The Tennessee Mountain Town That Survived Civil War, Great Depression, and Became a $1.8 Billion Attraction

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Everyone knows Pigeon Forge for pancake houses and dinner shows, but this Smoky Mountain town’s got layers.

Between the go-kart tracks and gift shops, you’ll find moonshine distillers practicing century-old recipes, artists keeping mountain crafts alive, and locals who remember when this was just a quiet mill town.

Here are some of the best things to do when you’re in town, from chill to classics like Dollywood.

How extinct birds gave the town half its name

The ‘Pigeon’ part of Pigeon Forge comes from passenger pigeons that once lived in huge numbers along the riverbanks. They loved the area’s beech trees, which gave them plenty of food.

You could often see flocks of these birds flying around and landing in trees by the river. Back in 1817, Isaac Love built an iron forge on the Little Pigeon River, and between the forge and all those pigeons, the town got its name.

As more people moved in and hunting became common, the passenger pigeons started to disappear, with the last one dying in 1914.

Why businesses chose Pigeon Forge over Gatlinburg

When Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened in 1934, Pigeon Forge had zero tourist businesses. By the 1950s, better roads brought a few campgrounds and lodges, but nothing major.

Two things in nearby Gatlinburg led to Pigeon Forge’s later boom: Gatlinburg was surrounded by mountains with limited space, and a few local families controlled most of the land, blocking outside businesses. So entrepreneurs looked to Pigeon Forge instead.

In 1961, right after Pigeon Forge officially became a town, North Carolina brothers Grover and Harry Robbins opened Rebel Railroad in the area.

The mill that powered an entire town

The Old Mill wasn’t always just a tourist attraction. It once served as Pigeon Forge’s power plant, generating electricity for the entire town until the 1930s, when newer systems took over.

Pigeon Forge was once part of North Carolina, with settlers arriving in 1788. Isaac Love built the iron forge in 1820, and his son built the Historic Old Mill in 1830. During the Civil War, the mill served as both a makeshift hospital and a clothing factory for Union soldiers.

Dollywood

Dollywood, created in 1986 when the Herschend brothers partnered with Dolly Parton, has become Tennessee’s most visited attraction and one of America’s top theme parks.

When it first opened, Dollywood welcomed 1.3 million visitors in its first season alone. You can ride thrilling coasters like Tennessee Tornado and Mystery Mine, plus family rides including carousels and teacups.

Beyond the rides, you can enjoy Dolly Parton sing-alongs, seasonal shows, and the Dolly Parton Experience museum.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Just minutes from town, you can explore America’s most visited national park. It’s one of the world’s most biologically diverse places, home to over 400 species of animals.

The park offers more than 800 miles of hiking trails, scenic drives, and plenty of wildlife watching opportunities. For fewer crowds and amazing views, check out the Foothills Parkway, especially the Wears Valley section.

The Cherokee, who first lived in these mountains, called the area ‘Shaconage,’ meaning ‘place of blue smoke’.

Titanic Museum

As you approach the Titanic Museum, you’ll see a massive ship replica rising 100 feet above the Parkway. Inside, you can explore exhibits and artifacts, walk the Grand Staircase, send SOS signals from the communications room, and discover various gallery spaces.

When you arrive, you receive a boarding pass of an actual Titanic crew member, making the experience more personal. This is one of just seven museums worldwide dedicated entirely to the Titanic.

Sample local spirits and wines

You can tour numerous wineries and distilleries throughout the area. Tennessee Homemade Wines, founded by local Gatlinburg families with deep winemaking traditions, now has two locations.

You can follow the Gatlinburg Wine Trail to five different locations, including Old Mountain Wine Company with its year-round outdoor patio and Smokin’ Banjo Wine Company with its vibrant offerings.

Mountain coasters and indoor snow

Try an Alpine coaster ride through beautiful mountain landscapes, where you control your speed and can even ride at night with special lighting. Many locations also offer mini-golf and go-karts.

Rocky Top Mountain Coaster claims to be Tennessee’s longest coaster and has been voted #1 in Pigeon Forge. For something truly unique, visit Pigeon Forge Snow, America’s first indoor snow facility that offers real snow year-round using advanced snowmaking technology.

WildSide offers 900 acres of wilderness just minutes from downtown, with various outdoor activities.

Crime museum and unusual exhibits

The Alcatraz East Crime Museum explores American crime history through artifacts and interactive exhibits in a prison-themed setting.

For something completely different, check out The Bodies Human museum with its 100+ anatomical displays featuring real human bodies, or step inside WonderWorks’ upside-down house for over 100 hands-on interactive exhibits.

Getting to Pigeon Forge

The closest airport is McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, just 47 miles away. Several airlines serve this airport, including Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, and United Airlines.

Getting to Pigeon Forge by car is easy since it’s within a day’s drive for two-thirds of Americans east of the Mississippi.

The town sits just 33 miles southeast of Knoxville, 4 miles south of Sevierville, and 5 miles north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Once you’re in town, the Fun Time Trolley is an affordable way to get around both Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. It runs from 8 a.m. to midnight daily from March through October.