What’s New in Pigeon Forge?

Finally, developers are seeing that Pigeon Forge is a good venue for upscale shops, restaurants and attractions. For too long, locals like myself have tried to ignore the tacky souvenir shops and fake Cherokee merchandise that used to be so prominent in the shops.

Real money is being poured into town and there are many new venues for families to enjoy.

Teaster Crossing, a $15 million retail and restaurant development between the Parkway and Teaster Lane. Johnny Carino’s Italian restaurant and Bullfish Grill will be joined shortly by a family-oriented Bear Creek Grill, a casual restaurant featuring a little of everything from pizza to catfish.

The retail component of the complex will house 32,000 square feet of approximately 25 shops. Darby Campbell, co-owner of the Crossing said, the center “sets the new standard in Pigeon Forge……..the restaurants are first class……….the traffic has been phenomenal and it’s a lot more upscale than anything has been in the past.”

Campbell also uses the same “upscale” adjective to describe a hotel in the complex. The Inn at Christmas Place will feature ponds, fountains, Bavarian architecture and theme suites on its six acres, and it is scheduled to open in June of ‘07 with 145 rooms or suites.

Across the Parkway, the Walden’s Landing development has erased all memory of the Ogle’s Water Park with a good-looking complex of shops and restaurants. Lunch at the Atlanta Bread Company recently was delicious and the menu made it difficult to choose just one item. The center also includes Birkenstock Place, Calhoun’s Restaurant, John Deere Country Toys, Clothes and Gifts, the Smoky Mountain Brewery and the Tool Zone.

Dollywood remains the most popular attraction in the Smokies and it is constantly renewed with more shows, more and better attractions and more action. Dolly Parton comes home to lead her Springfest “Smoky Mountain Adventure Parade” on April 7th. This is the 21st annual repeat of the parade and it heralds new attractions at Dollywood including the $6.5 million Timber Tower Ride. The ride turns nine times per minute as it makes its way to the top of the tower. Then the tower begins swinging from side-to-side, allowing the vehicle to topple in many directions at a 60-degree angle making riders feel certain they will be crashing into the water below. Parton’s Splash Country also has a new Fire Tower Falls with one of the tallest and fastest slides in town. It will be wildly popular.

If you plan to come for the parade……be warned! Come early and grab a good spot. The parade is full of marching bands, floats and of course Dolly and it usually draws upwards of 60,000 people along its route.

Another intriguing new attraction is called Zorbing, which originated in New Zealand. It is the experience of climbing inside a giant plastic Zorb ball then rolling downhill at up to 30 mph!!

The Jurassic Boat Ride is a large indoor attraction bringing guests face to face with prehistoric creatures, volcanoes, waterfalls and caves. This is all done right-side-up in a boat, whereas the new WonderWorks is all upside down. It is billed as an adventure for the mind and is only one of two such attractions in the country.

April will be a busy month in Pigeon Forge with much to do and tons of stuff to see. To give you a brief overview of the month’s activities, consider this list:

Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, which highlights the cuisine and the cultures and crafts of over 12 world countries: Quiltfest’s 12th annual competition where top quilters show their quilts and teach more than 60 classes. An Easter egg hunt April 15th: a Merle Haggard concert the end of the month: the annual Scrabble Tournament: and the Spring Rod Run………..to name a few. Come on down!