Pigeon Forge Tennessee

Wednesday July 17 we said goodbye to Paul and Betty and the beautiful mountain region where they live. We drove 150 miles to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and the tourist destination area called Pigeon Forge. I have for a long time been misinformed about the rise of the area as a tourist destination. Country Singer Dolly Parton’s roots are in nearby Sevierville and her name is used on one of the attractions synonymous with Pigeon Forge, Dollywood.

I always assumed Dollywood was the start of the tourist industry here. The area was very isolated until the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created nearby in 1934. Gradually overtime a few tourist venues were opened along Rt 441 the road to the park thru Pigeon Forge. In 1982 the town initiated an aggressive development plan that centered on the tourist industry. In 1985 the owners of an existing attraction called Silver Dollar City approached Ms. Parton and proposed a partnership in the promotion and operation of Silver Dollar City. Dolly became a minor partner and the park was renamed Dollywood. 

Anyhow visitors today are not likely to meet many people who remember the isolated mountain hamlet of long ago. Rt. 441 still runs thru Pigeon Forge but it is now a 6 lane highway with endless outlet malls, restaurants, hotels, music venues and attractions of all sorts. It’s kind of like Myrtle Beach without the beach.

On Thursday evening we went to the Grand Majestic Theater to see a show called “Soul of Motown”. The very talented cast of five men and one woman sang and danced for 2 ½ hours in a tribute show to all the legends of Motown. Millie and I enjoyed the show beyond our expectations, in part due to the tour bus load of Afro-Americans that we were seated with. In black theater, audience participation is both expected and encouraged, so as you can imagine our seating section was the liveliest.

Friday July 19 Driving east from Pigeon Forge we passed through the town of Gatlinburg on our way to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Approximately 15 miles into the park (all uphill) you reach the scenic overlook at Newfound Gap. In addition to the panoramic view the overlook is the location of the Tennessee/ North Carolina border and the spot where President F.D. Roosevelt dedicated the park in 1940.  You can also walk on part of the Appalachian Trail at the Newfound Gap.

Tonight we are going back to the Majestic Theater to see another show, this one called America’s Hit Parade. It is billed as “A singing and dancing sensation taking you through all the greatest hits of the decades”.