Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County, Tennessee, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 6,343. Situated just 5 miles (8 km) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is a tourist destination that caters primarily to Southern culture and country music fans.
The city's attractions include Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country, WonderWorks, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, as well as numerous gift shops, outlet malls, amusement rides, and musical theaters.
The Fun Time Trolley is a public transportation system serving Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Fares range from $0.50 to $0.75, and it has over 100 trolley stops throughout the city. Trolley stops include places such as Dollywood, Dolly's Splash Country, Tanger Outlets, and many other stops along the parkway and other points of interest. The Fun Time Trolleys run daily 8:30AM to midnight during the months of early March to October and daily 10AM to 10PM in November and December but close on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
After the Treaty of Dumplin Creek in 1785, Robert Shields and Samuel Wear took advantage of lands ceded by the Cherokees to build forts in the area. Wear's fort came under attack, but the site is where Pigeon Forge City Park is located today.
Later, around 1820, a fellow named Isaac Love built an iron forge and gristmill along the Little Pigeon River, hence the name of the town. Even though the forge was dismantled, the mill was restored and is like the centerpiece of the town, with tourists flocking to eat at the restaurant there.
When Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened up in 1934, entrepreneurs started toying with the idea of tourism on this stretch en route to the park. First there was a Rebel Railroad attraction, then a Silver City Amusement Park, and finally what Pigeon Forge is seemingly synonymous with today - Dollywood. Only it is chock full of other tourist attractions and resorts, so you may have to plan your time carefully.
