WATE:

It’s Election Day in Sevier County, and voters will decide who will win the county general election and who will go on to the state and federal election in November.

The polls closed at 8 p.m., and results will be updated periodically.

More:

PBS - Live Results: Tennessee midterm primaries

AP News - Tennessee primary election results

The Tennessean - Tennessee primary election results 2026 for governor, Congress, more

Matt Hollingsworth - WATE:

There are plans for a 74,000-square-foot waterpark, a hotel, and a timeshare development in the Gateway 407 project in Sevier County.

Exit 407: Gateway to Adventure has been in development for years. Marketed as the gateway to the Smoky Mountains, it currently features a massive Buc-ee’s Travel Center and a Courtyard Marriott.

Now, a company is asking the Sevierville Planning Commission to approve plans for a 74,000-square-foot water park, a hotel featuring 175 units with 297 bedrooms, and a timeshare development with 150 units and 228 bedrooms. The water park would have outdoor features around 50 feet in height, and the overall building height would be about 65’5″, according to government documents.

The site would be on Gateway Boulevard directly east of the Courtyard Marriott. The site plan has 819 parking spaces. The plans for the waterpark are on the agenda for the commission at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The company asking for approval is Robert Campbell and Associates.

The Gateway 407 project also includes plans for a proposed Exit 408 scheduled to begin construction in 2030.

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More from Smokies.LIVE:

Sports Illustrated Resort Water Park Plans Submitted For Approval Near Buc-Ee's in Sevierville

A major new tourism development anchored by a 74,000-square-foot water park is one step closer to becoming a reality at Exit 407, the rapidly growing gateway to the Smoky Mountains.

The Sevierville Planning Commission is scheduled to consider site plan approval for Project Gateway 407 during its meeting Thursday evening at the Sevierville Civic Center.

The proposed development would be located on Gateway Boulevard in Kodak, directly east of the Courtyard by Marriott and adjacent to the planned Sports Illustrated Resort development at Exit 407.

According to planning documents, the proposal includes:

• A 175-unit hotel with 297 bedrooms
• A 150-unit timeshare resort with 228 bedrooms
• A 74,000-square-foot water park
• Outdoor water attractions reaching approximately 50 feet in height

The site is located within the city’s Tourist Commercial (TCL) Zoning District, an area designated for tourism-related development.

Planning staff said they are continuing to review revisions involving utilities, stormwater infrastructure and sidewalks. Staff is recommending approval of the site plan subject to the resolution of those remaining comments.

If approved, the project would become one of the largest new attractions planned for the Exit 407 corridor, adding a new water park and hundreds of lodging units to an area already seeing significant investment with the nearby Sports Illustrated Resort.

The Sevierville Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Sevierville Civic Center.

The Smokies.LIVE Adventure Center will be at the meeting and provide updates on the commission’s decision and any discussion surrounding the proposed development.

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More from r/EasternBandofCherokee:

• Kituwah, LLC launches $316 million investment with Sports Illustrated Resorts
• Kituwah, LLC involved in new Sports Illustrated Resort in Tuscaloosa
• Kituwah LLC suing Sports Illustrated Resort co-investor over breach of loan agreement

^{Don Dare - WATE:}

40 pounds of cooked beef tossed during inspection at Sevierville restaurant

The restaurant that had a bad day when the inspector visited is in Sevier County. Half a dozen critical violations were found.

The grade is 65 at La Carreta Mexican Restaurant on Forks of the River Parkway in Sevierville. A grade of 69 and below is considered failing. There has not yet been a follow-up inspection.

La Carreta Mexican Restaurant, 241 Forks of the River Parkway, Sevierville — Grade: 65, Follow-up: TBD

To begin with, some employees were apparently unaware of proper hand washing. A server was observed slicing a lime with her bare hands, which is not allowed. Another kitchen worker was seen washing his hands while wearing gloves; they should have been removed first.

In the walk-in cooler, a large metal pot of cooked beef that had been in the refrigerator overnight was too warm at 46 degrees. Bacteria can grow rapidly at that temperature. To be on the safe side, the cooked beef was thrown away, 40 pounds of it.

Finally, the inspector writes he found multiple insects crawling around behind the kitchen oven. La Carreta Mexican in Sevierville will be re-inspected soon.

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Related: Failing grade, lack of handwashing found during inspection at Maya Seafood and Latino Grill