Pigeon Forge

Understand

Pigeon Forge is a tourist destination that caters primarily to Southern culture and country music fans. The city's attractions include Dollywood, Dollywood's Splash Country, gift shops, outlet malls, amusement rides, and musical theaters. In 2019, it was home to 6,300 people.

History After the Treaty of Dumplin Creek in 1785, Robert Shields and Samuel Wear took advantage of lands ceded by the Cherokees to build forts in the area. Wear's fort, the site where Pigeon Forge City Park is today, came under attack. Later, around 1820, a fellow named Isaac Love built an iron forge and gristmill along the Little Pigeon River, hence the name of the town. Even though the forge was dismantled, the mill was restored and is like the centerpiece of the town, with tourists flocking to eat at the restaurant there. When Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened up in 1934, entrepreneurs started toying with the idea of tourism on this stretch en route to the park. First there was a Rebel Railroad attraction, then a Silver City Amusement Park, and finally what Pigeon Forge is seemingly synonymous with today - Dollywood. It is chock full of other tourist attractions and resorts, however, so you may have to plan your time carefully.

Getting there

By air 1 McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS IATA), about 10 mi (16 km) south of Knoxville. 2 Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge Airport (KGKT) (7 mi. North of Pigeon Forge), ☏ +1 865 453-8393. General aviation airport serving the Sevierville - Pigeon Forge - Gatlinburg area. (updated May 2023)

By car From Knoxville, US Route 441 connects directly to Pigeon Forge.

Getting around

The Fun Time Trolley is a public transportation system serving Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Fares range from $0.50 to $0.75, and it has over 100 trolley stops throughout the city. Trolley stops include places such as Dollywood, Dolly's Splash Country, Tanger Outlets, and many other stops along the parkway and other points of interest. The Fun Time Trolleys run daily 8:30AM to midnight during the months of early March to October and daily 10AM to 10PM in November and December but close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

See

1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park. (updated Jan 2018) 2 Alcatraz East Crime Museum, 2757 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 453-3278. Daily 10AM-9PM. Formerly the National Museum of Crime & Punishment from Washington DC, a glimpse into the world of crime and forensics, with such artifacts as vehicles belonging to Ted Bundy, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, and OJ Simpson; forensics labs; jail cell replicas; and moonshine stills. $27 adult, $20 senior/military, $15 child. (updated Oct 2021)

Do

Dollywood Amusement Park and Splash Country. 1 Dolly Parton's Stampede (Dixie Stampede), 3849 Parkway, ☏ +1 865-635-9714, toll-free: +1-800-356-1676. Music show and horse stunts while you have a feast. 2 Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show, 119 Music Rd, ☏ +1 865 908-7469. Another dinner show with dancing and slapstick comedy. $60 adult, $30 child. (updated Oct 2021) Rapid Expeditions, toll-free: +1-888-504-RAFT (7238). Whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Pigeon River. Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show, 2682 Teaster Ln (Traffic Light #2 (Teaster Lane), across from Belz), toll-free: +1-888-641-7195. Call for show times. Interactive entertainment: murder mystery and a meal. 3 Hollywood Wax Museum, 106 Showplace Blvd., ☏ +1 865 428-5228. Claims to be the only wax museum in the US devoted entirely to celebrity figures. (updated May 2015) The Escape Game Pigeon Forge, 131 Island Drive, Suite 9139, ☏ +1 865 868-3400. 7AM-11:55PM. Offers several rooms with the same main objective: to escape within an hour. $31.99. (updated Dec 2016) 4 Titanic Museum, 2134 Parkway, ☏ +1 417 334-9500. Housed inside a half-scale replica of the doomed ocean liner, this is one of the largest Titanic museums in the world with over 400 artifacts on display, and galleries to explore highlighting the infamous voyage. Plus the chance to take on a passenger's identity and see your fate. $28 adult, $15 child. (updated Mar 2018) 5 Paula Deen's Lumberjack Feud Show & Adventure Park, 2530 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 366-3330. (updated Sep 2020) 6 The Island In Pigeon Forge, 131 The Island Dr, ☏ +1 865-346-7614. More amusement rides, including the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, games, shops, and restaurants. (updated Oct 2021) 7 Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, 867 Wears Valley Rd, ☏ +1 865 365-5000. 7-8 minute high thrill ride. $18 adult, $14 child (7-12). (updated Oct 2021)

Buy

Flat Creek Village Antiques and Gifts (Tennessee antique shopping, Smoky Mountain crafts.), 3599 Newport Hwy (Take Dolly Parton Parkway (Hwy 411 North) from Sevierville toward Newport and Flatcreek is on the right.), ☏ +1 865 428-4450, [email protected]. 10AM-6PM.

Eat

Alamo Steakhouse, 3050 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 908-9998. Bennett's Pit Bar-B-Que, 2910 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 429-2200, [email protected]. Bullfish Grill, ☏ +1 865 868-1000. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Dinners $13-22. Huck Finns Catfish, Chicken and Steaks, 3330 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 429-3353. Log Cabin Pancake House, 4235 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 453-5748. April–December: 6:45AM-9PM; January–March: 6:45AM-2PM. Marble Slab Creamery, 3676 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 908-0276. Old Mill Restaurant at Old Mill Square, 164 Old Mill Ave, ☏ +1 865 429-3463. Daily 7:30AM-9PM. Where it all started, Isaac Love's Pigeon Forge with a gristmill and all - kind of. Grand Majestic Theater, 2330 Parkway, ☏ +1 865-774-7777. Buffet dinner and live musical performances.

Drink & nightlife

Mill Bridge Winery, 3331 S River Rd, ☏ +1 865 366-1664, [email protected]. Free tastings. (updated Sep 2020) Old Forge Distillery, 170 Old Mill Ave, ☏ +1 865-774-4126. (updated May 2021)

Sleep

Budget Maples Motor Inn, 2959 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 453-8883. $29-90. Days Inn, 2760 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 453-4707, fax: +1 865 428-7928. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Doubles $34-67. Econo Lodge Riverside, 2440 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 428-1231, fax: +1 865 286-2360. Doubles $35-70. River Bend Inn, 2350 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 365-0400, fax: +1 865 453-5800. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. $35-90. The Colonial House Motel, 3545 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 453-0717. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Doubles $39-99. Americana Inns, 2825 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 428-0127, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Doubles $40-75. Super 8, 215 Emert St., ☏ +1 865 428-2300, fax: +1 865 428-6113. Doubles $40-90. 1 Country Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge South, 4215 Parkway. $128. (updated Oct 2021)

Mid-range Best Western Plaza Inn, 3755 Parkway, toll-free: +1-800-232-5656, [email protected]. Doubles $48-103. Best Western Toni Inn, 3810 Parkway, toll-free: +1-800-422-3232, fax: +1 865 453-2621, [email protected]. Doubles $48-103. Comfort Inn, 3712 Parkway, toll-free: +1-866-559-4741, [email protected]. Doubles $57-104. Holiday Inn, 3230 Parkway, ☏ +1 865 428-2700, fax: +1 865 286-2732. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Doubles