East Tennessee's Smoky Mountain region is world-renowned for its magnificent Appalachian scenery. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of America's most treasured natural habitats. Over 13 million vacationers per year make their way to this part of Eastern Tennessee to experience the Smoky Mountain Park and its surrounding attractions. Among the many compelling recreational highlights featured in the region, the thriving Smoky Mountain city of Pigeon Forge has emerged as one of the most popular. Pigeon Forge, TN, while once a small lumber town, has grown to become a world-class holiday destination. Today tourism is Pigeon Forge's main industry. That fact is evident in the city's many live entertainment theatres, theme-park and thrill ride attractions, as well as in Pigeon Forge's retail centers and restaurants. The stunning Smoky Mountain cabins that surround Pigeon Forge serve as one of the area's most popular lodging and accommodations options.

In the early part of the 20th century Pigeon Forge wasn't much more than a dot on the East Tennessee map. Settlers came through here on their way from the Carolinas, following old Indian trails that traced alongside the Little Pigeon River. The pigeons that populated the area at the time led to the christening of the city, Pigeon Forge. The "forge" part of the city's name originates back to the iron forge that Isaac Love, an early Smoky Mountain settler, built here circa 1820. The city grew slowly in those early decades. Lumber and other industry workers made up most of the early Pigeon Forge population. It wasn't until the official designation of the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park that Pigeon Forge began to take off as a tourist destination.

Contemporary Pigeon Forge maintains a year-round population of about 4,000 residents. That means that many of the people you see lining the streets here are Smoky Mountain vacationers taking advantage of Pigeon Forge's many sites, sounds and thrilling experiences. It was soon after the christening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that city planners began to dream big of establishing a world-class destination city here, filled with live entertainment theatres, theme-parks, shops and restaurants for Park visitors to enjoy. Today the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park; and Pigeon Forge serves as a major part of the greater area's appeal. Not only does Pigeon Forge serve as a landing ground for GSMNP tourists, but, along with its Smoky Mountain sister cities of Gatlinburg and Sevierville, it also wines, dines, and entertains people with first-rate vacation recreation.

There are many factors that all add up to make Pigeon Forge, Tennessee the resort city it is today. The broad appeal of Pigeon Forge is contributed to by theme-park attractions like Dollywood and the Wild Wheels Family Fun Center; live theatre attractions such as the Comedy Barn and the Country Tonite Theatre, and a diverse offering of museums and historical centers; including the Elvis Museum and the Dinosaur Walk Museum. In addition Pigeon Forge features bumper boats rides, go-carts, awe-inspiring stunt shows, miniature golf courses, thrilling water rides, laser game centers and "you won't believe your eyes" illusion demonstrations. And for those whose desire is to really push the envelope with some thrilling, high octane holiday experiences Pigeon Forge's white-water rafting trips and indoor skydiving simulators are bound to please!

If there's one aspect of Pigeon Forge's recreational attractions that really stands out it would be the city's world-renowned theatre district. For Smoky Mountain vacationers Pigeon Forge is a true Mecca of live theatrical entertainment. In addition to the Country Tonite and Comedy Barn theaters mentioned earlier, some of Pigeon Forge's many other top theatres include: the Smith Family Theatre, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show, the Patty Waszac Theatre, the Smoky Mountain Jubilee, the Showplace Dinner Theatre in the Smokies, the Triumphant Quartet, the Fiddler's Feast Supper Show, the Black Bear Jamboree, the Ole Smoky Hoedown, the American Jukebox Theatre, Terry Evanswood's Grand Illusion Show, and the Miracles and Memories Theatres. As you can see from this sampling of theatres the theatrical appeal of Pigeon Forge has as much to do with the diversity of its live entertainment as it has to do with its quality. Dinner theatres, comedy shows, magic shows, stunt shows, musical acts, and dancing shows all add value to Pigeon Forge's thriving and ever-growing theatre district.

Of all the theme-park attractions featured within the city confines of Pigeon Forge none is more popular than Dollywood, the fun-filled, family-friendly theme park named after Dolly Parton, the Smoky Mountains' most famous native resident. Dollywood is made up of a broad collection of rides and attractions designed to keep both young and old entertained for days on end. Dollywood features rides and roller coasters such as the Thunderhead, Shooting Star, Tennessee Tornado, Skyrider and the brand-new Timber Tower.

Other Dollywood theme attractions include the Smoky Mountain Wilderness Adventure Tour and the Dreamland Forest Treehouse. Dollywood is also famous for its seasonal festivals and events such as the Festival of Nations- a summertime bonanza offering ethnic foods and entertainment from around the globe. Speaking of the summer time, for those planning on making a Smoky Mountain getaway between May and September wild 'n' wet attractions such as Dolly's Splash Country are popular attractions to enjoy. Rides like the Slidewinder, Soaker Springs, the Smoky Mountain River Rampage, Daredevil Falls, and the Mountain Twist Slide are all part of the action-packed, aqua-festivities.

Dollywood may very well be Pigeon Forge's most well-known theme park, but it is far from the only one. Other top theme parks and action attractions in Pigeon Forge include: the Skyscraper, Bluff Mountain Adventure, Laserport, and Ultrazone. For those looking for some high octane thrills, Pigeon Forge attractions like the Smoky Mountain Speed Park, the Smoky Mountain Slick Track, Wild Wheels Speedway, Speedzone Funpark, Adventure Speedway and Fast Tracks are bound to please. Younger children not quite ready for thrill-seeking will enjoy the Dollywood Express, the Rockin' Roadway and the VeggieTales Sideshow Spin.

When it comes to enjoying the very best that the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and cities like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have to offer, nothing beats the accommodation excellence provided by the spectacular Smoky Mountain cabins found in the area. These stunning mountain chalets provide luxurious furnishings, spacious rooms, and unparalleled views and access to the surrounding Smoky Mountain wilderness. Many Tennessee vacationers enjoy the best of both worlds by walking mountain trails in the morning, shopping in Pigeon Forge in the afternoon, and returning home to a luxurious alpine cabin rental and enjoying a glass of wine from the soothing confines of a deck-side hot-tub- overlooking the panoramic, Appalachian splendor of the surrounding Smoky Mountains.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is a Smoky Mountain city with humble beginnings that has emerged in recent decades as a premier East Coast vacation destination. Offering theme parks and thrill rides, family friendly recreation, live entertainment theatres and variety shows, this is a city filled with hundreds of compelling attractions for visitors to enjoy. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park may have served as the original magnet for tourists in the area, but since the inception of the Park Pigeon Forge has grown to become a world-class resort city that attracts millions of vacationers in its own right.