Ridge: Dragon Tail   318 Curves 7 Cops 11 Miles   Motorcycle Heaven   Time Lapse Hi Def   Gatlinburg

Deer Ridge – Hi Def Time Lapse Drive To Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge Tennessee

share save 171 16 Deer Ridge   Hi Def Time Lapse Drive To Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Boondocks Living – With A View

The view here is fantastic…but if you really want to be near the action, near restaurants, entertainment and activities for the kids for your family vacation, just be aware of how FAR you are from all of that when you buy or rent a condo at Deer Ridge.

The following short video shows a Hi Def Time Lapse Drive To Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge Tennessee. The video is best seen in full screen mode and in hi def.

This video shows the drive time and road scenery of 321 from Deer Ridge Mountain Resort back to civilization. We have the best view in the Smokies – but get your groceries and shopping done on your way here to avoid the LONG drive back to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Kroger’s, Wal-Mart and Tanger Mall in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Several more videos are planned showing various drive abouts of the Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park – to help with your mountain vacation plans.

Stay tuned – and subscribe to our DeerRidgeOwners Channel on YouTube!

share save 171 16 Deer Ridge   Hi Def Time Lapse Drive To Gatlinburg And Pigeon Forge Tennessee

20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week January 9-16, 2010 Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge

share save 171 16 20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week January 9 16, 2010 Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge

We’ve never been at Deer Ridge when they were having this week long convention.  It is mostly free and meets in Pigeon Forge at the Music Road Hotel & Convention Center.  We’re looking forward to attending and participating.  If you plan on being at Deer Ridge that week, we invite you to join us.

Robert and Janet

(Click Wilderness Wildlife Week to see the actual website for this information and updates.)

Wilderness Wildlife Week, the ultimate Smoky Mountain experience, is a series of activities sure to connect Pigeon Forge visitors with the wide, wonderful world of the great outdoors.

In 2010, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of this very special event. Visitors will enjoy more than 100 experts sharing their knowledge of the outdoors in more than 175 seminars, lectures and hands-on workshops. Get up close to nature with your choice of more than 50 guided walks and hikes. Music lovers will enjoy tunes performed by authentic Smoky Mountain musicians at AppalachiaFest.

Wilderness Wildlife Week offers activities for all ages and attracts thousands of nature lovers to Pigeon Forge each year. The International Festivals & Events Association has recognized the event for its environmental and educational efforts. Visit this page again to learn more Wilderness Wildlife Week details as they develop. Continue reading 20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week January 9-16, 2010 Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge

share save 171 16 20th Annual Wilderness Wildlife Week January 9 16, 2010 Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge

Fantasy of Lights Gatlinburg Christmas Parade

share save 171 16 Fantasy of Lights Gatlinburg Christmas Parade

Happy Holidays To All Deer Ridge Owners


For more information on this year’s events, click Gatlinburg.


share save 171 16 Fantasy of Lights Gatlinburg Christmas Parade

Red Snow At Sunset - Deer Ridge Mountain Resort - First Snow of Season

share save 171 16 Red Snow At Sunset   Deer Ridge Mountain Resort   First Snow of Season

Red Snow Sunsetrlg1 Red Snow At Sunset   Deer Ridge Mountain Resort   First Snow of Season

Red Snow At Sunset – This was our first snow of the season – October 18th – straight view of Greenbrier Pinnacle (elevation about 4,805′) off our balcony at sunset. We look SSE – so light refraction / reflection from the setting sun gave it the amazing red coloration.

Note: early snow means most foliage already gone above 2,800′ – We are probably within a week of peak color for 1,200′ to 2,500′ ft elevations.

Want to know more about your view from Deer Ridge – The Greenbrier Area of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park?  Click Greenbrier.  The entrance to Greenbrier is only about 5 miles from Deer Ridge.

share save 171 16 Red Snow At Sunset   Deer Ridge Mountain Resort   First Snow of Season

Deer Ridge Mountain Resort: Smoke On The Mountains With Fall Foliage

share save 171 16 Deer Ridge Mountain Resort:  Smoke On The Mountains With Fall Foliage


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Video taken today, October 14, 2009 from our balcony on a very rainy day.  Leaves are turning very fast this year compared to prior years – the very wet summer and cool nights are accelerating things this season.  We even have snow flurries predicted for this weekend.

If you plan on being at your condo at the Fall Foliage Peak, you better hurry!

share save 171 16 Deer Ridge Mountain Resort:  Smoke On The Mountains With Fall Foliage

Chimneys Picnic Area - Mountain Stream Video - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

share save 171 16 Chimneys Picnic Area   Mountain Stream Video   Great Smoky Mountains National Park


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Took this video on Sunday where Janet and I had our own delightful picnic – One of my favorite spots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park since my first visit when I was four years old.

Beautiful late September Sunny Sunday afternoon. Raging river from all of the recent downpours.

share save 171 16 Chimneys Picnic Area   Mountain Stream Video   Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Spruce Flats Waterfall

share save 171 16 Video and Photos of Spruce Flats Waterfall Hike


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Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Spruce Flats Waterfall Trail – Hiked 083009.

An unmaintained trail that is not on any of the hiking maps or books. More strenuous than we expected, lot of rocks to climb over. Continue reading Video and Photos of Spruce Flats Waterfall Hike

share save 171 16 Video and Photos of Spruce Flats Waterfall Hike