Tennessee Cabin Tip #18 - Pigeon Forge Attractions
Today few would likely believe that a Smoky Mountain resort city like Pigeon Forge began as a small farming and lumber community. And yet that is the humble beginning of this now thriving Tennessee town. Long before the surrounding area became a national park, Pigeon Forge was a quaint little village. Today Pigeon Forge is an exciting entertainment capital that offers visitors to the Smoky Mountains region, some "man-made" recreational fun to go along with a trip to the unforgettable Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
It was way back in 1930 that the federal government first christened the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By then it had already become well recognized for its unique beauty and for its unparalleled diversity of life. In latter years, the fame of the Park grew all around the world. Eventually the Smoky Mountains region obtained international recognition as a "international biological preserve". And since then, the fame of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has only increased. Before long this reputation became the fuel that spurned the economic and cultural development of Pigeon Forge- located in the very heart of the Smoky Mountains. By the 1980's Pigeon Forge had grown into well recognized Tennessee tourist center.
Today Pigeon Forge has even more to offer those vacationing in the Smoky Mountains. The foremost attraction, beyond the majesty of the Pigeon Forge mountain cabins that are scattered throughout the area, is the Dollywood theme-park; named after Pigeon Forge's most famous resident. This exciting park offers thrill rides, an enormous water park for the kids called Splash Country, and plenty of Smoky Mountain charm. Other exciting recreational options include: the Speedzone FunPark, the Dixie Stampede, the Smoky Mountain River Run, and Bluff Mountain Adventures. For those looking for more "relaxed" recreation, historic landmark sites like "the Old Mill and General Store" - which dates back all the way back to when settlers first christened Pigeon Forge, are also available in Pigeon Forge.
Another real highlight of Pigeon Forge recreation is the thriving theater district. There are a multitude of theatres to choose from- covering every form of family-friendly entertainment imaginable. Some of the most popular theatres and shows include: the Comedy Barn, the Black Bear Jamboree, the Grand Illusion Show, the Ole Smoky Hoedown Show and the Louise Mandrell Music Theatre. Each of these shows offers something unique to visitors of Pigeon Forge. And this list is just a brief taste of all the Smoky Mountains entertainment fun Pigeon Forge has to offer.
So if you're already planning a vacation getaway to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, make sure you make a trip into Pigeon Forge while you're here. The theatres, theme-parks, museums, and historical sites of Pigeon Forge will make your Smoky Mountain vacation just that much more of a success. And with downtown Pigeon Forge being only minutes away from the splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it simple to pop back and forth between the city center, the mountain trails of the Park itself, and the comfortable confines of your Smoky Mountain cabin.