Pigeon Forge Offers Visitors Best of Both Worlds

The wooden door of the Old Mill creaks open to reveal the gloomy interior of a 177-year-old building. The air is filled with flour dust as the huge water-powered French granite stones grind grain into flour and meal.

Time seems to have stood still and the same can almost be said for a shopping mall nearby. Here a bakery, creamery, pottery and craft shop offer handicrafts and tasty gifts such as homemade cake and marmalade made to recipes handed down over the generations.

The give-away is the trendy T-shirt worn by 24-year-old miller Ryan Matthews, which shows that this old mill in Pigeon Forge on the edge of the Smoky Mountains, has entered the 21st century. Matthews has seen his home village turn into a magnet for visitors.

'When I was small, this was nothing but cornfields,' he said, pointing into the distance where the Smoky Mountains touch the sky. They are part of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which boasts 9 million visitors a year or more than any other such park in the United States.
The highest summit is Clingman's Dome, which stands at 2,025 metres. Pigeon Forge is the gateway to this natural habitat, an elongated community strung out along a six-lane highway route called the Parkway. All the attractions are here, ranging from restaurants to shopping centers and amusement arcades.

The valley used to rely on agriculture for its income and the surrounding mountains were relentlessly exploited for their reserves of coal and lumber.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the peaks were almost completely devoid of trees. Erosion triggered landslides and it was not until 1920 that the battle began to save these idyllic surroundings from disaster.

When there was nothing left to chop down, the lumberjacks moved on and the state began buying up the land owned by the mountain crofters. In 1934, the area along the border with North Carolina was proclaimed a US National Park and Pigeon Forge began its ascendancy.
Neighbouring Knoxville hosted the Expo or World Fair in 1982 and triggered a big influx of tourists in the process. It was a blessing for this impoverished region and attracted many investors.

An estimated 11 million visitors pour along the Parkway every year, says Leon Downey who is in charge of tourism. The hotels are affordable and the unspoilt landscape of the Smokies is just around the corner.

'People love the contrast,' says Downey who points out that many who come here end up seeing most of the National Park from behind a car windshield since they try to take in all the other attractions during a short vacation.

There are big dippers on every corner in Pigeon Forge and the chain of restaurants along highway 441 stretches for five kilometres. Drivers only need to pull off the road to enjoy all the fun of the fair and all they can eat to go with it.

'The program has been specifically designed for families and to appeal to the various generations,' said Deborah Fee Newsom whose company maintains a number of stages in Pigeon Forge where shows are regularly hosted.

Her latest innovation is a magician. Terry Evanswood saws his assistant in two before pronouncing: 'God made his dream come true.' By doing so, he shows that this area belongs firmly to the so-called 'Bible Belt' where citizens are devout Christians and proud of it.
Country singer Dolly Parton appears on stage here with the star- spangled banner at her side. Parton grew up in difficult circumstances in the little town of Locust Ridge as one of a family of 14. Today the 62-year-old is a superstar and has tried hard to give her former homeland a helping hand.

In 1986, she transformed what used to be known as 'Silver Dollar City' into a theme park called 'Dollywood.' She also brought the horse stunt revue 'Dixie Stampede' to Pigeon Forge. This indoor extravaganza of beating hooves complete with four-course meal sees mounted riders re-enact scenes from the US civil war three times a day in front of an audience of 1,400 people.

Visitors who long to get away from the crowds can seek sanctuary in the wilderness of the park. A network of paths for backpackers stretches for more than 1,300 kilometres through an area which has been extensively reforested.

Signs warn visitors to be on guard against bears roaming the region. 'There are about two bears to the mile,' said John LaFevre, a local hiker. 'But the black bears tend to be shy and keep away from people just as long as they pick up their garbage behind them.'

The only visitors' lodge in the park is to be found on the peak of Mount Leconte. The accommodation is highly sought-after and those who want to stay here have to book months, if not years, in advance to secure a bed.

The ascent takes three hours via narrow paths, across small bridges and through a rock-hewn tunnel. From halfway up, the view stretches for miles across the valleys of the Smokies and suddenly Pigeon Forge seems a very long way off.

Information courtesy of Monsters & Critics

Lee Greenwood Announces Concerts in Pigeon Forge

Lee Greenwood, winner of three Country Music Association Awards and writer of America’s unofficial patriotic anthem, “God Bless the USA,” will perform 36 dates at the Smith Family Theater in Pigeon Forge this year.

Greenwood, who had his own theater in the Smokies for five years, starts his Pigeon Forge concert series on April 18. The final shows will be Dec. 29. Greenwood will have two shows on each appearance date for a total of 72 shows.

“We are extremely honored to host Lee Greenwood’s return to the Great Smoky Mountains. Lee has great fans, and his concerts at the Smith Family Theater are scheduled so guests can combine one of his shows with Pigeon Forge’s many other entertainment opportunities,” said Charlie Bob Smith, partner and performer at the Smith Family Theater.

The 600-seat Smith Family Theater opened in 2004 and was custom built for the act that features Charlie, Jim and Charlie Bob Smith (Charlie and Jim are brothers, and Charlie Bob is Charlie’s son). The family act has been popular in the region since the 1980s, including a long run at the Dollywood theme park.

A combo ticket for a Lee Greenwood concert and the Smith Family Show is $44.90 plus tax. Children age 12 and younger are free.

“After living and working in the Smoky Mountains for almost eight years, I discovered, just like the millions of visitors who visit the area each year, that the beauty and romance of the Smoky Mountains are unmatched,” Greenwood said.

The Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism said Greenwood’s concerts will expand the city’s entertainment mix.

“Many people visit Pigeon Forge especially for the theaters. We think Lee Greenwood will encourage new visitors to try us and entice others to stay an extra day,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the department of tourism.

In addition to “God Bless the USA,” Greenwood’s hit list includes “Ring on Her Finger, Time on Her Hands,” “It Turns Me Inside Out,” “Somebody’s Gonna Love You,” “Dixie Road” and “I Don’t Mind the Thorns (If You’re the Rose).”

Greenwood concerts dates:

April 18 and 25

May 9, 18 and 23

June 20

July 10, 11, 18 and 24

August 1,8, 15, 22, 30 and 31

September 5, 11, 12, 21 and 27

October 3, 9, 10, 19, 24, 30 and 31

November 5, 14, 16, 21 and 28

December 3, 12 and 29.

Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge

The Great Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg provide the perfect path to explore the great outdoors. Perhaps that’s why many people flock each year to these beautiful mountains during January’s Wilderness Wildlife Week, where experts are on hand to guide you through the various ways people can play in the Smokies. It’s a great way for both children and adults to reconnect with nature and there are guided hikes, photography contests and nature classes to take advantage of. And, best of all, it’s all free!

Wilderness Week in Pigeon Forge begins its 18th annual festival on January 12-19, 2008, with a series of outdoor themed activities designed to connect visitors with the outdoor world of the Great Smoky Mountains.

During Pigeon Forge Wilderness Week, nearly 100 experts on nature and the great outdoors will host walks, hikes, seminars and lectures on a wide variety of topics, including Smoky Mountain history and plant and animal life. A number of Wilderness Wildlife Week programs are designed for children.

Guided Wilderness Week hikes through the Smokies range from easy, relaxed walks to more strenuous, multi-mile treks. Topics vary with individual hikes. To properly prepare for daylong outings, hikers are encouraged to bring gloves, head cover, rain gear, lunch or trail snacks, a flashlight and an extra pair of socks.

Wilderness Wildlife Week offers activities for all ages and attracts thousands of nature lovers to Pigeon Forge. The International Festivals & Events Association has recognized Pigeon Forge Wilderness Week for its environmental and educational efforts.

Wilderness Week activities are offered free of charge. Music Road Hotel & Convention Center is the headquarters for the event.

Information courtesy of My Pigeon Forge

Winterfest in Pigeon Forge celebrates Christmas, Smoky Mountain Heritage

Winter, formerly the quietest time of year in the Smoky Mountains resort town of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., now is one of the most vibrant because of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. The 18th edition of the four-month celebration runs from Nov. 8-Feb. 29, 2008.

More than five million Winterfest lights that are spread throughout the city are most conspicuous element of Pigeon Forge Winterfest. Elaborate displays depicting everything from Mother Goose rhymes to patriotic themes attract visitors who view them from their own vehicles or get guided tours on the city's Fun Time Trolleys.

One of the more elaborate displays depicts the city's most significant historic site, the Old Mill. The actual mill was built in 1830 and still is in operation. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.During the first two months of Pigeon Forge Winterfest, another 3.5 million lights add a special glow to the Dollywood theme park and its special holiday season.Also during November and December, Pigeon Forge's theaters—there are more than a dozen—add special holiday segments to their productions. All theaters operate through the end of the year, and many offer shows year-round.

After the excitement of Christmas and New Year's, the city continues Pigeon Forge Winterfest with three festivals in January and February:

- Wilderness Wildlife Week, Jan. 12-19, is the first. It began the same year as Winterfest as a Saturday afternoon activity and now offers eight days of programs and activities to spotlight Great Smoky Mountains National Park. More than 100 experts on nature and outdoor life present programs on many topics, and there are daily hikes and excursions into the national park. AppalachiaFest, a musical component of Wilderness Wildlife Week on Jan. 15, is hosted by Grammy-Award winner David Holt and features bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley.

- The 17th Annual Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival is on tap Feb. 7-9 with some of America's top storytellers, who offer both performances and workshops. The 2008 schedule includes cowboy poet and storyteller Waddie Mitchell and Bil Lepp, five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest.

- Saddle Up!, a celebration of the American West, returns for the eighth year, Feb. 21-24. It brings some of the best western musicians and cowboy poets to the Smokies for a rare visit east of the Mississippi River. Featured this year are Wylie & the Wild West, Sons of the San Joaquin, Jean and Gary Prescott, Yvonne Hollenbeck, Sourdough Slim, Chris Isaacs, Kent Rollins and Jeff Gore & Silver Valley.

Info courtesy of TravelVideo.TV

Fall Foliage in Tennessee a patchwork of Color

Tennessee in the fall is a brilliant patchwork of red, yellow, rust and orange. More than 400 species of deciduous trees paint the fall scenes of Tennessee’s landscape from the Mississippi River to the Great Smoky Mountains.

Cooler night temperatures, flocks of migrating birds, and natural bouquets of lavender and yellow wildflowers along the roadsides are sure signs that fall in Tennessee is right on schedule. Tennessee’s peak colors typically appear the last two weeks of October. The leaves change first in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee. The fall colors then sweep westward across the state peaking around Memphis by late November.

Autumn is becoming visible in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with some areas above 5,000 feet in full color, such as Clingmans Dome Road, which leads to the highest elevation in the Park.

The majority of the deciduous forest, at 4,000 feet elevation and below, is still predominantly green. Trees in the high country that are now showing bright color are the yellows of American beech and yellow birch, and different shades of reds on mountain ash, pin cherry and mountain maple. In the lower elevations, a few early color changing species, such as sourwood and sumac, are showing bright reds. Some dogwoods and maples are beginning to turn different colors in some areas as well. Fall wildflowers, such as goldenrod and asters, are colorful throughout the park, and some blueberry and blackberry shrubs are changing color, as well as the Virginia creeper plant.

Because the Great Smoky Mountains provide a range of elevations between 875 and 6,643 feet in the Park with differing moisture conditions and habitats, many trees will still produce significant color as the Park moves into its peak autumn season.

In lower East Tennessee (Cleveland and Ocoee Region), the weather has been very pleasant, but the leaf color remains unchanged. The beginning of the 2007 fall color season is predicted to be about a week away. The weather prediction this week is for lows in the40s and highs in the 60s starting on Wednesday. The lower temperatures this week should bring some color change very soon.

Farther south, many of our trees in the Chattanooga Valley are starting to turn slightly at their tops. The Poplars are showing a touch of yellow, with a bit of bronze on our Elms. It is too early for red or orange on the great Oaks or Sweet Gums.

Scenic Highway 27, Lookout Mountain and Interstate I-24 west toward Nashville are still green. This area is still a few weeks from any major color change. However, the weather is beautiful and a great time to take in the area’s outdoor festivals. The wildflowers are beautiful and still abundant along roadsides. Now is a great time to hike the beautiful mountain trails or paddle the Blue Trail along the Tennessee River.

Recommendations: High elevation trails such as Sugarland Mountain Trail and Appalachian Trail, accessed at Clingmans Dome or Newfound Gap, would be the perfect hiking area for this time of year. Roads leading into the high country, including Newfound Gap Road, Heintooga Ridge Road, Foothills Parkway West and East, and Rich Mountain Road out of Cades Cove, are the best options for leaf seekers. The weather is beautiful in middle and west Tennessee, with fall still a few weeks away

Information courtesy of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

12 Free Things to do in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (A Still have a Blast!)

In the breathtaking state of Tennessee you’ll find the picturesque Smoky Mountains. Both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are great places to visit for fantastic indoor and outdoor fun! A vacation to the Smoky Mountains is perfect too, because there are so many things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Even better, there are plenty of FREE things to do in the Smoky Mountains!
The natural outdoor allure of the Smoky Mountain destinations of Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is easy to understand. With the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as their backyard, these two vacation destinations allow guests to discover what they’ve been missing…refreshing, all natural fun!

1) Cades Cove: This is a great area for a scenic drive! There is an 11 mile one way loop that winds around the valley, complete with wildlife, campgrounds, bike rentals, spectacular foliage in autumn, and facilities for horseback riding.

2) Sugarlands Visitor Center: A free 20-minute orientation motion picture provides an in-depth look at the Smokies and the enormous diversity of plant and animal life in the Park. Natural history exhibits include mounted specimens of park animals in recreations of their habitats and reproductions of journals kept by the first park naturalists are also on display. Ranger talks and slide shows are presented daily from spring through fall. You’ll also want to visit Laurel Falls, a beautiful waterfall located off Little Rover Road near the Sugarlands Center.

3) Mills Park: Located in Gatlinburg, this park’s facilities include a softball field, horseshoe pits, playground, tennis courts, football field and basketball court. It’s a great place for families to enjoy the outdoors!

4) Mynatt Park: A beautiful park complete with picnic area by the river, bbq grills, and recreation opportunities such as baseball and basketball.

5) Tennessee Heritage Trails: Our Heritage Trails link attractions in three categories - History, Arts & Crafts and Music - to showcase the distinctive character and talents of Tennessee trails and to connect both well-known and obscure attractions under a common theme.

6) Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Craft Community: The largest group of independent artisans in North America. This historic 8-mile loop has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Established in 1937, these artisans create unique and treasured pieces.

7) Newfound Gap Road: The 33-mile drive from Gatlinburg to Cherokee North Carolina along Newfound Gap Road is the only route that completely traverses the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive offers a unique opportunity to enjoy an abbreviated experience of everything the Park has to offer, without necessarily trekking far from your automobile.

8) Hiking: Enjoy a hike on any of the more than 800 miles of trails through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. With over fifty trails available to hike, you’ll discover a new treasure each time you explore.

9) Douglas Lake: Beautiful Douglas Lake extends its 33,000 lake acres and 513 miles of shoreline to the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, attracting nearly 2 million visitors each year. Favorite activities at Douglas Lake include fishing, boating, rafting, swimming, camping, and bird watching.

10) Shopping in the Smokies: Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a shopper’s dream and it doesn’t cost a thing to look! There are several Outlet malls, such as Belz Factory Outlet Mall, as well as hundreds of unique shops to explore.

11) Festivals: Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a haven for festivals. Many of these, such as the Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass Festival, have free admission and concerts!

12) Plus, at Dollywood, you can get your next day FREE if you arrive at the park after 3 pm!
With so many things to see and do in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, you and your family are sure to experience the vacation of a lifetime!