Cherokee Wins Certificates of Excellence
7.1.2015
We are excited to share that two attractions in Cherokee have won the prestigious Certificate of Excellence award from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site.
The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is awarded to properties that achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor. This marks the third time for the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee to receive the award, and it is the first time for the drama Unto These Hills to be recognized.
“We are thrilled to win these awards from TripAdvisor, and it’s even more special because the recognition of excellence is based on actual customer reviews,"said John P. Tissue, the Executive Director of the Cherokee Historical Association.
"People love to visit Cherokee and we are passionate about sharing our history and culture by offering an unforgettable experience for the whole family," he added.
At the Oconaluftee Indian Village, which has a 4.5 star rating on TripAdvisor, visitors can explore Cherokee life in the 1760s through an immersive, interactive experience featuring live reenactments and dynamic demonstrations, including hands-on Cherokee pottery classes for kids.
Calum K, a Senior Contributor for TripAdvisor from Newcastle, United Kingdom, praised the Oconaluftee Indian Village as being “just wonderful” in his TripAdvisor review.
“This is a very well thought out and well presented depiction of the Cherokee Nation crafts and early living conditions. All of the staff members are passionate about showing us their skills and their heritage, whether it is with blow-pipe, bead-work or dancing. Thoroughly recommended,” he wrote.
Unto These Hills, a first-time winner of the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, is one of the longest running outdoor dramas in the U.S., and has entertained more than six million people since 1950.
In her Onto These Hills TripAdvisor review, one of 400 on the site, Karen Von B of Greensboro, North Carolina described the drama as “a great show under the stars,” rating it five stars.
“The theater is in a beautiful setting, and the show does a great job of communicating the history of the Cherokee. Everyone should see it at least once. Combined with a visit to the Cherokee village, it makes a fun and educational experience," she noted.
