Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

On November 5th, the City of Pigeon Forge residents in partnership with Boyds Bear Country will join forces to attempt the largest group hug in history! For this to be a success, 5,118 participants must embrace at once. Guinness World Records recorded the last massive hug on April 23, 2004, when more than 5,117 students, staff and friends of an Ontario, Canada high school hugged in a huge circle for 10 seconds.

So, on Saturday, November 5th come out to Boyds Bear Country’s four-story bank barn at 10 a.m. to break the latest record! Not only will you help get Pigeon Forge in the Guinness Book of World Records, but you will also help support the displaced Katrina victims who have settled in the area. Group hug participants are asked to bring a winter coat or a new unwrapped toy for hurricane families.

Prior to the group hug attempt, at 8 a.m. you can come on down to Boyds Bear Country to register and enjoy family fun activities, including music, magicians, and prize drawings. Everyone registered for the hug receives a complimentary collectible bear from Boyds Bear Country.

Do you think we can beat the holding record?

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 05:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Halloween in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a festive time when people from all walks can go a little crazy with creative costumes, wild parties, intricate pumpkin carving contests, and candy, candy and more candy! Trick or treating is by no means the only fun thing to do at this time when excitement runs high and the chill in the air at dusk makes your spine tingle with thoughts of spooky adventures to be had.

Sevier County and surrounding areas offer many fun activities, both spooky and sweet, to participate in this Halloween. From haunted hikes and hayrides, dark corn maze treks, brisk fall festivals, nightmare inspiring haunted houses and caves, to lighthearted carnivals and dramatic judgment house scenes, you will be able to find something fun and entertaining for the entire family in Pigeon Forge this weekend!

Here are some fun local Halloween events to participate in:

October 28: The Gatlinburg Recreation Department is hosting its annual free Halloween Carnival from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for children in pre- school through eighth grade. Kids can look forward to a costume contest, free food, games, a visit from Mr. Twister and the Balloon Man, spooky bowling, face painting, and more. Call 865-436-4990 for more information.

October 28: First Baptist of Sevierville is hosting its annual festival, “The Rock That Rolled!” from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Family Life Center and Fellowship Hall of the church. Call 453-9001 for more details.

October 28-30: The Halloween House of Terror is open in Governor’s Crossing at 7 p.m. each evening. Adults cost $10 and children ages 7-13 get in for $7 All proceeds benefit Fairfield Resorts employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

October 28-31: The historic Henry’s Station is hosting a 15-minute haunted trail walk Friday through Monday. Local storytellers will be on hand to tell hair-raising tales of the paranormal world. The trail winds down a dark path past a cemetery and an old barn used in the 1790’s by early settlers. The event lasts from 7 to 10 p.m. each evening; adult admission costs $5, and kids ages 8-12 get in for $3 A student discount applies on Friday night only. For more details, call 865-257-1780.

October 28-31: Visit the Haunted Cave at Cherokee Caverns, open from 7 to 10 p.m. nightly. It will be an excitingly scary experience...

October 29-31: The First Baptist Church of Sevierville’s Judgment House, “Terror in the Skies!” will be open October 29-31 from 6 to 9 p.m. For reservations, call 865-453-9001; walk-ins are welcome as well.

October 30: Area Church Trunk & Treats: The Valley View Baptist Church in Wears Valley will have games, treats, hot dogs and a cake walk from 5 to 7 p.m. The Pigeon Forge First Baptist Church will have free activities, games, treats, candy, food, and a performance by comedian Eric Lambert from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Costumes are welcome, but please, nothing evil or scary.

October 31: Indoor Halloween Celebration including trick-or-treating, stories, cosmic bowling, games, and hayrides at Pigeon Forge Community Center from 6-9 p.m. Call (865) 429-7373.

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cades Cove and The Great Smoky Mountains National Park are offering hayrides during the Fall Harvest Festival coming up from October 26 through Saturday, October 29. Guided hayrides will leave the Cades Cove Riding Stables at 7:00 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. Each ride will last approximately two hours. Park rangers dress up in period costumes and tell humorous historical stories at various locations on the Cades Cove Loop.

The cost is $8.00 per person for everyone two years and older. You can make a reservation by calling (865) 448-6286. Reservations are required.

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the cool weather and moisture we have been experiencing, we are seeing the colors on the trees change! The Smoky Mountains are coming alive with reds, browns and oranges. Although a little slower this year, we are happy that the leaves are still on the trees and that fall did not bypass us entirely. Book your cabin or hotel reservation now for the weekend!

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One PigeonForge.com commenter, Maralyn, asked us how Pigeon Forge derived its name. To find the answer, we must journey back to Pigeon Forge in the late 1700’s, when pioneers coming in from the Carolinas were settling the area.

When many people think of Pigeon Forge, they think killer attractions, marathon shopping, Smoky Mountain cabin retreats, bears, Dolly Parton, mountain top weddings, country music and commerce, commerce, and more commerce.

But what was Pigeon Forge like long before tourism and merchantry developed the Parkway into an endless line of businesses, billboards and stop-n-go traffic jams? Further investigation reveals another layer to Pigeon Forge- one filled with the heritage of early American pioneers. Before the Great Smoky Mountain National Park opened, Pigeon Forge was a sleepy little mountain town, unknown to much of America.

Pigeon Forge derives its name from two sources: the flocks of passenger pigeons that frequented the Little Pigeon river banks in the early 1800’s and an iron forge works established by pioneer Isaac Love in 1820. These were the two dominant features of the land, so settlers merged them together to create Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Isaac Love’s son William went on to build the historic Old Mill, a grist mill made of 40-foot long “14 x 14” Yellow Poplar logs still standing today, 180 years later. In the early days, the Old Mill served as a gathering place for the town, producing nurturing grains for city dwellers' bellies and a warm, social community for their hearts.

Today the Old Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the most photographed locations in Pigeon Forge. The Old Mill still serves up wholesome, natural grains, as well as hearty meals in their restaurant and bakery.

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The weather is cooling down and the leaves are starting to turn! It’s the perfect time of year to visit Pigeon Forge and its surrounding areas and what better way to enjoy the autumn air and beautiful scenery than to find something fun to do outdoors!? Recreation opportunities abound in Sevier County. Simply walking or running in Patriot Park, Pigeon Forge City Park, Sevierville City Park or strolling up and down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge or the downtown area in Gatlinburg, you will find plenty of pedestrian trails to keep you busy and healthy. For anyone who wants to go for a bike ride, consider a trip to Townsend for a scenic bike trail or just enjoy riding up and down the sidewalks all over the county! This is also a great way to avoid traffic on the main roads in our quiet little towns since almost all of the pedestrian paths are located just outside the motels, hotels, cabins, and condos visitors stay in.

How about a different kind of ride? The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville are all home to several horseback-riding stables. Take a ride through the forests and see the fall colors popping in every direction. Find information on Five Oaks Riding Stables on www.PigeonForge.com or ask at the desk in your accommodations to research your choices or possibly find coupons.

Once you get outdoors and realize just how amazing the fall weather is in Pigeon Forge, you’ll probably not want to go back indoors so if you’re looking for something else to keep you busy, make sure you find a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains to add to your itinerary. The GSMNP has everything from handicap trails to strenuous backcountry adventures requiring several days. Sugarlands Visitor Center, 865-436-1200, is a great resource for planning your mountain adventures.

Do not leave Pigeon Forge without enjoying this wonderful weather! This town is known for its shopping, cars, and great accommodations, BUT never forget what originally drew visitors to the area…our weather is absolutely incredible!

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 02:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Autumn in the Smokies is always a gorgeous time when the deep green forest hues burst into blazing red, yellow and orange tints. The Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places to come to immerse your eyes in the fall colors.

Usually the last two weeks of October offer the most vibrant views of the leaves, though the color transformation varies according to temperature and elevation. Cooler temperatures and higher elevation will cause the leaves to change sooner.

Before you visit, you can get a Fall Foliage Report by visiting www.fs.fed.us/news/fallcolors/. You can see the foliage yourself through one of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Web cams as well. The view from Look Rock can be seen by visiting http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmcam/grsmcam.cfm, and the view from Purchase Knob can be seen by logging on to http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm. If you don’t have the Internet handy, then call Tennessee’s "Fall Color Hotline" at 1-800-697-4200.

Take a Fall Foliage Drive! In and around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are roads that meander along some of the best vantage point views of the fall leaves. The Newfound Gap Road will direct you straight to Newfound Gap, where the leaves change sooner thanks to cool temperatures and high elevation. Another nice drive for foliage enthusiasts is on the Little River Road between Townsend and Sugarlands Visitor Center. To see some nice long-distance views of leaves, the east and west ends of Foothills Parkway are the places to drive. If you have a full tank of gas and lots of time on your hands, try driving along the Cherohala Skyway from Tellico Plains through western North Carolina all the way to Robbinsville, NC. This drive offers views of a plethora of fall colors, but takes about an hour and a half each way. Lastly, Nantahala Gorge is another area perfect for a lovely afternoon drive to spot fall foliage.

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

...What comes to mind? Cabins? The Great Smoky Mountains National Park? Theaters? Dollywood? Car Shows? We posed this question in our weekly eNewsletter. We were overwhelmed with response! Here's what some of you had to say...

"When I think of Pigeon Forge I think of Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, the sounds of the water running in the river, walking at night and seeing the neon lights, friendly people and beautiful places to visit. I just love it."

"The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions Pigeon Forge is the Pigeon Forge Parkway and all of the nifty little shops and attractions! Our family travels to Pigeon Forge at least once a year and most of the time two or three times. We love Pigeon Forge!"

"When we think about Pigeon Forge, we think about the mountains, the friendliness of the people, their accents, our favorite places to eat, our walks and most of all, just being down there. "

"You asked what comes to mind for me in Pigeon Forge.......Mountains...color...fall.
We come to Pigeon Forge every fall.......I just love the morings in the mountains...I love how the whole town gets into decorating........We have been in the spirng and we have been in the summer but fall is the best time to visit.
My parents tell me there are other places to visit instead of Pigeon Forge but I tell them there is nothing like fall in Pigeon Forge....you go where you want I will go where I want. I love it."

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 10:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

“I went from a cesspool to a rose garden,” Gayle Fontenot remarked on her re-location from Slidell, Louisiana to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Gayle and her 12-year-old son, Casey, escaped the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina just in time to spare their lives, nothing else.

Starting from scratch, and resolving to settle in Pigeon Forge permanently after weathering prior hurricanes Betsy and Camille, Gayle explains that she is not looking for handouts, but a permanent paycheck for sustenance. A former hotel food and beverage director, Gayle Fontenot is sending resumes to local hotels and hopes to financially recover soon.

Though she admits that sometimes she has to excuse herself to the bathroom for a good cry, Gayle is keeping a thankful, hopeful attitude and is happy to live in the beautiful Smoky Mountain foothills. She had planned on retiring in the Smokies one day; she just arrived a little sooner than expected.

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are literally thousands of cabins and chalets in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountain area. So, how do you pick the one that is right for your vacation?

Many cabin rental companies in Pigeon Forge have websites with pictures and virtual tours of their chalets or cabins. Pigeon Forge cabins and chalets are available in many sizes. Some can accommodate large groups and families while others are small one bedroom types for a honeymoon couple. Some cabins and chalets often come equipped with pool tables, hot tubs, fireplaces, cable TV and other amenities that are sure to please.

Since Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are relatively small, even a secluded cabin is not far from theaters, theme parks, restaurants and shopping. Minutes away is also the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for hiking, biking and sightseeing.

So, what do you look for in choosing a cabin or chalet in Pigeon Forge?

Posted by Jessisa Bookstaff at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)