A picturesque mountain enclave tucked into the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge is home to the famous Dollywood theme park. It also features a lively six-kilometre strip of amusement parks, arcades, waterslides and magic shows. The town comes alive in the evenings with music theatres and live entertainment.

Things to do

Dollywood is hands-down the biggest attraction in Pigeon Forge, named for its famous country-music founder, Dolly Parton. The Appalachian-themed park features the Tennessee Tornado and other looping roller coasters, as well as the 1938 Dollywood Express steam locomotive. Stop by the Country Fair area for old-fashioned kiddie rides and arcade-style games.

The Dolly Parton empire also includes Dollywood’s Splash Country water park and Dixie Stampede dinner theatre. The Stampede show features horse stunts, theatrics and magic tricks while diners enjoy a four-course Southern-style meal. Servers purposefully leave out the silverware, so get ready to eat with your hands in genuine country-style dining.

You can find at least 10 music theatres putting on productions at any given time in Pigeon Forge, including the Smoky Mountain Opry and its various country music venues. Families will also enjoy Wonderworks, a huge upside-down structure with over 100 interactive exhibits. You can learn about natural disasters, play in the Bubble Lab and climb a glow-in-the-dark indoor ropes course.

Museums in Pigeon focus on famous themes in history, including the Titanic Museum and the Alcatraz East Crime Museum, which covers forensic science, criminal profiles and the penal system. Need a day of fresh air and nature? Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park for hiking, cycling and picnicking.

Getting around

You can rent a car from Gatlinburg Pigeon Fork Airport, about a 10-minute drive from town. For getting up and down the main strip, hail a taxi or take a trolley.