This Tennessee mountain city is more than a tourist trap
Sevierville may be a checkpoint for tourists heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but this picturesque mountain town deserves a second look. Over 18,000 people call Sevierville home, including hospitality workers, part-time residents and retirees, who enjoy living close to America’s most-visited national park. The city includes a slow-growing residential landscape alongside a historic downtown district and various recreational opportunities. It’s also the childhood stomping ground of Dolly Parton, whom the town honors with a statue.
At least ten million visitors drive through or stay the night each year, making tourism the city’s largest industry alongside hospitality and manufacturing. Tourism alone earned the city $3.8 billion in 2023, facilitating its continuous focus on innovation. In 2022, Sevierville earned the Tennessee Municipal League Award for Excellence in Governance for its efforts.
Sevierville residents enjoy having front door access to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park lies just to the East of Sevierville.
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Locals rent out cabin-style homes
The median price for a home in Sevierville hovers around $500,000. Cabin-style homes dominate the streets and often function as rentals for tourists. Its oldest homes sit near the city’s historical center, where bungalows and cottages built around the turn of the 20th century typically range in price from $150,000 to $400,000. Fanning out are subdivisions built throughout the remainder of the 1900s, with homes where properties usually sell between $350,000 and $450,000. “The property taxes are extremely low because we’re able to generate so much revenue from tourism,” says Bob Stahlke, the city’s Public Information Officer.
New homes are also popping up on the city’s outskirts, where prices can exceed $500,000 and reach just over $1 million. Yet demand still outpaces supply. “We’re experiencing a housing shortage in the area – they can’t seem to build them fast enough,” says Lee Shane, a Broker with Tennessee Mountain Real Estate.
Cabin style homes are very popular in Sevierville, with most offering unrivaled views of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Early 1900s homes can be found closer to downtown Sevierville, which gives the area a charismatic vibe.
New homes are beginning to pop up around Sevierville as more people move to the area.
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From community parks to the Great Smoky Mountains
Alongside hosting pick-up matches on Sevierville City Park’s new pickleball court, learn about wildlife at RainForest Adventure Zoo or head indoors for programming at Sevierville Community Center. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a 16-mile trip east, providing various activities and sites for natural immersion. Dollywood sits a shorter 5-mile drive south, making for convenient weekday trips to catch thrills when the theme park is less busy.
Sevierville City Park features brand new pickleball courts that are available to the public.
The Sevierville Community Center features an indoor swimming pool perfect for swim practice.
Check out the RainForest Adventures Zoo in Sevierville. to learn about lots of animals.
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Sevier County School System earns a B rating
Sevier County School System serves nearly 15,000 students across the city and earns a B rating from Niche. The district offers high school students an array of Career and Technical Education pathways, ranging from Agriculture to Architecture. Those seeking higher education can enroll at Walter State Community College—Sevier Campus in the city or the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, 30 miles northwest.
Sevierville Elementary School sits on the same campus as Sevierville Intermediate School.
Sevier County High School scored a 5 out of 10 on GreatSchools.
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Downtown boutiques and Tanger Outlets
The city’s downtown district is one of Sevierville's shopping destinations. In 2021, the walkable district welcomed the addition of wide sidewalks, bike racks and murals as part of the city’s streetscape project completed in 2021. “Because of the tourism, we have great choices of both local and chain restaurants and a lot of large retailers that would never be here otherwise,” Stahlke says. Most restaurants sit closer to downtown, while big-box stores line State Route 66 along with Tanger Outlets’ 100-plus retailers.
Sevierville residents and tourists can take a stroll downtown to wander through several boutique shops in the historical district.
Shop and eat in downtown Sevierville while enjoying the artwork around the area.
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Hometown events unite a small community
At the Bloomin’ BBQ festival in May, barbecue cook teams from all over the U.S. compete for prizes. The fun includes live music on three stages, a singing competition and games for kids. The fall brings the Smoky Mountain Harvest Festival for a weekend of autumnal activities. During college football season, locals and fans from across the state fill Neyland Stadium in Knoxville to cheer on the Tennessee Vols during the college football season.
University of Tennessee cheerleaders pump up the crowd on the Vol Walk.
The University of Tennessee football stadium hosts many home games.
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Sevierville's traffic mitigation efforts
State Route 66 and Dolly Parton Parkway are the city’s most traveled throughways. Both see substantial rush-hour traffic, especially during summer and special events. “We have cameras set up throughout the city and software that allows Public Works employees to make changes in traffic patterns instantly,” Stahlke says. U.S. Route 441 cuts through the city’s center and connects commuters to Knoxville 25 miles northwest. When traveling out of the region, a 31-mile trip leads to McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa. LeConte Medical Center is closer to home on the city’s eastern side.
Crime statistics and potential flooding
According to FBI statistics, crime in Sevierville falls below the national average. Combined property and violent crime rates continue a 10-year downward trend, with a 10.4% decrease from 2022 to 2023. The city is susceptible to flooding after heavy rain, with properties along the banks of Little Pigeon River at a higher risk.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
Photography Contributed By
Andrew Byrum
Video By
Tyler Belile
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Penny Cowell,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Sevierville, TN sell after 57 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Sevierville, TN over the last 12 months is $520,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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