Whats New to Pigeon Forge in 2010

What's New for 2010

Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg are always offering fun and exciting new attractions for their visitors. This is the place to find out information about coming attractions in 2011! Here's a list of what's new for visitors to the Smoky Mountains in 2010:

Kick'n Country: Hot New Country Show...with an Attitude!

Kick'n Country opened this July in Pigeon Forge and things haven't been the same since.. Featuring not only country music but also gospel and bluegrass and some comedy for good measure, audiences are raving about this incredible assembly of vocal talent. When you come to the Smoky Mountains, make sure you stop in and see this new show. For a comprehensive listing of all shows in Pigeon Forge, see our PigeonForge.com Theaters zone.

Nantahala Outdoor Center's Great Outpost

NOC's Great Outpost combines Gatlinburg's colorful, exciting atmosphere with the Smoky Mountains' aura of splendor and adventure. At this new must-see attraction, we'll provide the assistance, gear and services you need to maximize your Smoky Mountain vacation. Whether your idea of outdoor adventure is an open-window drive, a family raft trip on the Pigeon River or a multi-day backcountry trek, we'll share our knowledge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and recommend specific activities that fit your style of exploring.

The NOC’s LEED-certified store is worth exploring too! We offer all the outdoor essentials and apparel you might need to enjoy the outdoors alongside cool in-store attractions like an indoor climbing wall, a free kids play area and a Smokies-style swinging rope bridge. [>>read blog ]

Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler

July 2010 -- The first legal moonshine producing company in Tennessee is located at 903 Parkway in Gatlinburg, TN. It is the first place in East Tennessee where you can buy moonshine legally. The goal of the distillery is to produce the moonshine as close to the original as possible. They buy the corn from local farmers. There is also a museum for guests to enjoy, including photographic and narrative exhibits that highlight the history of moonshining in East Tennessee. [>>read blog ]

Cinema

Opening early Fall 2010 --a new movie theater in Walden's Landing outdoor mall. The theater will offer five screens that show popular first-run films. Eventually, the number of screens will increase to nine. The projection and sound for each screen will be both digital and designed to show the latest 3-D movies.

Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies

Ripley's worked hard to keep the new exhibit a secret! No one had clue as to what it would be. Now we know: It looks like there will be lots of little well-dressed penguins waddling into the Smokies in March. There will be about 20 African black-footed penguins set to open their new habitat in the Smoky Mountains. The exhibit will be an indoor/outdoor habitat with features that will make it a "fully interactive" exhibit. There will be a feature where the penguins can swim through tunnels under the visitors' feet between the indoor and outdoor areas. Also, visitors will be able to crawl through clear tunnels with the penguins swimming above and below to pop up on the penguins' private beach to see them face to face.

Ripley's is working very hard to make this exhibit amazing and we are so excited to be there when it opens! We hope all you animal lovers out there are just as excited and plan a trip to Pigeon Forge to see our newest residents! This time of year in thePigeon Forge is referred to as Pigeon Forge Springfest!

The newest Ripley's exhibit, Penguin Playhouse, which will house a flock of African Penguins is set to open soon! They are currently putting the finishing touches on the exhibit and the penguins will move in next week! General Manager Ryan DeSear says they are not sure yet the exact date the new exhibit will be ready to open their doors to the public but says it will not be after April 16th. [>>read blog ]

Soul of Shaolin

New this Spring - the Soul of Shaolin! Direct from Broadway for a limited engagement, the Tony nominated Soul of Shaolin is a Chinese martial arts spectacular bringing action, drama, and a touching story into one organic whole. An amazing story of an orphan boy, a mother’s love and an unforgettable journey of self-discovery. Featuring the original 30-member Broadway cast! Soul of Shaolin at the Eastern Shanghai Theater.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge is adding a lavish production of the Broadway hit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for the 2010 season, opening Feb. 12.

This colorful retelling of the biblical story about Joseph, his uncanny abilities and his designer coat sings out to young and old alike. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will have you laughing with the antics of the twelve brothers and will move you with a whimsical score direct from Broadway. Enjoy its wall to wall hits including "Close Every Door" and "Any Dream Will Do".
[>>read blog ]

The production will feature American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle as the narrator through April 10th, and from then on the show will feature Faith Boles as the narrator. [>>read blog] The show runs daily at 8:00 p.m. through January 1, 2011.

More New Shows for 2010...

New shows have arrived this year. Don’t miss “Can’t Stop the Beat” at Memories Theater, or some of their all-new “Rock & Roll” shows that will take you back in time to the 50’s & 60’s. T. G. Sheppard is back performing in our area at the Smith Family Dinner show. He will be performing all his #1 hits in a concert series throughout the year. Another great show will be at the Miracle Theater known as “Exalt” - This show highlights favorite Christian music from the 70s, 80s and 90s and today’s Worship Music!

New Restaurants...

The Partridge and Pear – A new restaurant opening as part of the Christmas place Inn set to open this summer. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner, individually and family style. “The menus at the restaurant will remind you of a festive Christmas gathering, and include a wide variety of regional, traditional, and specialty dishes to suit every palate. Steaks, seafood, and locally-grown produce prepared in slow-food style, a welcoming atmosphere, and detailed service will be the hallmarks of your dining experience at The Partridge & Pear at Christmas Place.”

Mellow Mushroom – A great pizza addition to Pigeon Forge, it will be located at 2485 Parkway, and will be taking the place of the Flying Horse Grill. Mellow Mushroom will be open sometime this May.

Five Guys – This burger joint has their burgers perfected! They are very limited in their menu choices, but what they offer they do it well! Five Guys will be located at 2525 Parkway. The exact date has not yet been announced, but it will be open sometime this spring. [>>read blog ]

MagiQuest

MagiQuest, a live-action interactive game that has carved a new niche and strong brand following in family entertainment, today announced the opening of its newest location in Pigeon Forge, TN, proving that quality family entertainment is still thriving amid a weak economy.

Like stepping into a real-life video game, the adventure begins when you enter the castle. Players, known as Magi, buy and adorn a magic wand that triggers over 150 special effects and remembers everything you do forever. Magi use clues, riddles and hints to progress through the game, earn points and power, and encounter unique worlds. Whether battling a dragon or searching for the Princesses’ jewels, there are many choices of quests and adventures to play. When guests return, they pick up where they left off. New quests, characters and adventures are added each year so the game never ends and your wand works at any MagiQuest location.

The familiarity with the game is another indication that MagiQuest is gaining ground as an established brand, something that creators are quick to point out they were confident would happen. “We get hundreds of emails daily asking us to open a location somewhere near them or launch a game online so they can continue their journey” said Weston. “I tell them we will - and we’ll do it in a way no one else has so that everyone can enjoy MagiQuest,” hinting to an announcement that may be forthcoming soon about the next phase of the company’s expansion plans. This location operates daily year round.

Titanic Pigeon Forge

The World's largest museum attraction will soon be opening in Pigeon Forge. Titanic Pigeon Forge will be a 30,000 square-foot ship-shaped structure that will display hundreds of priceless Titanic artifacts, as well as exact replicas of the “Grand Staircase,” a first-class suite, third-class cabin and the Marconi wireless room. There will also be interactive features where guests can do such things as, touch an iceberg, xperience the chill of 28 degree water, and sit in an actual life boat.
[>>view scenes of construction | >>read blog ]

Official opening date: April 8, 2010
[>>view scenes from the Grand Opening Celebration ]

Tennessee Shindig

This April the Tennessee Shindig will feature two new shows!

“Stars on Stage” will run at 5pm each evening and features your favorite Country, Sixties, Motown, and of course, Elvis. This will be Elvis during his “black leather” period of the 60’s. There will be about 8 different Elvis artists throughout the year, including Shawn Klush, who is recognized by most as the #1 Elvis tribute artist in the world!

“Greatest Legends” will run nightly at 8:00 p.m. and will feature even more tributes to the stars like the Beatles, Elvis, Michael Jackson and even President Obama! Pete Peterkin, best known as a finalist in NBC’s America’s Got Talent for his President Obama impersonation will be headlining, along with his many other characters such as Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and Little Richard. The band Revolver will be offering a brilliant tribute to the Beatles as well. And of course, even more Elvis from his Las Vegas/jumpsuit period.

The star-studded line-up permeates the whole production, right down to the dancers, some of whom are coming from Las Vegas. We have nationally renowned choreographer Mic Thompson creating the sequences, along with a singer/dancer who performed in “Dreamgirls.”

WonderWorks:

Master Magician Terry Evanswood presents “The Wonders of Magic at WonderWorks.” Prepare to be dazzled by one of the world’s greatest magicians, Terry Evanswood, recipient of The Merlin Award, which is magic’s equivalent of the Oscar. Terry will take you on a journey of mystery and excitement. He is the longest running headliner in the Pigeon Forge theater community. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in one of this area’s true greats. From the intimacy of sleight-of-hand to grand-scale illusions, you will be asking yourself, “How did he do that?”

First Class Productions 2010 Lineup!

First Class Productions will host a celebrity concert series at the Country Tonite Theatre. Legendary performers including The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, Roy Clark, Tanya Tucker, George Jones, Chubby Checker, Country Gold Tour (featuring Leroy Van Dyke, Rex Allen, Jr. and Moe Bandy), The Nashville Legends Show (featuring Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius), Ronnie McDowell and Billy Joe Royal, and many others will be appearing this year. Visit www.firstclassconcerts.com for our complete concert schedule and other information. | Local Phone 865-453-2003 | Toll Free 1-800-792-4308

2011's New Addition to Dollywood

Dolly just announced her new addition to the park for 2011 - The Barnstormer. The attraction will be a barnyard-themed section of the park that was inspired by the daring aerialists and stunt pilots of the 1920s. The Barnstormer is a giant swing that is designed to give riders a feel of what it would be like being a passenger in one of the planes. [>>read blog ]

New Lumberjack Attraction Set to Open 2011

The attraction will dig deep into the pre-1940s timber lifestyle of the Smoky Mountains and will center on the theme of two families that are great friends until the tragic day when a couple of the lady folk are killed by a tree, and they’re not sure quite who is responsible. The basis of the whole attraction is that the two feuding families compete to decide which family has to leave the mountains forever. It will be located between the Parkway and the stalled Belle Island Village project and is projected to open in June of 2011. [>>read blog ]

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