Inside Pigeon Forge TN

It’s that time of year again for the 2010 Shades of the Past XXVI car show in Pigeon Forge, TN. Grease that hair back and dust off those poodle skirts. For lovers of classic cars, this is definitely a rod run you don’t want to miss. If you’re reading this, you probably already know about it and what it is. For those of you that don’t know about it and don’t have much of an interest in car shows or rod runs, then I highly suggest you do not come near Pigeon Forge between September 10-11. The 2010 Shades of the Past XXVII will take place on September 10-11 (Friday and Saturday) at the Inn at Christmas and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, TN. During the show (and the days before & after) the parkway will turn into a parade of rods, customs, and classic cars with people sitting in lawn chairs all down the strip. You could literally walk from one end of Pigeon Forge to the other faster than you could drive through all of the traffic. Husbands, if you’re coming to the rod run with your wife (who doesn’t have the same interests) I suggest you drop her off early down at Five Oaks Mall in Sevierville. That should keep her happy and occupied most of the day while you’re at the car show.

For more information, contact:
Shades of the Past Rod Run Chairman
Dan Draper
3343 Big Springs Road
Maryville, TN 37801-8908.
FAX (865) 995-9097

You may also want to see our list of the best hotels in Pigeon Forge as well Pigeon Forge cabin rentals.

According to knoxnews.com blog “The Bottom Line,” fair trade retailer Ten Thousand Villages is set to open a new location in Pigeon Forge in the coming weeks.

The Ten Thousand Villages store, to be located in Belz Outlets at 2654 Teaster Lane, will open officially on August 6.

The news comes just months after Knoxville’s Ten Thousand Villages store closed its doors on Market Square.

The store sells a variety of handmade jewelry, home decor, art and other items from artists based out of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

“This is a great opportunity to expand the mission of Ten Thousand Villages,” Craig Schloneger, Ten Thousand Villages U.S. CEO, said in a release. “We look forward to working with Belz Outlets to spread the mission of fair trade throughout East Tennessee.”

Customers that stop in during the store’s grand opening celebration will receive a free handmade paper mini-journal while supplies last.

Everyone who joins the store’s mailing or email list will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift card.

Ten Thousand Villages was founded in 1946 and has grown from the trunk of founder Edna Ruth Byler’s car to a network of more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. The company encourages artisan partners to use environmentally friendly processes, sustainable natural resources and recycled materials to ensure each product offered has been crafted responsibly. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee.

The 2010 Tax Free Weekend in Tennessee takes place on the first Friday of August (Aug. 6) starting at 12:01 a.m. that Friday and lasts until 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday night. This is a perfect time to visit Pigeon Forge, TN if you love to shop! Pigeon Forge has a ton of great outlet malls and stores to choose from. The most popular mall in the area is arguably Five Oaks Mall in Sevierville, TN. Five Oaks has plenty of great stores such as:

• Nike
• J.Crew
• Old Navy
• Gap
• Banana Republic
• Carter’s
• Children’s Place
• Polo Ralph Lauren
• Strasburg Children
• Hartstrings
• Bath & Body Works
• Disney
• Adidas
• and so much more!

There are numerous items that you can purchase and not have to pay taxes on. According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, here are the following guidelines for what can be purchased tax-free:

Continue reading ’2010 Tax Free Weekend in Tennessee’

In the center of Pigeon Forge is an area dominated not by Go-Cart Tracks and Mini-Golf but by lush green grass and quaint little specialty shops. Patriot Park and the Old Mill area are remarkable in their diversity, known for the scenery and a stop that everyone should add to their itinerary. The Old Mill restaurant boasts some of the best home-style food to be had in the county. The shops at the Old Mill range from toys to candy to pottery. Patriot Park is home to the main location for the Fun Time Trolley and is also a great walking track right in the middle of town. This area of Pigeon Forge has become a destination for some, and not just a stop on their visit to Pigeon Forge.

The Old Mill Restaurant is one of the best known restaurants in the Tennessee-side of the Smokies. It’s a popular spot for photographs and just watching. This three-story building dominates the middle of town and sits beside the Pigeon River. Part of the charm of the restaurant is in fact its location. You can hear the river bubbling as it passes outside and of course you can walk down and snap a quick picture of the waterfall next to the water-wheel, one of the most photographed sights in the area. And though the location is beautiful, it pales in comparison to the food inside. Most restaurants have a dish that they are famous for, in the case of the Old Mill it is their corn chowder and corn fritters. The chowder is more than a soup it is a meal and the fritters are so good you will keep asking for more. Continue reading ‘Patriot Park and Old Mill area’

Quite simply, if you were in Pigeon Forge during the last week of May, you may have caught a glimpse of a Jedi, or maybe even a Ghostbuster, or any of a myriad of characters one might recognize from their childhood.

The thing is, these characters have a way of hanging onto to people well past their childhood, which is why events like AdventureCon are so popular today.

The 3-day event, which had previously been held in Knoxville, kicked off the summer season at the Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge this past weekend and from the looks of the dealers and fans alike, the event was a rousing success.

Buoyed by an appearance from Billy Dee Williams – most well-known for his portrayal of Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the event’s lines stretched throughout the convention center for a glimpse at stars like Williams; Jake Lloyd, who played a young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace; wrestlers Ted DiBiase, a.k.a. “The Million Dollar Man” and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, as well as model Angie Everhart. Continue reading ‘AdventureCon – Tennessee’s Largest Pop Culture Collectors Show’

If you want to see a show while you’re in town that you can’t see anywhere else in this hemisphere, then you should see the synchronized fireflies in Elkmont. It’s simply an amazing experience that lasts for about one week out of the year (around the second week of June… 5-13 this year). These lil’ critters fire up around 9:30 p.m. and start a show that can only be seen in Gatlinburg and Southeast Asia (who knew we had something in common!). They start flashing random at first and then all of a sudden they start blinking together in bursts that last up to six seconds! It has become more and more popular in the last few years, so the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has imposed some rules if you want to see the show. Our sister site, Inside Gatlinburg, has the scoop, so hop on over using the link below to get the details!

Synchronized Fireflies in Gatlinburg

My, how the time has flown! This year marks the 10th year of the Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge Car Show. Despite the numerous events and exhibitions gearhead-related in Pigeon Forge each year, the Pontiac show is always one the area’s most anticipated.

If you want to see some of the most gorgeous Pontiacs around – GTOs, Trans-Ams, etc, be sure to attend the 10th Annual show on June 4-6, 2010. The show will be held at The Music Road Hotel in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

As if this show needed any added incentive, this year the event features a $1000 payout to be split by the Best of Show winners in both the stock and modified classes. And be sure to bring the whole family as there is something in Pigeon Forge for everyone! Whether you want to hit the waterslide into the heated pool at the Music Road Hotel, visit Dollywood Amusement Park just down the parkway for some serious thrills and rides, or shop till you drop at the Tanger outlet malls, we assure you that this will be a weekend you won’t forget.

Sugar Maple Luxury Log Cabins offers Gatlinburg Cabins and Pigeon Forge Cabins

Everyone deserves a vacation and why not make it the best. Stay in a Sugar Maple cabin and enjoy unsurpassed luxury amenities. Starting with location Sugar Maple offers your Pigeon Forge Cabins choice of resort setting; a Romantic Secluded or Semi Secluded cabin and cabin rentals are available in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, including Ski Mountain. Spectacular mountain views or city views set the background for a perfect Smoky Mountain Vacation in Luxury.

Continue reading ‘Sugar Maple Luxury Log Cabins’

If you plan on visiting the Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee area and staying in one of the many cabins, then be sure to check out The Preserve Resort Cabins and Weddings. Their selection of cabin rentals can accommodate a romantic getaway, honeymoon, family vacation, or even a family reunion! They literally have cabins of all sizes and a staff ready to help you choose the perfect cabin for your needs. Just check out the view of the cabin on the right! If you’re dreaming of a peaceful vacation to the Smoky Mountains, then The Preserve Resort Cabins and Weddings is your type of cabin rental company.

One of the features of The Preserve Resort Cabins and Weddings is their wedding and honeymoon packages. They have a full-service chapel and offer church ordained ministers, digital wedding photography, limo service, your choice of music, a DVD of your wedding, salon services tuxedos, and all of the other features that you’d need on your special day. They literally have a wedding package for just about every budget. They even have a form on their website where you can customize your wedding package and select everything that you want. They’ll then provide you with a quote and take care of all of your needs!
Continue reading ‘The Preserve Resort Cabins and Weddings’

The 2010 Dolly Parade in Pigeon Forge, TN will be held on May 7 starting at 6 p.m. The parade will travel along the Pigeon Forge parkway between traffic lights 3 through 6 and will feature over 100 different units including numerous marching bands, twirlers, cheer and dance teams, performers from various Pigeon Forge theaters, car clubs, and so much more! The star of the parade is none other than the grand marshal…Dolly Parton! The Dolly Parade is considered Dolly’s homecoming back to her hometown and she often makes surprise appearances the day after the parade at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.

Continue reading ‘Dolly Parade in Pigeon Forge TN’