Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg: #1 On Southern Living's "Best Weekend Getaway" List

Readers of Southern Living Magazine voted Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg #1 on their list of "Best Weekend Getaways" and #5 on their list of "Best Family Destinations" in the magazines annual "Readers' Choice Awards" poll. Results in 14 categories are in the January issue.

The area's family-friendly attractions, particularly the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, earned praise from the magazine's readers and editors, along with the scenic beauty of East Tennessee.

Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga topped the "Best Scenic View" list, which also featured two favorite destinations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Cades Cove (#6) and Clingman's Dome (#7), which is the highest point in Tennessee.

"The appeal of our attractions, lodging and dining, plus the spectacular beauty of the mountains resonates with our guests. That will be especially true as people visit this year during the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park," said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Pigeon Forge, which has only 5,800 residents but approximately 11 million visitors a year, offers guests a year-long calendar of special events, approximately 10,000 accommodations (hotel, motel, cabin, chalet), more than a dozen entertainment theaters, six outlet malls, craft shops, art galleries and attractions such as Dollywood, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede and WonderWorks.

A major new attraction, Belle Island Village, is projected to open this spring. Its major components include the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Museum and the Darrell Waltrip Racing Experience.

"Southern Living's 'Readers' Choice Awards' mean a lot. The magazine's circulation is 2.8 million, and its readers really know the South," Mr. Downey said.

Southern Living is the eighth largest monthly magazine in the U.S., and its readership is more than 16 million. Its "Readers' Choice Awards" are acknowledged as one of the largest reader-response programs in the publishing industry.

Other Tennessee favorites in the 2008 voting included Franklin at #5 on the "Best Small Town" list; Nashville at #5 on the "Best City" list; Nashville's Loveless Café and Pancake Pantry at #5 and #6 on the "Best Breakfast/Brunch" list; and the Memphis in May International Festival at #9 on the "Best Festival/Fair" list.

Balloting already has begun for the 2009 awards at www.southernliving.com/readerschoice. Voting ends on June 30, 2009.

Information courtesy of The Chattanoogan

WonderWorks turns Fun Upside down at its Museum Attraction

First off, we must deal with the legend.

Otherwise, how can you explain why there’s a building that looks like it’s upside down along the parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.?

So, as the story goes, it seems scientists attempted to harness the power of a man-made tornado, but this experiment in the Bermuda Triangle went horribly wrong.

The giant, swirling vortex adopted a lifeform of its own, unleashed its power and then, allegedly, ripped the research facility from its foundation and sent it through space.

Alas! This “Wonderworks” building finally landed, upside down, yet still remained functionally intact, at Pigeon Forge, according to Rich Benjamin, the marketing and sales director at Wonderworks.

Of course, this is all just a story.

But it sets the stage for all the oddball offerings of this indoor amusement park, where you’ll find a giant piano and a laser harp, crazy mirrors, a simulated roller coaster ride and an art gallery full of optical illusions.

“There are all kinds of hands-on exhibits,” Benjamin said.

Still, much of what you’ll find focuses on what it takes to make science fun for kids of all ages.
Look for an earthquake simulator called the “Quake Cafe,” and a hurricane simulator called the “Hurricane Hole.”

The “Titanic Exhibit” shows how cold the water of the icy Atlantic Ocean was when the Titanic sank nearly a century ago.

There’s also a rock-climbing wall, a “Wonders of Space 3-D Movie” and the “Virtual Hockey Wonder Dome,” in which you use your hand and play hockey with a laser.

Located at the site of the former Music Mansion theater, the 55,000-square-foot Wonderworks complex also features the “Hoot N’Holler Dinner Show,” a family-themed production with slapstick performances and humorous songs.

Now, during the holiday season, the show features Christmas themes, like a comical quest to find “Baby Santa.”

“We try to look at the world just a little bit different,” Benjamin said. “But what we do with our show is to have fun and laughter and have a good time.”

Information courtesy of Bristol Herald Courier

More Details Surface on Titanic's Pigeon Forge Attraction

The keel is being laid for Titanic Pigeon Forge, a towering ship-shaped museum/attraction devoted to the world’s best-known ocean liner.

Christening of the 30,000-square-foot structure that will resemble the romantic cruise ship will be in the spring of 2010. It is a $25 million project of Cedar Bay Entertainment, which also is the parent company of the first Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Mo.

Titanic Pigeon Forge will open a little more than a year after the opening of another major tourism investment in Pigeon Forge, the $114 million Belle Island Village mixed-used development that will begin serving guests this winter.

“Home port” for Titanic Pigeon Forge is a 5.69-acre site on the Parkway near the Black Bear Jamboree, the Miracle Theater and WonderWorks on the north end of Pigeon Forge. The city is a gateway community to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and attracts more than 11 million visitors a year.

“Constant change and growth are Pigeon Forge’s greatest assets,” said John Joslyn, president of Cedar Bay Entertainment. “Visitors have always enjoyed many reasons to return to the area, and Titanic Pigeon Forge will easily become yet another reason to stop, shop and be entertained and enlightened.”

Joslyn’s interest in the Titanic began as a producer of television specials, and he has been to the bottom of the North Atlantic to see the actual Titanic while working on specials about the “unsinkable” vessel.

The attraction will display hundreds of priceless Titanic artifacts in 20 galleries on two decks that will also contain exact replicas of the “Grand Staircase,” a first-class suite, a third-class cabin and the Marconi wireless room. The bridge will offer interactive features similar to those of its Branson sister ship.

Each visitor will receive a boarding pass bearing the name of a real Titanic passenger or crew member and will be able to touch an iceberg, experience the chill of 28-degree water, sit in an actual life boat, “steer” the ship and send an SOS message.

“Titanic Pigeon Forge will be a welcome addition to our city’s list of quality attractions,” said Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster, noting that it will complement Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, WonderWorks, Belle Island Village, more than a dozen theaters, the Old Mill, Walden’s Landing and several outlet shopping malls.

Citizens National Bank has taken a leadership role in financing with the support of USDA Rural Development. Bob Fleming, president of Idletime is the creative director of the project; Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, Inc. is the architectural and engineering firm; and Turner Construction Co. is the contractor.

Cedar Bay Entertainment is a privately owned entertainment and development company headquartered in Branson. Its Titanic attraction there opened in 2006 and welcomed more than a million guests in its first two years.

A Tennessee connection to the Titanic . . . Of the wealthy first-class American passengers on the Titanic, the Carter family had deep Tennessee roots. Billy and Lucile Carter were on board with their two children, Lucile, 14, and William, 11. The family was prominent in Philadelphia society and entertained lavishly at residences in Bryn Mawr, Pa., and Newport, R.I.

Lucile Polk Carter’s Southern lineage was rich with history. Her mother, Lou Ellen Hought Anderson, was born in 1844 in Clarksville, Tenn., where the family stayed until Lucile’s grandfather died in 1876. Her paternal grandfather, David Peale Polk, was the full third cousin of James K. Polk, the 11th president of the U.S., making her “Young Hickory’s” third cousin twice removed. To honor Lucile and her family’s Tennessee heritage, Titanic Tennessee will dedicate a first-class suite to the Polk-Carter family.

Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

Pigeon Forge Welcomes the Fall Season with Festivals, New Attractions and Special Events

Pigeon Forge takes a cue from the fall color change in the adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park and puts on its autumn wardrobe during the 12th Annual Pigeon Forge Harvest Festival from Sept. 12-Oct. 31.

Businesses throughout this tiny town of 5,800 residents (and 11 million annual visitors) erect fanciful fall displays of hay bales, scarecrows, cornstalks, pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers, mums and other symbols of the season. A variety of special events and new attractions complement the décor.

The Dollywood theme park, Tennessee’s most visited ticketed attraction, gets a jump on the celebration with Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass (Sept. 5-28), a festival featuring barbeque of all descriptions and more than 500 free concerts by performers such as Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, the Del McCoury Band, Cherryholmes, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Grascals and Rhonda Vincent & the Rage.

The Pigeon Forge Rotary Club Crafts Festival covers an entire month (Sept. 27-Oct. 25). It is one of the region’s biggest crafts festivals, attracting almost 50 craftsmen, artists and exhibitors from more than a dozen states. It takes place under huge red and white tents at Patriot Park. Rotarians staff the event, and proceeds benefit numerous charities.

Dollywood re-enters the festival picture with its National Gospel & Harvest Celebration from Oct. 3-Nov. 1. Southern Gospel music will reverberate through the park, with more than 250 free concerts from artists such as Jason Crabb, the Isaacs, the McKameys, Karen Peck & New River, Jeff & Sheri Easter and Gold City.

During the festival, an array of visiting crafters will showcase their handiwork, and numerous demonstrations are scheduled. Among them are spinning, weaving, sorghum making, fiddle making, rug hooking and woodworking.

An event-within-an-event is Dollywood’s 17th Annual Woodcarving Showcase (Oct. 3-5). The showcase features more than 75 of the nation’s most talented carvers competing for prizes and bragging rights. There’s even a special pumpkin carving contest on Oct. 5.

New elements on the Pigeon Forge entertainment, dining and attractions scene include:

Adventure Quest—An indoor collection of active diversions, including Odyssey, a mirror maze; Pirate Golf, a blacklight experience; and the Vault, a laser challenge.

Flying Horse Grill—A family-friendly restaurant featuring contemporary American cuisine and a fully operational Italian carousel.

Grand Majestic Theater—Presenting the music of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters in “Swing Time.”

Smoky Mountain Showplace Theatre—Now showcasing the Florida Boys, one of Southern gospel music’s most celebrated acts.

Spin City—A contemporary version of a nostalgic roller rink, now offering theme nights, video displays, colorful lighting displays and a DJ.

WonderWorks—Now offering complimentary second-day admission with purchase of Wonder Combo or Ultimate Combo tickets.

Information courtesy of Pigeon Forge Dept. of Tourism

Image courtesy of Dollywood

Pigeon Forge Vacation Packages Perfect Way to Save

ReserveDirect has joined forces with Dollywood to offer some of the best ways to save on your Pigeon Forge vacation. By combining the family-friendly theme parks in the Dollywood Theme Park family, Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country, with affordable yet comfortable lodging options has enabled ReserveDirect to offer customers some of the best Pigeon Forge deals around. Plus, their website, ReservePigeonForge.com, is a valuable resource where customers can create their own package in a secure, convenient and reliable manner.

As mentioned earlier, the Smoky Mountain Adventure Packages currently be offered by ReserveDirect and Dollywood allow guests to choose how many parks, how many days and which lodging option is the best to them, all at a discount rate. These packages are a great way to top off the summer for your children, but will continue to be available throughout the year. So, if your family has always wanted to experience a Smoky Mountain Christmas, get in on one of these great deals today and by Christmas time, you and your family will be enjoying the crisp mountain air of winter in the Smokies.

Other packages we offer feature a homegrown family of entertainers, The Smith Family, as well as Country Tonite and Wonderworks.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a great place to vacation any time of year. This year, make sure your family gets in on the fun!

7 Ways to Save on your Pigeon Forge Vacation

The summer season has arrived, ushered in with warm weather days and endless play for children throughout the country. Many families choose this time of year to hit the open road and enjoy the always needed family vacation. Even though gas prices are high, and budgets are tight, there is still one vacation destination making it easy for families to get away together. The Smoky Mountains, home to both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, provide the perfect way for outdoor fun to combine with family entertainment, creating a one-stop, have-it-all type destination. So fill up the family car, stock your cooler with drinks and snacks and gear up for a vacation full of memories.

Here are 7 ways to save while visiting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg:

1) Use the Trolley System. The Pigeon Forge Trolley system has over 100 stops throughout Pigeon Forge and the Parkway, including Dollywood. It’s a good way to see all of Pigeon Forge’s attractions and sights, without having to pay for gas. The Trolley fare is only 50 cents. Plus, there is a new addition, connecting Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, a convenient connection making both destinations easily accessible.

2) Cut corners by cutting into Pigeon Forge Coupons. Coupons for Pigeon Forge are available, as well as Coupons for Gatlinburg, for restaurants and shopping. A few of the restaurant coupons featured are Hard Rock Café, Great American Buffet, Alamo Steakhouse and Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que. The shopping coupons include discounts at Tanger Outlet, Belz Outlet, The Old Mill and Christmas Place.

3) Discover our Direct Deals page on our websites ReservePigeonForge.com and ReserveGatlinburg.com. There are discount Pigeon Forge tickets and discount Gatlinburg attractions available, including deals on Country Tonite, The Smith’s Show, The Track, Ripley’s Museum, RainForest Adventures and Ober Gatlinburg.

4) Pigeon Forge Vacation Packages and Gatlinburg Vacation Packages are also great ways to save on your family getaway. On ReservePigeonForge.com and ReserveGatlinburg.com there are several discount packages available featuring Country Tonite, WonderWorks, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and Tennessee Shindig.

5) Reserve a Dollywood Package. The 2008 Dollywood Adventure Packages allow guests to conveniently one-stop shop. Families can book their Dollywood Tickets, Splash Country Tickets and lodging all in place and one great price! Only Dollywood and ReserveDirect offer these great Dollywood deals!

6) Explore the Great Smoky Mountains! While in the area, discover the most visited National Park in America, the Great Smoky Mountains. Full of things to do for the whole family, take advantage of the hiking trails, waterfalls, scenic views and wildlife for a truly memorable experience. It’s a free and fun way to enjoy the outdoors and your family.

7) Take advantage of discount Pigeon Forge show tickets for children. Shows like Country Tonite, The Smith’s Show and Black Bear Jamboree are offering deals where children get in free with a paying adult! With prices like that, families can’t afford not to go!

Pigeon Forge Offers Unique Vacation Options for Visitors

This summer, make some Smoky Mountain Memories of your own.

Whether it's checking out Dollywood's new $5 million River Battle or tumbling down the side of a hill (on purpose) at Zorb, Pigeon Forge boasts some of the most unique and varied options for vacationing couples, families and seniors.

"Pigeon Forge has fundamental appeal on multiple levels. It's wonderful for families because of the variety of activities. It's great for people who really love the outdoors because our next door neighbor is the most visited national park in the country. It's fun for couples looking for a getaway because there are places you can hide out," said Tom Adkinson, spokesman for the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. "Those three attributes alone, laid on top of the fact that it's accessible and convenient -- only 287 miles from Huntington, W.V. and all interstate highways until you get about 15 minutes from our door."

Most people know about the live entertainment that Pigeon Forge is known for, including more than 70 shows by Lee Greenwood this year and other performers in genres ranging from country to gospel to pop. A varied list of restaurants -- including seafood, steakhouses and hibachis -- grows from year to year. Lodging choices in Pigeon Forge are extraordinary, Adkinson offered, ranging from independent and chain hotels and motels to cabins, chalets and condos that feel private, but still maintain their accessibility to the attractions of the area.

The newest additions to the entertainment scene include family-friendly comedy shows at the Comedy Barn and an elaborate magic and illusion show called "Magic Beyond Belief." A favorite of families is a Biblical production called "The Miracle."

"This is one of the most elaborate shows you'll see anywhere in the country. It's staged in a 1,700 seat theater with a very large cast and 100 animals," Adkinson said. "It's the classic battle of good versus evil and the story of Christ."

A new segment at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede features a charging herd of Texas longhorn steers.

And, speaking of Dolly, Adkinson offered, the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee -- Dollywood -- has been growing and expanding nearly every year.

"This year, they have a new $5 million water adventure ride called 'River Battle,' in which the passengers have access to giant soaker guns they can battle with and pedestrians can get into the act as well," he said. "Last year, they added a $17.5 million roller coaster called 'Mystery Mine' that is one of the best in the country."

One of the most exciting additions to the Smoky Mountains is the New Zealand innovation called "Zorb." More details can be obtained at www.zorb.com/smoky.

"It's a silly Web site, but it's the only way to tell a silly story," Adkinson said. "Imagine a beach ball 11 feet in diameter and suspended inside is a beach ball six feet in diameter. If you climb into the inner ball through the tunnel, they'll push you over the side of the hill."

Never fear, though -- those brave enough to try it are either strapped into a harness called a "Zorbit" or enclosed with five gallons of warm water called a "Zydro." Even Adkinson has his "Zorbonaut" certification.

"It's funny to watch and funnier to do," he explained. "It's the only location in North America. You can't do this anywhere else without flying a long way."

If it's less physical challenges you're seeking and perhaps more mental, take the family to "WonderWorks," billed as "an amusement park for the mind." Featuring more than 150 interactive exhibits contained in 55,000 square feet of space, WonderWorks is easy to spot. It's upside-down.

"The building façade is upside-down and inside are all manner of activities. You can get in a simulator and try to land a space shuttle. You can experience an earthquake and a hurricane. You can ride a 360-degree bicycle that if you pedal fast enough will go completely over the bar," Adkinson explained.

Many Pigeon Forge Web sites recommend getting a free Value Card with discounts on lodging, entertainment, shopping, attractions and restaurants before visiting. Visit www.mypigeonforge.com to secure yours.

"One of the reasons we have 11 million visitors every year is because Pigeon Forge is a place of permanence -- you know you're going to enjoy these mountains, but it's also a place of change because we're evolving every year," Adkinson said.


Information courtesy of The Herald-Dispatch
Image courtesy of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism

Spring into the Smoky Mountains

Spring is a reason for celebration in the Smoky Mountains. The area is wrapped in nature’s glow, with an abundance of greenery and flowers all around. It’s the perfect time to visit because the weather is nice and the Smoky Mountain shows start their new season of entertaining productions. Springtime in the Smokies is a vacation worth discovering!

The beauty of nature in full bloom inspired the popular Springfest, which is a Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg event showcasing three months of family fun. Some of the events included are: A Mountain Quiltfest, the annual StringTime in the Smokies, The Dolly Parade, The Spring Grand Rod Run, and Dollywood's Festival of Nations. There are plenty of things to do in the Smoky Mountains…all we need is you!

Several new attractions are opening this year. New attractions in Pigeon Forge include the Zorb, a peculiar invention that allows riders to experience thrilling speeds and waterworks in a translucent plastic sphere. This Smoky Mountain attraction will be the first of its kind in the United States. Dollywood is adding the Mystery Mine, a roller coaster whose theme is an abandoned coal mine. The 1,811 foot-track zooms along, plunging passengers through hair-rising drops that lead into the dark recesses of the mine. Dollywood is also opening The Cascades in 2007 at their Splash Country Water Park. The Cascades, an 8,000-sq.-ft. lagoon-style pool, features more than 25 interactive elements, including four slides. New Pigeon Forge shows include magician Terry Evanswood at the Magic Beyond Belief Theater, the Mulan show, Patty Waszak Show, and the Smoky Mountain Opry. Three major additions to the Pigeon Forge entertainment scene will celebrate their first full year of operation in 2007. Wonderworks, an entertainment complex for the mind; Helicopter Whirl’d Adventures, an attraction devoted to aviation; and The Miracle, a production that follows the life of Jesus Christ.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee is an outdoor paradise that is perfect for a spring vacation. There are numerous outdoor activities in Gatlinburg that make for an excellent getaway. White water rafting is a popular sport in the Smokies because the Pigeon River has some of the best white water rapids around. Camping in Gatlinburg is also a favorite activity for visitors. Since Gatlinburg is the gateway to the Smokies, it’s a great location for easy access to the abundant outdoor recreation found in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Gatlinburg festivals also heat up during the spring season. Gatlinburg’s Ribfest & Wings is a festive downtown event featuring over 30 vendors, delicious food, entertainment and fireworks. The 57th Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, Monday, April 23 through Sunday, April 29, is another great event, especially for hikers and nature lovers who love to see delicate wildflowers in bloom. This seven day program features over 150 hiking tours, lectures and motor excursions. Other events include Gatlinburg’s Scottish Festival & Games and Gatlinburg’s Fine Arts Festival. Golfing in Gatlinburg is another favorite pastime for visitors because the courses combine the natural beauty of the area with challenging holes fun for all golfers.

Vacationing in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg during the spring season allows visitors to experience great entertainment and the great outdoors in one great location. Make your Smoky Mountain reservations today and discover what you’ve been missing in beautiful Tennessee.