Darrell Waltrip Experience Racing Towards Success at Belle Island Village

Jeff Hammond has an almost child-like excitement for racing. This fall, Hammond believes that excitement will be passed on to racing fans throughout the southeast as The Darrell Waltrip Racing Experience opens at Belle Island Village in Pigeon Forge.

In the years Hammond served as crew chief for Waltrip, the pair formed the strong bond that led them into the broadcast booth for Fox Sports and now into a joint venture that will be a cornerstone for the 26-acre $114 million development. Hammond said the project was a "golden opportunity" to make a statement about Waltrips' 28-year career in NASCAR.

"Darrell's a Tennessee boy," Hammond said Tuesday at Belle Island Tuesday. "His success at Bristol is legendary."

"(The Experience) is going to be an opportunity to go from the past to the present and look to the future of what racing's all about," Hammond said. "And with as many people that come through Pigeon Forge a year, we're going to offer up a unique insight not only into the past, but to the future of racing."

Hammond said his decision to join in with Waltrip on the project was a natural fit."(In our NASCAR careers) I'd build it and he'd drive it, so I'm trying to help build it so he'll drive it," Hammond said. "He is probably one of the best spokepersons, one of the best emissaries, whenever it comes to promoting anything. He has a way of sharing his innermost feelings and getting the message out there."

Hammond said that message will be a truly unique racing experience geared to give fans excitement like they've never had before - something better that other racing-themed events can't offer."Once we get what we feel is different and unique and exciting - when we get it put like we want to - then I know (Darrell's) really going to be proud as a peacock over it," Hammond said. "That's what I've always been about when it came to (our) relationship - building him not only a race car that he can win in, but building him something that he can go out and really just thump them with. And that's what we're going to do here with this Experience."

"We're not just going to have your average NASCAR experience or NASCAR park, we really want to build something that's going to be futuristic. In touch with the past, but with cutting-edge technology and opportunities to give the fans to touch and feel something that they can't do in a whole lot of other places. We'd like to be the trendsetters ... and have something that's not like what every other place has got."

Hammond says that will be a combination of modern technology, including interactive demonstrations and simulations, and entertaining historical displays."We're trying to take it to the next level, where fans can reach and touch it," Hammond said. "We've got some modern technology that's going to allow us to basically have an interactive conversation with fans in the theater," he continued. "It's also going to have the normal historical cars and some of the modern stuff - we're going to have a Car of Tomorrow sitting there so people can understand the difference between this race car and the other race car."

For fans that are new to the sport, Hammond said another area will concentrate on building a good solid knowledge base of the sport.

"We're going to have an area that is Racing 101, that people can go in there and get a better foundation to go off of. You may know who Tony Stewart is, you may know who Kyle Busch is, but you may not know who David Pearson was or who Richard Petty was. So we want to try to marry the past with the present."

Also, budding journalists will get a chance to live out their fantasies of working a race first-hand."We're also going to bring them through there and put them into our new profession, which is the broadcast side," Hammond said. "We're going to have it set up to where you get an opportunity to feel what it's like to be a Speed reporter or a NASCAR on Fox reporter."

And, Hammond said, vacationers who come to area every year can always come back without fear of seeing the same thing over and over again."We're looking to keep it on the cutting edge," Hammond said. "If you came back here in a year's time, it's not going to be the same thing - it's going to be different. It's not just going to be a museum that's going to be the same year in and year out. We want to keep it fresh. It's going to be new, it's going to be different. I've been to so many arcades, museums and fun houses and other venues that are just stale, and I don't want it to be that way."

In addition to the Darrell Waltrip Experience, visitors to Belle Island Village can take in the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum, the Knoxville Zoo's Otter Cove and a projected 90 specialty shops with a range of restaurants, stores entertainment venues.

Information courtesy of The Mountain Press

Image courtesy of Belle Island Village

Titanic Attraction Coming to Pigeon Forge

A historic disaster is coming to Sevier County.

Last month, according to county records, a Branson, Mo., company paid $2 million for a three-acre tract on the Parkway, just south of the Black Bear Jamboree in Pigeon Forge.

The buyer was Titanic Tennessee, LLC, and Pigeon Forge tourism director Leon Downey said the company is planning an attraction similar to Branson's Titanic museum.

At that attraction, visitors can "Walk an elegant replica of the Titanic's Grand Staircase ... Touch the frozen surface of an 'iceberg' ... Feel the chill of that fateful 'Starry Night' ...See the world's largest Titanic ship's model on display ... Stand on the mighty ship's bridge and hear the Captain's commands", according to the museum's web site.

John Joslyn, president of Branson's Cedar Bay Entertainment, declined to comment about his firm's plans.

Information courtesy of Knoxville News Sentinel

Adventure Quest Pigeon Forge Revealed

If you've been wondering what's going on with the former Helicopter Headquarters on the Parkway, here's the answer.

The building was purchased last December by the investment group Holrob-Henderson Chapel. The property was then leased to Adventure Quest Entertainment Group, an affiliate of Holrob-Henderson and owned in part by Pigeon Forge resident Jay Ogle. That firm is planning an indoor amusement park. Adventure Quest is a $12.4 million investment due to open in June.

The 28,000-square-foot structure is being referred to as a family adventure attraction. Exactly what it will include, though, remains a secret known only to those involved. Specific attractions have not yet been disclosed."We are bringing a new attraction that is so new and so different than what people are used to that we don't feel descriptions are appropriate enough at this point to disclose," Ned Vickers, co-owner of Adventure Quest, said.

"At Adventure Quest, we aim to provide experiences that appeal to the whole family," Ogle said. "We believe that today's consumer wants to be actively involved in the entertainment experience, and the next-generation attractions at Adventure Quest will offer a level of interactivity that is unsurpassed in the amusement industry."

"We are excited to be bringing new and unique entertainment options to Sevier County," Brad Smith, one of four owners of Adventure Quest, said.

Vickers said some of the attractions will be similar to those that are available in the area now, but Adventure Quest will put such a spin on them that they'll be different from anything seen before in this market. Vickers said renovations should be finished within the next three weeks. Upon completion of those renovations, Vickers said the company will the apply to the city for building permits to complete the project.Vickers says all permits needed so far have been acquired. The building plan has not yet been submitted, according to Joe Dunn, building inspector for the city of Pigeon Forge.

Construction is currently under way on the structure and facade. The building is being designed to resemble a four-story, medieval castle.

"After the structural modifications have been completed, Adventure Quest will begin installing the attractions," Vickers said.

Adventure Quest will offer six interactive experiences, Vickers said.

The Adventure Quest Entertainment Group is co-owned by Bob Talbot, Vickers, Smith and Ogle. The project is being financed by Citizens National Bank.

Information courtesy of The Mountain Press

Spin City Skate Center Opens in Pigeon Forge

Spin City Skate Center is one of the latest attractions in Pigeon Forge.

"We've been in the go-cart business in Pigeon Forge for years, for 25 years," Spin City Marketing Director Jennifer Leroux says. "This is our newest addition."

The rink is drawing visitors from all over, including Rick Walker from Oklahoma. He hasn't been skating since he was 12 years old. "I am just learning to do it again," he says. For spring break, his eight-year-old granddaughter wanted to give roller skating a whirl. They're taking it easy around the rink, but for Rick, skating is as much fun as it was back in the day. "We went everyday," he says. "It's kind of fun again. I miss doing it."

It's been 10 years since Sevier County has had a skating rink. Every hometown has one, but it's a new idea for a tourist spot. "We have to find creative ways to get the tourists in here to enjoy the rink," Leroux says.

So far the vibrant and innovative roller rink is working. There is a big screen in the center of the floor, where skaters can watch themselves go around the rink. The screen also plays music videos from Spin City's collection of 6,000 songs. The state-of-the-art light show, complete with flashing bright colors and disco balls, gets things rolling as well. While the music and lights may be booming, Spin City hopes its business will too, as skating rolls back into pop culture. "It's definitely making a comeback," Leroux says.

Spin City is located at light number four in Pigeon Forge, across from the Red Roof Mall.

Information courtesy of WBIR-TV

World's Largest Tony Roma's Opens in Pigeon Forge

The largest Tony Roma’s restaurant in the world opened on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge on Monday, March 24. Considered the pioneer of baby back ribs, Tony Roma’s has a global presence with more than 250 restaurants in 35 countries including the U.S., and average in size around 5,600 square feet. The Pigeon Forge location is nearly twice as large at almost 12,000 square feet – a statistic that will help meet the dining demands of a tourist destination with around 13 million visitors a year. It is also the largest restaurant in Pigeon Forge with 346 seats and will employee 160 employees.

The new franchise location is co-owned by David Fee, president, and Jim Hedrick, vice president, of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. Both agree that size is not their ultimate objective, rather a quality family dining experience. Fee says, “The decision to open this particular franchise was based more on location and timing, in addition to the world-class reputation of Tony Roma’s first-rate food. Tony Roma’s has a beautiful upper-class appeal without the upper-class prices that make it affordable family-friendly prices.

“I ultimately chose to open a Tony Roma’s after seeing how it anchors large-scale developments in other tourist areas like Nashville and Myrtle Beach.” Fee says. With its location in walking distance to the nearby Black Bear Jamboree Theater and The Miracle Theater, Tony Roma’s is the perfect place to stop, dine and enjoy a wonderful meal between two attractions, both owned by the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group. This restaurant has more to offer than its sizable capacity or world renowned ribs; it has unique flare to be enjoyable to both tourists and local residents of the area that will make return again and again.

Tony Roma’s has lots to offer beyond food including a private meeting/party room, a carry-out Ribs To Go service, gift cards, and Tony Roma’s online Roma Rib Expert Club, where you can get all the latest scoop on promotions, news, and special offers from the restaurant chain.

It’s located at 2050 Parkway in Pigeon Forge. The new restaurant is at the same location as the former Country Legends Grill and Alabama Grill and can be contacted at (865) 908-8777.

Information courtesy of Seymour Herald

Zorb Smoky Mountains Rolls into Pigeon Forge

Folks are finding themselves head over heels for a new attraction in Pigeon Forge that brings a little bit of New Zealand to the Smoky Mountains. After years of delays, Zorb Smoky Mountains, which challenges the brave and foolhardy to hop in giant ball and bounce down a mountainside, finally opened at the end of October.

The idea of Zorb is certainly unique and Pigeon Forge is playing host to its first location in North America. The attraction, born in New Zealand, offers several options and courses for riders, who are suspended inside a hollow ball inside a larger air-filled ball. Those with the courage to face the mountain can opt to be harnessed into the ball (the Zorb folks call it a Zorbit ride), meaning they will turn over and over just as the ball does, or they can take a Zydro ride, in which the Zorb ball is filled with water. One to three people can enjoy the Zydro ride, which keeps riders suspended at the bottom of the ball in cool water in summer and warm water in winter.

General Manager Eric Evans equates the ride to a hot tub on wheels, saying "It's the best hot tub you'll ever roll in."

Assistant General Manager Winston Burbage offers a different comparison to describe the ride."It's like being in a big washing machine, except you don't spin," Burbage says. "The first time you ride, it is completely different than you can possibly imagine."

The attraction's opening came with some fan fair, as both "Good Morning America" and "The Today Show" are featured segments on it. "This has been great for us," General Manager Eric Evans aid. "A lot of our business will come from word-of-mouth referrals, but the publicity is nice. We expect to do a big marketing campaign soon, but we think our best advertisement will be from people going home and telling all their friends about how much fun this is."

It seems that sort of individual marketing campaign may be successful for Zorb, though it's stuck in a field off the little-traveled Sugar Hollow Road. So far nearly fifty people have taken a ride, all of them reporting they had a ball at the spherical attraction, Evans said.

"The response has really been amazing," he said. "We've had some major delays, but all of our first customers have said it's one of the most fun things they've ever done. There's really nothing else like it."

Information courtesy of The Mountain Press

SwiftWater Run new ride at Dollywood's Splash Country

Dollywood's Splash Country announces SwiftWater Run, the newest ride addition, will open in May at the 35-acre water adventure park located in Pigeon Forge, TN.

"I was looking for something that would set folks to spinning, and that's just what my SwiftWater Run will do," Dolly Parton said. "This ride's got a few twists and turns and spins, but that's all I'm gonna tell until next May."

A tubing bowl ride, SwiftWater Run offers double or single passenger tubes that take passengers through a 54-inch diameter tunnel that propels them into a large bowl feature. After multiple revolutions, passengers the encounter a corkscrew before navigating a downward chute that plunges into the landing pool.

A $1 million investment, SwiftWater Run will be located amid the water slide complex that includes Mountain Scream and Mountain Twist.

Dollywood's Splash Country is located adjacent to Dollywood. The park operates from mid-May through mid-September.