Residents find their niche in Smoky Mountain tourist town
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, may be known as the home of Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, but for permanent residents, it’s a town with stunning mountain views and the recreation opportunities that come with a prime location in the foothills of the Smokies. “If you’re an outdoorsy person, it’s a great place to live because of all the outdoor activities,” says Lee Shane, a broker with Tennessee Mountain Real Estate who has been selling homes in east Tennessee for nine years. “You’re in the mountains; you’re close to the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited national park in the country.”
Pigeon Forge brings in millions of visitors each year with numerous attractions. Residents often rent out their cabin-style homes, some of which have resort-style amenities. Tourism impacts daily life with added traffic, especially during the busy summer season. And the number of visitors continues to climb, contributing to a record $2.1 billion economy in 2022. As the town’s largest industry, tourism-related jobs employ about 85% of Pigeon Forge residents, according to data from the American Society for Public Administration.
Upcoming projects will help accommodate for growth. In 2023, Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear announced a $200 billion plan for new construction, including housing, roads and more pedestrian access. The public works department is planning ways to get more water into the city, with resources strained during busy weekends. “I’m a resident myself, so it’s an amazing place to live,” says Eric Brackins, assistant city manager. “We’re providing services for 50,000 to 60,000 people on average, and the long-term residents get to enjoy all those services as well.”
Country-style cabins serve as rentals in Pigeon Forge
The median sale price for a home in Pigeon Forge is $580,000. Most properties are cabin-style with log siding. Many large, new construction cabins are being built, ranging between 1,600 and 5,000 square feet and costing upwards of $1 million. They may come with luxury amenities such as indoor pools.
Pigeon Forge's apartments are primarily occupied by locals who work at nearby attractions. The city’s upcoming construction projects will include 977 additional residences. “We definitely need more homes of all kinds – apartments, duplexes, single-family homes – to provide more residential housing for long-term residents,” Brackins says.
Parks and trails receive upgrades
The Pigeon Forge Greenway System connects several parks, including Patriot Park and Wear Farm City Park, with 6 miles of walking and biking trails. Implemented in 2018, the Greenways and Bikeways Master Plan is underway, expanding the system to include 20 miles of new greenway facilities. Upgraded in 2013, Wear Farm City Park has playgrounds, walking trails, a football field and five softball and baseball fields.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is about 8 miles away and offers scenic drives, camping and hiking to waterfalls. Several other outdoor adventures are nearby, such as horseback riding, zip lining and mountain coasters. Indoor attractions include the Titanic Museum and, of course, Dollywood. With amusement rides, a water park, entertainment and festivals, the park attracts nearly 3 million visitors each year.
Southern-style dining, dinner theaters and outlet shopping
Shopping and dining options are located along U.S. Route 441, otherwise known as the Parkway, the main north-south route through town. Many options cater to tourists, such as gift shops and hiking outlets. The Parkway is also where many of the town’s attractions are located, including museums, escape rooms, mini-golf, movie theaters and celebrity-owned restaurants.
The dining scene reflects Pigeon Forge’s country roots with several southern-style restaurants and bars complementing familiar chains. Dinner often comes with a show, as the city is home to many dinner theaters, including Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show and Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show.
For more shopping and dining options, locals may drive to the Tanger Outlets in Sevierville, which is home to Banana Republic, Loft and big box stores like Walmart and Lowe’s.
Early college experience at Sevier County schools
Pigeon Forge schools fall under the Sevier County School District, which earns an overall B from Niche. Nearly 15,000 pre-k through 12th-grade students are part of the system, attending 31 schools. Students can gain early college and career experience through Advanced Placement classes, dual enrollment classes, state Dual Credit courses, Career and Technical Education programs and industry certifications.
Trolleys go to Dollywood, Gatlinburg
The Greenways and Bikeways Master Plan will expand pedestrian and biking access with 11 miles of bicycle lanes and safety improvements at 17 intersections. Pigeon Forge offers a trolley service for public transportation throughout the area.
The Parkway connects Pigeon Forge residents with Sevierville to the north, as well as Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the south. Locals take U.S. 441 to get to Knoxville, about 30 miles northwest.
Events in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and beyond
Between Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Dollywood and Sevierville, there is a long list of special events and festivals throughout the year. The Pigeon Forge Rod Run happens in the spring and fall, drawing car enthusiasts with an impressive display of hot rods and muscle cars. Twenty thousand quilters come out for A Mountain Quiltfest, a five-day event with classes, contests and more.
Sevierville hosts the Bloomin BBQ and Bluegrass Festival, which is a weekend of food and music. Locals ring in the new year with fireworks and festivities at The Island entertainment complex. Dollywood is an event destination of its own, with the Flower and Food Festival, Harvest Festival and more.
New corridors help reduce traffic
Traffic is a considerable issue in Pigeon Forge, with over 11 million travelers passing through each year to get to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The new Jake Thomas Connector, completed in April 2024, helps alleviate traffic by creating an alternate route to Dollywood.
According to FBI data, Pigeon Forge reports property and violent crime rates higher than the national average. Crime tends to be concentrated along the Parkway, which is the main tourism corridor.
