Pigeon Forge Business Booms with Fall

With fall colors already past peak and the first wintery blast having come and gone, you’d think the oncoming winter season would keep people away from such places as Pigeon Forge. Quite the contrary. Fall colors and the subsequent holiday shopping and ski season means busy hotels and cabin rental agencies in Pigeon Forge.

It starts out with the two middle weekends in October. That’s when people really start to pour in. On average, those are the peak weeks for fall foliage in this area, though on occasion the color stretches out to November. Much like it is doing this year.

For the local tourism departments, October is the second most popular month for visiting Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville, the first being July.

In addition to the fall colors, the holidays, events, and the kinds of shopping opportunities are more reasons Pigeon Forge cabins and the like will be packed through New Years.

In Pigeon Forge alone, Winterfest as well as Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas pack a number of events into a two month time period. And now you have countless tours going on around town shuttling people through town to see all the Christmas displays. Couple that with the events and sales offered at places like Five Oaks Tanger Outlet Mall and the Christmas Place and you’ve got one busy region.

And you can’t leave out Ober Gatlinburg in this conversation. Ober Gatlinburg’s shooting for a winter season that starts right after Thanksgiving, and with new snowmaking equipment that allows them to contuously make snow in milder weather conditions, they’re well on their way to doing that. Gatlinburg’s winter season not only brings in tourists and shoppers, but also winter sports enthusiasts who stay in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area.

Currently, Pigeon Forge cabin rentals and hotels have seen a jump in business on both the weekends and the weekdays this fall.

According to the Pigeon Forge tourism department, about 80 percent of people who come to the area this time of year are repeat visitors.

The Tomb

The Egyptian Adventure

If you are looking for something completely different for your family to do while you are in Pigeon Forge, you might want to venture into The Tomb.  The Tomb is a hands-on, indoor adventure attraction in the heart of Pigeon Forge.  You and your family take on the role of archaeologists as you head into the Tomb to discover the secrets and of course, escape with everyone in your party intact.  You get to solve puzzles and work together as a team to escape the mysteries and challenges of the Tomb.

If you are a fan of the old mummy movies, then you are going to love The Tomb.  You remember the mummy movies from back in the day, black and white movies about adventures going into the tombs of the pharaohs.  While they were in the tombs that had to solve puzzles and find a way to escape the tomb while they were escaping the mummy.  These serial adventures that played on Saturdays in the middle of the 20th century were fun for the whole family because they had just enough suspense to keep your heart pounding as you sat on the edge of your seat hoping that the heroes got out alive.  That is the feel you get while you are in The Tomb.

Of course, the big difference is that you are in The Tomb instead of watching people that are in a tomb.  You get to solve the puzzles.  You are your group will have to work together to solve countless puzzles and progress through the mzes and rooms as you work your way out of the darkness and back to the light of day.  From mazes involving mirrors to puzzles where getting a beam of light to hit a specific area is what stands between you and freedom, The Tomb might end up being one of the highlights of your trip to the Smoky Mountains.  And of course, if it is raining outside this is one of the best indoor attractions in the area.

The Tomb is located in Walden’s Landing in beautiful Pigeon Forge, TN.  If you have ever been to Pigeon Forge, you know that all the traffic lights along the Parkway are numbered.  So when you driving through Pigeon Forge, start looking for a traffic light and aim your vehicle for traffic light three.  If you look across the street from The Track you will see Walden’s Landing and you will probably see The Tomb from your car as well.  Park your car, maybe grab something to eat at one of the restaurants in and around Walden’s Landing and then take a trip into mystery, into The Tomb.

The Tomb
Walden’s Landing
Pigeon Forge, TN
865-453-6450
http://www.tombadventure.com/

Old Mill Holiday Open House

Come to the Old Mill Open House on November 10 and sample some great holiday foods and shop some great deals.

If you live anywhere in the vicinity of Pigeon Forge, you’ve more than likely heard about the Old Mill, Old Mill Square, the Old Mill restaurants, etc. Well, for those of you who have yet to shop or taste any of their delicious food at the restaurant or the Old Mill Pottery House Cafe & Grille, a great opportunity is coming your way. It’s the Old Mill’s Holliday Open House on Saturday, November 10 from 10 am to 6 pm.

It’s one of the best times to shop for gifts at the Old Mill and sample some of their holiday food they’ve specially prepared for this occasion. We’re talking great Southern food that will leave you planning your next trip to the Old Mill restaurant. The restaurant itself has made a name for itself by offering some of the best breakfast servings in the Smokies with such edible delights as homemade biscuits, pancakes and omelets. Lunch and dinner includes Southern specialties like homemade meatloaf, southern fried steak, country ham, fried chicken, chicken pot pie, spicy broiled catfish, and much much more.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to shop some great deals on local products and Old Mill fare, the Old Mill general store will have everything from their own corn meal, flour, pancake mix, and various specialty mixes. That, along with so many jellies, jams and local products, you won’t know what to do with yourself. At the general store, you can find something for everyone on your Christmas list.

Looking for something a little more crafty? The Old Mill Pigeon River Pottery house has a number of specialty and serving pieces in many unique glazes, plus a collection of original sculptures that really set off a home’s decor. Just another great Christmas shopping opportunity to be had at the Old Mill’s Holiday Open House event.

So, if you’ve never been out to the Old Mill, it’s restaurants and shops, or if you’ve been a hundred times, stop by the Holiday Open House event Saturday, Nov. 10 and get reacquainted with or introduced to Old Mill Square. We know you’ll find something you’re sure to come back again for.

Old Mill Square
175 Old Mill Avenue at Traffic Light No. 7
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee 37868
865-428-0771

Pigeon Forge’s Hottest Shopping Destinations Are Offering Thanksgiving and After Thanksgiving Day Sales This Year!

Looking for great deals, numerous Pigeon Forge locations will be holding Thanksgiving Day sales beginning as early as 10pm Thursday, Nov. 22.

Located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge, TN, has quickly become known as a shopping destination that offers a wide range of national and local brands, from outlet center deals to one-of-a-kind art and quality antiques. This Thanksgiving, some of Pigeon Forge’s most popular shopping destinations are offering late night Thanksgiving and After-Thanksgiving sales, making this a perfect time to shop in Pigeon Forge.

Tanger Five Oaks Factory Outlet Center is replacing its annual After Thanksgiving Magic of Midnight Sale with a Moonlight Madness sale that begins at 10pm Thanksgiving night. That’s right, all the stores at Tanger Five Oaks will offer Black Friday specials starting at 10pm Thursday, November 22 until 10pm on Friday with sales and specials running through the weekend.

As an added bonus, beginning at 10pm on Thursday, Nov. 22, the first 250 people to visit the Customer Information Center at Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Center will receive a $10 gift card compliments of Chase Freedom and another drawing will occur around 2 am.www.tangeroutlet.com/sevierville

Another popular shopping destination is Smoky Mountain Knife Works. They will open its doors at 7am on Friday morning, with great deals on knives, kitchen accessories and bakeware. Their Black Friday sale runs Nov. 23 through Dec. 12. www.eknifeworks.com

Bass Pro Outdoor World’s five hour sale, from 6-11am on Friday morning, will also offer lots of great specials. www.basspro.com

Belz Outlets of Pigeon Forge will be having a Midnight Madness sale to kick off holiday shopping. Stores will open at 12:01 am. Friday. Other events include the “Gift With Purchase , Friday through Sunday. Receive a $20 gift card when you spend $250, Nov. 23, from 12am until 6am. Receive a $20 gift card when you spend $350 or more Nov. 23 through Nov. 25. You must be 18 or older, present your receipts to the mall management, and have a valid email address. The gift cards will be given while supplies last.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is conveniently located just off Interstate 40 Exit 407 in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Within a day’s drive of over half the nation’s population, Pigeon Forge is annually visited by millions of people who enjoy the shopping, attractions, restaurants and shows this quaint town has to offer.

Pigeon Forge Relay For Life Memorial

Pigeon Forge’s Patriot Park is getting their own Relay For Life memorial, offering encouragement for those who have been struck by cancer or know someone who has.

A Relay For Life Brickway is scheduled to be dedicated at Pigeon Forge’s Patriot Park on Saturday, Nov. 3 in front of a number of supporters who have participated and donated to the annual Sevier County walk to fight cancer.

With the dedication scheduled for 11 am, the memorial is for those who have faced, are facing, or know someone that has faced cancer. It’s also a way to encourage everyone to fight back in whatever way they can against the deadly disease.

As for the ceremony, engraved bricks will be permanently placed around Patriot Park’s south side walking track – the one next to the campground.

“Cancer affects all of us in some way, whether directly or indirectly,” said Brian Atchley, Sevierville mayor and Relay For Life chair. Atchley would know, he survived his own bout with cancer.

“Cancer does not discriminate,” he said. “Statistics tell us 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with a form of cancer at some point in their lifetime.

“The Relay For Life Memorial Brickway provides an ongoing opportunity for everyone to participate in the fight against cancer, so that we find a cure and eliminate those statistics.”

If you know have known someone battling cancer, you can dedicate a brick and paver for them. The bricks can three lines of dedication with up to 14 characters on each line. For additional information on the bricks, or to obtain an order form, contact Bill Worsham at billyworsham267@yahoo.com or call 865-382-1523.

If you’re interested in a little something more aesthetics wise, you can purchase granite pavers for $200 and bricks for $100 with all proceeds benefiting the Sevier County Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society.

Looking for other Relay For Life events in the area? The Wal Mart Heroes 578 Relay For Life Team will be serving hot dogs, chili, potato soup, baked goods, and other items Nov. 9, 10, and 11. For more information, contact Earl Gibson at earl1969@charter.net.

Late October Fall Foliage Report

Get Pigeon Forge information on fall color in late October – what species are still showing color and at what elevations.

The Smoky Mountain region is starting to enter the phase of fall where some places are still seeing peak color, while others are beginning to fade out and leaves are already falling.

In the highest elevations (above 5,500), autumn is already fading away. From 3,000-5,000 feet, most trees are at or slightly past peak, but are still very impressive. More and more reds can be seen in the hills and on the ridgelines, especially eastward on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In the low lying foothills of the Smokies, fall colors are developing rapidly and really showing out. Lower elevations have already experienced the first frost of the season, which means that any remaining leaves are making their transformation as these words are read. If you’re out on the trail, you’ll notice the majestic reds of the black gum, dogwood, and sourwood trees. Meanwhile species like the tuliptree, black walnut, beech, spicebush, birch, and hickory gleam in gold as they take in the afternoon sun. Fall foliage is still on track to remain at peak levels in the lower elevations even through early November.

This slow-moving fall season isn’t unusual, but it sure is welcome. With a forecast calling for color to last through the first week of November in the Smoky Mountains, it’s no wonder people keep making last minute plans to visit the area. It’s not a far cry, but autumn displays could last through mid-November if the weather keeps at its current pace.

As for trees in the mid-elevation levels, a number of species are still showing great color. Oak trees are just now coming into their own. More common trees like the maples and the hickories are still as bright as ever. You’re bound to still see a few greens at the middle and lower elevations as some species try to contain themselves till the very end. So, chances are that you might get a glimpse of some new color should you decide to venture to the Smoky Mountains, and if the mild weather sticks around.

As always, the best fall color can be seen along roadways like Newfound Gap Road from the Alum Cave Bluffs Trailhead to the Kephart Prong Trailhead, the Foothills Parkway, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you want to get closer to nature, hike the Rich Mountain Road Loop just outside Cades Cove, Smokemont Loop, Chestnut Top Trail, and the Lower Mt. Cammerer Trail.

Pigeon Forge’s Salute to Veterans

Pigeon Forge’s 2nd Annual Salute to Veterans Parade kicks off Winterfest in Pigeon Forge on Nov. 6 along the parkway before moving to Patriot Park.

Come and be a part of Pigeon Forge’s 2nd annual Salute to Veterans and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for America and those who are still serving today. The parade is scheduled for Nov. 6 and is the official start of Winterfest in Pigeon Forge. For those who came out last year, you’ll remember the salute to America’s veterans, appearances by  a number of local entertainers and the illumination of 5 million Christmas.

Now, if you’re unable to attend the Salute to Veterans, Winterfest and all that it entails continues through Feb. 28, 2013, with all the Christmas shows of the past that everyone loves, the town’s biggest lighting display and so many events that it’s impossible not to be able to catch at least a few.

The Salute to Veterans parade starts at 4:30 pm at the south end of town and travels along the Parkway to Patriot Park. If you decide to take in more than the parade, Patriot Park is a great place to continue the experience. There will be a number of vintage and current military vehicles on display at Patriot Park, which is also where the Winterfest kickoff celebration will commence with the lighting of Pigeon Forge’s winter display and a performance by the Pigeon Forge Community Chorus.

Winterfest Kickoff begins at 4:30 p.m. when the inaugural Pigeon Forge Salute to Veterans Parade steps onto the Parkway, proceeding north to Patriot Park. In all, the parade lasts about one hour.

Cub Scouts will present the colors and lead spectators in the Pledge of Allegiance at Patriot Park following the parade. Kids will be able to play in the park and food vendors will be hand for those in attendance to purchase food from. The proceeds go to benefit local charities. Bring your lawn chairs for the Patriot Park performances. The Winterfest display lighting is expected to begin soon after 8 p.m.

Pigeon Forge’s Fun Time Trolleys will offer complimentary rides on the Trolley Tour of Lights that night.

A part of the town’s winter season since 1990, Pigeon Forge’s Winterfest has been named a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event and has transformed Pigeon Forge into a Southeast winter destination.

Stages West

Stages West in Pigeon Forge offers the best in western wear and cowboy boots in East Tennessee.

If you’re the type of person who thinks a pair of Wranglers, a Resistol cowboy hat, and a pair of Justin boots are the start of a pretty sweet outfit, well you’ll find everything you need at Stages West in Pigeon Forge. The place for western wear and everything that goes along with it, Stages West has been a family-owned, Pigeon Forge fixture on the Parkway since 1975.

Stages West prides themselves on offering the BEST in “Cowboy Couture” at affordable prices. Located in a 15,000 square foot building that gives the appearance of an Old West saloon, Stages West carries not only the finest in western wear, they’re building to include a working stage where local and national acts can come to perform.

Of course, Stages West is known for their boot selection. Men, come select from some of the finest cowboy boot brands you’ll find in East Tennessee including Abilene, Ariat, Black Jack, Corral, Dan Post, Dingo, Durango, Justin, Laredo, Rocky Boots, and many more. For the ladies, it’s almost the exact same list in many styles and categories from exotic and ropers to work and lacers. Looking for purses or dresses? Stages West has them ladies. Men, in the market for a new belt buckle or dress shirt? Stages West has you covered. They even have boots, hats, clothing, and accessories for the kids.

Want to win a pair of boots? Who doesn’t want FREE boots? Register online at StagesWest.com to win a FREE pair of Ariat boots every week. A new winner is chosen each week until November 16. So get online and register for your chance to win a pair of new Ariat boots.

Stages West will also match any price online. Visit their web site at StagesWest.com.

Hours: 9am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday; and 10am to 6pm, Monday through Thursday. Closed Sundays.

Stages West in Pigeon Forge
2765 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-8086 or Toll free 877-717-8243

Family Photos in Pigeon Forge

Are you looking for a place to take a great family Photo while you are on vacation i Pigeon Forge? Here are some options.

Where to take family photos in Pigeon Forge

You have brought your family to the mountains and you want to commemorate the trip.  You want to capture a good picture of you and your kids in Pigeon Forge, but where do you take those pictures?  Here are several places that you can go to take some great family pictures in Pigeon Forge.

Patriot Park – Patriot Park is centrally located with plenty of parking and lots of natural beauty.  Sitting right beside the river, Patriot Park has some beautiful locations along the river and in the park itself to take family pictures.  Also, this area of the Smokies is not quite as hilly, so you don’t have to worry about your tripod tipping over.

Family Photos at the Community CenterPigeon Forge Community Center Park – Here is a favorite for local photographers when they are taking family portraits outdoors: the park behind the Pigeon Forge Community Center.  This park has some wonderful grassy areas under the trees and several playgrounds that give plenty of options for great pictures.  Though, if you are looking for that place that the pros use, it is the footbridge over the creek located at the back of the park.  The footbridge is set in a clump of trees and gives you the feeling of being in the wilderness, away from the Parkway and civilization.  A great location!

Dixie Stampede – Dixie Stampede changes the decoration on the lawn in front of their building throughout the year.  In the spring, the summer, the fall, and the winter, they put on a show with the decorations they put out in front of their venue.  People go to Dixie to take pictures of the decorations but they also go to take pictures in and around those decorations as well.

Your Cabin – But be fair, the best place to take pictures in and around Pigeon Forge is in the seclusion of your own cabin in the Smokies.  The cabins in and around Pigeon Forge were built to give you the best view possible from the decks on the cabin.  Line the family up on one of the decks and start snapping away.  Let the backdrop of the Smokies be the backdrop for your pictures.  Get everybody in coordinating outfits and start snapping away.  You are going to get some amazing photos and have a blast while you do it.  The best thing about taking the pictures at the cabin is the fact that you don’t have to drive anywhere to take the pictures to remember your visit to the Smokies.

Thanksgiving Fireworks at the Titanic Attraction

Stop by the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge this Thanksgiving, November 22, for a spectacular fireworks display.

Why wait until New Years to see fireworks? The Titanic attraction in Pigeon Forge is planning on sending the year out with a bang, just a month or so early. So, on November 22, they are going to pay tribute to the 2,208 people who lost their life aboard the Titanic with a spectacular fireworks display.

The night sky will be filled with fireworks that night as we all celebrate the lives and legacies of the ship’s passengers, crew and rescuers. Officials with the Titanic attraction say it will be the largest fireworks event on the Smoky Mountain Parkway since the museum’s grand opening in 2010.

And that’s not all…. Guests will be able to take in the Titanic’s holiday lighting display, Edwardian-period decorations, the liner’s costumed staff, and a gift shoppe overflowing with original, one-of-a-kind gifts.

At Titanic Pigeon Forge, visitors get a one-of-a-kind glimpse into the luxury liner’s past. Guests can walk what the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic would have been like before that fateful day. You’ll also get to view some 400 artifacts pulled directly from the ship’s remains on the ocean floor. Touch a real iceberg while you’re there, put your hands in actual 28-degree water, and try to balance yourself on a sloping deck.

Pigeon Forge’s Titanic Museum Attraction is a gateway to 1912. Between the educated crew and the 400-plus priceless artifacts on display throughout the museum, it’s really a homage to the lives of those passengers and crew members on board the Titanic’s maiden voyage. It’s also a collection valued at over $4.5 million.

The Titanic Memorial Room lists the 2,208 people who died in that voyage. Each name is inscribed on the wall. Guests can match their boarding pass, which lists a passenger’s name, with the pass-holder’s fate there.

You definitely do not want to miss the Grand Staircase. Constructed from the original Harland & Wolff plans with its oak carvings and cherub statue, the Grand Staircase is a work of art in its own right. Its oak wall paneling and elaborate railings and iron scroll work come alive in the light. Listen carefully to hear what the floor was made of – something considered most expensive for 1912.

A few of the activities guests can enjoy while touring the museum include:

– Simulating loading coal into a burning furnace.
– Getting into an actual size lifeboat. Sending an SOS signal, and tying rope knots.
– Steering a ship.
– Standing on the Titanic’s bridge and hearing the Captain’s commands.
– Standing on the deck of the ship’s stern and experiencing the different precise angles of the ship as it gradually descended into the water over a span of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
– For young guests eight and under, there is a special section (Tot-Titanic) devoted to them with various interactive games and stations.