A New Restaurant Switcheroo in Gatlinburg Opening This Spring (Or Summer)

It’s been a flurry of activity recently with restaurants in Gatlinburg. Closing announcements have been followed by immediate news of a refreshing concept taking its place. The “refreshing” part has come under fire by some in the social media-sphere, but I’m excited for all of them.

TGI Fridays and local eatery, Crawdaddy’s, recently closed, but a new taco bar and restaurant will replace the former, while an as-yet-unnamed new restaurant will supplant the latter. Whispers from former employees, however, say it will be a barbecue restaurant under the same ownership group, Kennedy Concepts.

I had no indication that Landshark—located in a plaza on the Gatlinburg Parkway near Margaritaville—was closing until I noticed the sign on the door that read, “Blue Moose Burgers and Wings, Coming May 2025.” That’s right—the highly-rated burger and wing joint will be replacing the beached Landshark, which has ended its run in Gatlinburg that lasted almost 8 years. They opened in 2017.

Unbeknownst to me, Blue Moose has four locations, (Alcoa, Chattanooga, Johnson City, and Pigeon Forge) with Gatlinburg set to open the fifth. I knew about the one in Pigeon Forge—a site I have been wanting to visit. But now that the ‘Burg is getting #5 this spring, I’ll just wait to give it a try.

Blue Moose Burger and Wings is part of the Diverse Concepts restaurant group, but it is a locally owned business; in fact, Daiquiri Shack is a partner that’s only a minute walk away in Gatlinburg. They have gained quite a loyal local following as evidenced by their reviews, and the Moose has been a constant since their opening in 2007.

While their specialty might be their namesake, their menu offers a little something for everyone. But that’s what every restaurant restaurant strives for, right? Well, yes, but a burger establishment serving up a Taco Salad and Avocado Salad gets me perked up. Other enticing items on the menu include their local favorite specialty burgers: the Grilled Cheese Cheeseburger and Big Mushroom Melt. The wings can get sauced up in 17 different flavors and levels of heat; plus, they also have 5 dry rubs if you like your wings less messy.

Overall, it’s a menu everyone can rally behind—even the kids. This proves the family-friendly environment Blue Moose provides its guests. In case you have room for dessert, they have that covered too. The Blue Velvet Dream Cake, Brownie Bottom Overload, and Peanut Butter Fudge Pie will be awfully hard to deny.

I don’t want to make this overly long; I will save a lengthier one for a full review after it opens. As I stated in the beginning, I am just as excited to visit this Blue Moose Burgers and Wings as I am the other restaurant concepts, which will be open before we know it. Spring is giving me more anticipation than even last year’s first one as a Gatlinburg resident. I’m sure you’re looking forward to trying them on your visit too!

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