About Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
A mountain resort town just north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee, Pigeon Forge imbues country music and Southern culture. Ride a trolley through the town's 5-mile parkway to discover kitschy gift shops, museums, amusement parks, and many opportunities for dinner and a show featuring comedy, theater, magic, and all kinds of musicians. Top attractions focus on music and amusement park rides, including the Dollywood theme park, the Titanic Museum, Alcatraz East, Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, WonderWorks indoor amusement park, the Dixie Stampede Theater, and Paula Deen's Restaurant. Get outdoors in the Smoky Mountains to go hiking and camping in places like Cades Cove. Closer to town you can go for a horseback ride, play mini golf, zip line above tree tops, go whitewater rafting on the Pigeon River, or ride a bike along the Riverwalk Greenway.
Orientation
Pigeon Forge is named after an historic iron forge on the banks of the Little Pigeon River. It is located in eastern Tennessee, in between the towns of Gatlinburg and Sevierville, just north of the Smoky Mountains. Take the Great Smoky Mountains Parkway exit off of Interstate 40 and head south to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and finally the entrance to the park. If you are flying in, check out flights into the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville (45 minutes west). You'll want your own car to explore the region, especially if you plan on entering Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Once you are in town, take advantage of the Fun Time Trolley to get around and in between nearby towns. Although a year-round destination, most visitors come to the area in the summer months (between May and August). Pigeon Forge offers a wide variety of lodging properties, from resorts and hotels to cabin rentals and bed and breakfasts.
Things to Do
Dollywood: Named after country singer Dolly Parton, this Appalachian-themed amusement park features rides, a water park, and a Southern Gospel Music and Hall of Fame Museum.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: With endless rolling mountains covered in lush forests, this park is a dream come true for any outdoor enthusiast. Don't miss Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, a number of scenic drives, hiking trails to waterfalls, and more.
Titanic Museum: This hands-on experience is great for families and children, complete with life sized lifeboats, a museum with original artifacts, and your very own boarding pass.
Wonderworks: An upside-down interactive attraction, Wonderworks is great for families and features tons of hands-on exhibits, as well as laser tag, a ropes course, and a 6D motion ride.
Hollywood Wax Museum: This two-story wax museum beholds famous wax personalities in film, television, and music.
Pigeon River: Go whitewater rafting or tubing on the Big Pigeon River, or try your luck at fishing for rainbow or brook trout on the Little Pigeon River.
Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show: Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede is a year-round dinner and show spectacle featuring 32 horses and great music.
Alcatraz East: A unique crime museum featuring a behind-the-scenes experience of American crime history.