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Greenbrier Campground Gatlinburg, Tennessee |
Pigeon Forge
Quirky exhibits and majestic mountains compete for your attention in a fun-filled town
The Great Smoky Mountains, a world-class theme park and the replica of a legendary ocean liner are just some of the reasons more than 11 million people visit this region of Tennessee every year.
Where Dollywood and the Titanic are Neighbors
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is synonymous with two icons. First, famed entertainer Dolly Parton launched the Dollywood family amusement park here, enticing millions of people to add this eastern Tennessee town to their vacation checklist. The second giant: Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies just 8 miles to the south, inspiring nature lovers to explore the mist-shrouded peaks celebrated in song and legend.
Seagoing Attractions
Although the town is located hundreds of miles from the closest ocean shore, Pigeon Forge is home to the Titanic. Well, not the actual vessel that sank in the Atlantic in 1912, but the Titanic Museum Attraction. Touted as one of the most luxurious ocean liners of its day, the aura of the doomed vessel is replicated through sights and sounds so authentic, some museum visitors say you can almost smell the sea air. Experience the splendor of the ship’s interior re-created at the museum with exquisite detail.
Exhibits include an actual list of crew members, newspaper accounts of the Titanic’s demise, a Morse code display and even a chance to enter a lifeboat like the vessels used by passengers on that fateful day the ship sank in 1912.
Hail to the King
Want to take a picture with a Hollywood star? You’ll have your chance at the Hollywood Wax Museum, where you can rub elbows with the wax-made look-alikes of some of your favorite screen stars, including John Wayne, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Elvis Presley.
Speaking of the King, the Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum is the place to pay homage to this rock ’n’ roll legend, who also happens to be a former resident of the Volunteer State.
Many of the items Elvis lavishly bestowed on his friends during his lifetime are now part of the museum’s extensive repository of personal items and autographed memorabilia. In addition to luxury cars, diamond-encrusted jewelry and movie props, items on display include the legend’s wedding reception ice bucket, personal Frisbee, karate gear and signature pieces from Elvis’s flamboyant wardrobe.
In the Jewelry Vault, the many trinkets that adorned Presley throughout his life are on display, including the ring that Elvis designed and wore throughout his career. Enduring crowd-pleasers include the King’s last limousine, the “Double Trouble” tuxedo and Jerry Lee Lewis’ egg-yolk-yellow 1954 Cadillac Coupe de Ville that crashed into Elvis’ pink Cadillac when they were playing chicken on the streets of Memphis.
Discover even more fun at the Wonder of Flight Museum, which recreates major milestones in humankind’s mastery of flight. MagiQuest, meanwhile, takes patrons on a high-tech medieval adventure.
Beautiful Birds
Pigeon Forge is host to exotic wildlife that is as flamboyant as Elvis. Hundreds of gorgeous, tropical birds surrounded by multihued flowers, plants and trees wait to pose for your pictures at Parrot Mountain and Gardens. Four acres of meticulously landscaped gardens are home to birds ranging from toucans to hornbills and, of course, parrots. The Secret Garden is a vast aviary that allows visitors to see exotic birds in flight; the Baby Bird Nursery lets you see birds at all stages of development. If you find that you’ve fallen in love with one of these beautiful creatures, the facility can arrange for you to take one home.
Pigeon Forge
Great Smokies
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the United States. Its southern mountain roots, paired with spectacular scenery and wildlife, make it a destination visitors cherish long after their stay. Make sure you see Cades Cove, a photographer’s dream and a favorite spot in the park to see wildlife, historic buildings and breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains. Wildflowers of all sorts blanket the park. You may also spot a black bear, so keep that camera handy.
Waterfalls are a huge park attraction. Among the most popular are Grotto, Abrams, Laurel and Rainbow, the latter named for the rainbow created when sunshine hits the mist of this 80-foot-high cascade. Place of a Thousand Drips is a natural wonder unto itself, because its water flow splits off into several small channels over the rocks, thus creating the aptly named “thousand drips.” While the big falls draw the most crowds, park officials say that smaller waterfalls and cascades can be found on almost every river and stream in the park.
With thousands of miles of waterways within the park, anglers show up for the spectacular fishing along Abrams Creek, Fontana Lake and the Little River. Those looking to be one with nature throughout the entirety of their trip can check out our Pigeon Forge Campgrounds guide.
The National Park Service has preserved more than 90 structures, including farm buildings, mills, schools and churches, which were left behind by some of the region’s earliest inhabitants.
Location, Location, Location!
Grab that credit card. Pigeon Forge and neighboring towns of Gatlinburg and Sevierville are homes to great deals. Because the area draws millions of tourists annually, outlet shopping malls are everywhere. Shoppers also can also find unique stores catering to those who want to take home a piece of the Smokies.
For More Information
Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
800-251-9100
Tennessee Department of Tourism Development
615-741-2159