Gatlinburg, TN is an exceptional place – and the folks at Guinness can prove it! Our Smoky Mountain city has hosted an unusually high number of Guinness World Record setting events. Some of Gatlinburg’s record breaking feats were organized by the city’s Guinness World Records Museum, but others were just the result of determined individuals who lived in or were visiting the Smokies.
The Guinness World Records Museum was recently visited by professional juggler Neils Duinker, who attempted to break four international juggling records on October 25, 2016. Unfortunately, we won’t know if Duinker was successful until a video of his performance is reviewed by the Guinness World Record officials in New York. In the meantime, you can learn all about five world records that were set in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains:
1. Highest vertical height walked on stilts
The highest vertical height walked on stilts is 1,224.68 m (4,018 ft) and was achieved by Ashrita Furman (USA) when he climbed to the summit of Mount LeConte in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA, on 06 July 2011. The mountain is situated in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Ashrita climbed from the access trail of the Trillium Gap Trail, to the actual Trillium Gap Trail all the way up the 6,593-ft summit of Mt. LeConte.
The access road to the trialhead, which is 0.15 miles from the actual Trillium Gap Trail, is 3 thin elevation lines higher than 2,500 ft. Since each line represents 25 ft, the starting elevation was 2,575 ft. The summit (known as High Top) is designated by a large cairn of rocks just off the mail trail on the right. Since the summit is 6,593 ft, the total vertical height climbed was 4,018 feet. The attempt took Ashrita 3 hours and 45 minutes, using peg stilts made of rubber tubing that were 103 cm in height, with 46 cm from the ground to his ankle, in accordance with the guidelines.
2. Largest human image of an arrowhead
To celebrate the 100th birthday on 10 August 2016 the National Park Service, the staff of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park decided to set a world record; 323 people park rangers, other park employees, and Gatlinburg residents came together to form the shape of a giant arrowhead, which is the National Park Service logo, thus setting the new world record for the Largest human image of an arrowhead, according to the World Record Academy.
3. Most cherry stems knotted in one minute
The most cherry stems knotted using the tongue in one minute is 14 and was achieved by Al Gliniecki (USA) at the Guinness World Records Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA on 14 June 2014.
4. Fastest time to make a pasta necklace
The fastest time to make a pasta necklace using 25 penne pasta tubes is 39.25 seconds and was achieved by Nicole Moreno (USA) at the Guinness World Records Museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA, on 19 July 2013.
5. Heaviest watermelon
The heaviest watermelon weighs 159 kg (350.5 lb) and was grown by Chris Kent (USA) of Sevierville, Tennessee, USA, as verified by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth on 4 October 2013.
Chris was awarded his prize at the Operation Pumpkin festival, held in Hamilton, Ohio between 3 – 5 October 2013.
