New in Pigeon Forge for 2008

A battle is brewing in Dollywood’s Timber Canyon on River Battle, the park’s new water adventure ride. River Battle is a family-fun themed water raft ride equipped with powerful soaker guns. Open in March 2008.

Don't miss SwiftWater Run, Dollywood's Splash Country's newest water Slide. Hold on tight as the rushing water takes you on an adventure like no other. It's a white-water journey round and round as you navigate the corkscrew turns on this thrilling new slide that ends with a major splash! Open in March 2008.

Burn a trail all over town on your rented Harley Davidson® motorcycle from the new Smoky Mountain Harley-Davidson and Buell, a new full-service Harley dealership. It’ll be a Smoky Mountain experience unlike any other! Now open.

Belle Island Village is an entertainment-based retail, food and lodging facility that has something for everybody, including museums, Otter Cove, rides, attractions, restaurants and more than 90 unique retail shops. Opening late 2008.

See, touch, hear and feel the history and future of NASCAR at Darrell Waltrip’s Racing Experience. Visits by the sport’s most popular personalities and special events await visitors throughout the year. Opening late 2008.

Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds brings her collection of Hollywood memorabilia to the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum. This state-of-the-art, interactive museum combines the history of the movies with a high-tech experience that will entertain fans of all ages. Opening late 2008.

The seven modern high-rise condominium buildings of The Water Resort at Pigeon Forge surround a 35,000-square-foot indoor water park that will provide a fantastic getaway for the entire family. It's a great place to stay while you visit the Pigeon Forge area and check out the newest attractions.

Pigeon Forge is Wintry Blast of Activities

Where in a single weekend can you enjoy millions of holiday lights, take in great shows, play mad scientist, and careen downhill inside a Zorb?

Tennessee's Pigeon Forge, on the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains, offers all the above and more. (But what's a Zorb you say? Stay tuned.)

With Winterfest's holiday productions in high gear, now's a great time to go. More than 5 million lights blaze throughout town with another 3.5 million at nearby Dollywood. This family-oriented place promises a variety of activities for all.

"Getting there is half the fun - with the beautiful drive, especially if you go through Maryville," said Barbara Eubanks from Boaz. "We usually go with friends and always find something in Pigeon Forge that appeals to everyone."

Soon after arrival, make reservations for the evening's Trolley Tour of Lights ($5) to see themed displays at Patriot Park then the "Twelve Days of Christmas," spaced along the Parkway's median at verse-singing intervals. The driver and guide will lead you in a spirited rendition of this old favorite as the trolley advances from one lighted exhibit to the next. Other displays depict nursery rhymes and a blacksmith forging snowflakes. Also, the one-hour ride offers a chance to scope out the main attraction venues and learn about local history.

For a mind-boggling upside-down adventure, visit WonderWorks. At this white-columned mansion, handsome in an eerie way, you can let your imagination run wild. To prepare yourself, try to get in the mind-sets of mad scientists from a mythical research lab in the Bermuda Triangle. Then proceed through the challenges of a gravity-defying chamber, an earthquake, and over-the-top bike ride. For relaxation, how about stretching out on a bed of 3,500 nails?
"This place brings out the kid in you," said Rich Benjamin, whose job it is to play here each day.
Evening visitors can take in the site's Hoot 'n' Holler dinner show, which combines a tasty Italian menu with a vaudeville-style show of music, choreography, magic tricks and homespun humor.

With so many shows in town, whittling down the choices requires strategy. First, decide on a category such as a musical, variety or dinner show. Then break that down further and follow your bliss. Now in its 11th year, "Country Tonite" presents both country hits and favorite Christmas songs. Other options include "Black Bear Jamboree," "Comedy Barn," "Smith Family Theater," "Memories" (which salutes Elvis and other musical legends), and the list goes on.

Dolly Parton's "Dixie Stampede" promises a finger-licking good time with its popular dinner and action-packed show. The award-winning "Smoky Mountain Christmas" puts the spotlight on heart and soul, and Dollywood's "Babes in Toyland" features a surprising finale. The talented cast's team of acrobats lend a "Cirque du Soleil" flavor to the production. Wandering through Dollywood's pedestrian village on a recent goose-down-jacket kind of evening, we experienced the season's first teasing snowflakes. But frosty air just made hot chocolate at Santa's Workshop more tempting.

"This place is not so much about Dolly Parton - it's about her mountain heritage, her values," said Trish McGee, introducing us to a sampler of the 130-acre park's myriad offerings.
Watching blacksmiths, glass blowers, wagon makers and wood carvers at work instills an appreciation for craftsmanship rare in today's high-tech climate. The park's magical light exhibits enhance a stroll past museums, eateries, and attractions.

Dollywood also offers exciting entertainment options. Not for the faint-hearted, the Mystery Mine Coaster, named best new attraction of 2007, features a ride through inky blackness with steep plunges, and The Thunderhead - voted the world's No. 1 wooden roller coaster in 2005 and 2006 - continues to offer its own brand of thrills.

"We enjoy the malls and Christmas shops, the off-the-beaten-path crafts stores, and the shows," Eubanks said, "but my absolutely must-go-to place is Pigeon River Pottery near the Old Mill. There, you can buy one-of-a-kind pieces and even watch pottery being made." Sooner or later, you'll gravitate to the picturesque Old Mill with its large water wheel, a site that demands a photo. Tour the mill, which dates to 1830, and buy a bag of corn meal, flour, grits or pancake mix to take home. Browse around Old Mill Square, and stop by Pottery House Cafe. Here, you can dip into hearty homemade soups and yummy sandwiches with breads made from the mill's stone-ground products. Your meal arrives on serving dishes crafted at the pottery next door.
For a family-style breakfast, lunch or dinner, head to the nearby Old Mill Restaurant. Specialties include sugar-cured ham, chicken and dumplings, fresh vegetables, biscuits, fritters and pecan pies.

If shopping's your favorite sport, Pigeon Forge offers several malls with some 300 outlet stores. At Walden's Landing, patrons can check out the nearby shops or work on their short game at Firehouse Golf.

Need a new Santa, caroler, or other item for the family holiday collection? Maybe an ornament designed for a special occasion? Then head for The Incredible Christmas Place at 2740 Parkway. "We work on building lifetime business relationships," said Carolyn Fairbank-Biggs, chief operating officer of the nation's second-largest Christmas retailer. "People come here to shop, hear the Singing Santa, and then return - year after year."

Also an incredible business success, the Yuletide shop has evolved from a small store, opened in 1986 by Marian and Hurshel Biggs, to occupy its own mall at Bell Tower Square. Just across the Parkway from the store, the owners opened The Inn at Christmas Place in June, a handsome base for guests. And it's not just beginning to look a lot like Christmas here, it always looks that way. Rooms and suites boast amenities galore plus holiday touches. The lobby's 25-foot cuckoo clock entertains visitors hourly with different holiday songs, and a lifesize Nativity scene overlooks the lobby. The hotel showcases original paintings by prominent area artists.
"We're striving to become a four-star property," said Keith Biggs, president of Christmas Place Properties.

If you're a repeat visitor (like 70 percent of folks in town), you'll want to know what else is new.
Enter the Zorb! The Zorb sounds like something from outer space and actually looks like that, too - a giant pearlescent orb. The concept originated in New Zealand, and Pigeon Forge boasts the only Zorb experience in North America.

Just what does a Zorb do? Nothing - except roll down a steep hill with you inside. Gravity provides the suspense, and you supply the screams. If you're a candidate for this unique adventure, visit the Zorb Smoky Mountains site, declare your intention, and choose between a dry run (Zorbit), where you're harnessed in place like an astronaut, or a free-floating wet ride (Zydro) comparable to something you might experience via roller coaster merged with water slide. Should you choose the wet run, you change into a sporty blue Zorb suit of shirt and shorts (which you keep), ascend the hill, and dive (or slither) through a small opening into a ball 11 feet tall. Then relinquish all control.

"Oh, man, this is cool," said Doug Jones from Birmingham, emerging from the Zorb after his wet and wild downhill ride. "My son would love this."

Information courtesy of The Huntsville Times

Christmas Shows in the Smoky Mountains

As the holidays draw near, friends and family begin planning time to spend together. Most families have traditions they've held fast to for years. While those are part of what makes the holidays special, many people look to add a new spark to their Christmas or New Years celebrations. This year, make attending a Christmas show in the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee part of your holiday plan. With numerous Pigeon Forge Christmas shows to choose from, you’ll have no problem finding good, clean entertainment the whole family will love.

Country Tonite Christmas Show - There’s no place like the Smoky Mountains for the holidays and there’s no Christmas show in the Smokies like Country Tonite! Country Tonite’s Smoky Mountain Christmas creates an inspirational holiday experience for folks of all ages! This spectacular show premieres November 1st and will continue through the end of the year with a special New Years Eve Show at 10pm.

The holiday magic abounds when the stage opens to a winter wonderland. The show features the sights, sounds and the seasons most cherished carols along with everyone’s favorite Christmas selections like “Jingle Bells”, “Silver Bells” and “Winter Wonderland,” mixed with novelty songs, and dances and the whimsical characters of “Rudolph the Redneck Ranger” and “Santa Claus is back in Town.” The elaborate sets and costumes combined with a host of holiday songs also inspire the magic of the season. With the Smokies largest award-winning cast there is a Christmas bonus for everyone!

Tennessee Christmas Shindig - Get ready for a shindig as Fiddlers' Feast in Pigeon Forge performs its new show, Tennessee Christmas Shindig. The dinner theater offers visitors a unique way to experience and celebrate Christmas with the Volunteer State’s rich musical legacy while having a toe-tappin’, hand clappin’, knee-slappin’ good time. Dancing, food, music and humor abound in this fast-paced production, which includes classic and modern country, Elvis, blues, Dolly, bluegrass, Southern gospel and traditional Christmas carols.

This feast for the ears is accompanied by a mouthwatering, holiday dinner, and Tennessee hospitality at its finest is on display when the guests are served by the entertainers themselves. The Tennessee Christmas Shindig menu features hickory wood grilled marinated chicken and oak smoked pork loin in authentic Smoky Mountain tradition, served with parsley new potatoes, home-style baked beans, creamy coleslaw, a hot, flaky cheese muffin and decadent red velvet cake for dessert.

The Smith’s Christmas Show - The Smokies best known, homegrown family of entertainers are back on the stage! Charlie, Jim, and Charlie Bob Smith- three guys who have been fan favorites since they first appeared on the area music scene in the 1980's are back in their very own venue, the brand new Smith Family Theater. Guests at the Smith Family Theater can look forward to an eclectic blend of country bluegrass gospel and oldies rock and roll music. All presented with plenty of comedic banter along the way. Any group that does hilarious impressions or performs a musical tribute to "the Andy Griffith Show' or challenges audience members to a hula hoop contest knows how to have fun on stage! Long time fans and newcomers alike are in for a STANDOUT musical experience!

Yuletide Madness – A holiday celebration to tickel your fancy and jungle your bells. An evening at Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre is an experience you will never forget. The unique style of shows presented in this 1890s style theatre are a combination of Old English music hall, American vaudeville, Monty Python, and Broadway musical comedy. The original shows are quick-witted sensations filled with the broadest of humor and the silliest of slapstick all guaranteed to be unlike anything you´ve seen before. Since opening in Gatlinburg in 1977, Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre has been recognized as one of the most innovative and unusual professional theatres in the country and was named an historical treasure by the city of Gatlinburg.

Rock and Roll Christmas Show - American Jukebox Theater invites you to feel the warmth, glow, and magic inside this beautiful state-of-the-art 1200 seat theater as we take you back in time to the greatest melodies that ever danced out of a jukebox and onto a stage in the Smoky Mountains. We are proud to be home to two of Pigeon Forge's finest family shows that echo the best in America’s music of Rock-n-Roll. The special Christmas show includes holiday classics like “Rock Around The Clock” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Travel to Pigeon Forge for a Smoky Mountain Christmas

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg celebrate the holiday season with the starts of Smoky Mountain Winterfest. Over five million lights are aglow on the Parkway, from Sevierville to Gatlinburg. Plenty of magical Christmas scenes and seasonal spirit fill the atmosphere, creating a unique and truly memorable Smoky Mountain Christmas.

This is a great time of year to enjoy southern hospitality with spectacular holiday shows & entertainment steeped with tradition. Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas turns into a winter wonderland, complete with Christmas shows, holidays foods and thrilling rides. Back by popular demand is the Babes in Toyland production, a fascinating and beautiful show featuring acrobatics and seasonal music. They offer several musical and theatrical productions as well as their famous "Carol of the Trees." This show is a pyrotechnic and light show synchronized to holiday music. The Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival at Dollywood is a celebration treasures tradition and invites your family to create a treasure of your own.

Spectacular holiday shows and entertainment can also be found in Pigeon Forge Theaters. The Smith’s Christmas Show, Country Tonite Christmas Show, and Rock and Roll Christmas Show provide an atmosphere of song and dance that is sure to get every member of the family in the Christmas spirit. Whether country tunes, gospel hymns or old time rockin’ songs are your favorite, these show will have something to please you!

The attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are a great way to relax, explore and have fun. They’re also a great way to see the dazzling lights displays. A Holiday Tour of the Lights can be had at Scenic Helicopter Tours in Pigeon Forge, while guests in Gatlinburg can get an aerial view of the lights on an Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway. Gatlinburg attractions include a variety of Ripley’s Believe It or Not attractions, including a museum, haunted house, mini-golf and movie rider. They make a great escape for families in need of some quick fun!

There is a Trolley of Lights that can also be takes advantage of. The trolley will take you on a magic tour of the twinkling lights and festive displays. Also be sure to check out the incredible deals at the Pigeon Forge Shopping Malls. The outlet stores are a great place to stock up on gifts and the quaint, boutique shops will allow you to purchase that something special for that special someone.

Lodging in the Smoky Mountains is also a favorite part of the Smoky Mountain experience. A cabin in the forest can create the perfect environment for memories that will last forever. Between the scenic views and luxurious amenities, you and your family will feel right at home. There are plenty of Pigeon Forge hotels and Gatlinburg lodging properties to choose from too, so everyone can find something to fit their budget.

A holiday getaway to the Smoky Mountains is a treasured trip that will create memories that last a lifetime. Begin your holiday planning today!