Update on Belle Island
Engineers working on the Jake Thomas Farm have discovered an archeological area with three ancient Indian burial sites as well as other artifacts like pottery and stone tools. The leaders in Pigeon Forge purchased 35 acres of land on the Jake Thomas Farm for $17.5 million in 2005, and with the recent archeological findings, the purchase could end up costing the city of Pigeon Forge anywhere from $27,000 to $162,000 extra and eight to 18 weeks of delay in the planned construction of a new Fun Time Trolley station and 2,000-space parking lot.
The land purchased in 2005 was also to be the site of a new shopping development, Belle Island. All plans have been put on hold at this time.