Recommendations for Pigeon Forge Tennessee

moosedog · #1 10-12-2009, 10:40 PM

Is any one here familiar with Pigeon Forge Tennessee?
What I'm looking for are any helpful recommendations on places to stay other than camping.

afriqueart · #2 10-12-2009, 11:05 PM

Depends on what you want to do. If you're looking for walking up and down the streets of G'burg, get a hotel on the street. If you're looking for a place to crash after hiking in the GSMNP, a cabin near the park might work for you. If you do a cabin, make sure it's not perched on the side of a mountain with no safe exit. If you're bringing a bunch of offspring, there's plenty to do. A cabin is great and much more affordable. They also have hot tubs, and pool tables and stuff the little darlings can play with. Bring your own booze, there aren't any liquor stores except in G'burg and they will charge you an arm and a leg. Beer is sold in grocery stores.

There are no building codes and no well water testing in the county. No fire code requirements and many developments have been built over the concerns of fire departments (no access by pumper trucks on steep, narrow roads). Virtually every stream and creek in the county (not in the park) is on the states 303(d) contamination list for e coli and bacteria. Signs in the creeks state that the water is unfit for human contact. Watch where you park and speed. The county makes a lot of money off of towing and tickets.

If you're coming into town on a Friday afternoon or evening, be prepared to sit in bumper to bumper traffic from I-40 into town. It might be a couple of hour ordeal. If you're driving from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg on what we call the spur, you might have a few hour drive if traffic is heavy. The popular Cades Cove drive might be a several hour trip. More if bears and deer are out.

With the colors changing, soon, be prepared for heavy traffic.

Wilderness has deals with admission to their water park. Dollywood has deals with cabin rental companies and there are coupons galore.

If you're a bible belter, this place is the buckle.

Bring your money. It keeps our property taxes low!

ridewv · #3 10-12-2009, 11:06 PM

I've been through a few times, but never stayed. It's a little too "honky tonk" for my tastes. Same for Gatlinburg IMO. The surrounding area is nice though.
If you head up the Blue Ridge Parkway just a ways, before Asheville, is Mt Pisgah. This is a NC state run lodge and restaurant, and one I would recommend. It may be peak leaf season now so reservations would be in order.

stonehorses · #4 10-13-2009, 12:24 AM

I prefer Townsend. It is quiet and not too far from G-burg or PF.
Townsend, Tennessee, Chamber of Commerce - Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park From The Peaceful Side of the Smokies

Firehouse · #5 10-13-2009, 01:03 AM

As far as attractions, the Dixie Stampede is a good show and meal. Walking the streets of Gatlinburg is fun, be sure to check out the Aquarium. Cabins are the best to me, (good luck getting one short notice but it is possible), you can rent a cabin and run down to Walmart and buy all your food and supplies for the length of your stay and save a ton on food expenses. Unless you just want to eat out every meal. The whole place is good for about three days, then I'm ready to get back to the ole' homestead. Have fun.

sipowicz · #6 10-13-2009, 02:01 AM

Check out the Pigeon Forge Theater Company...this month they are doing 'Liberace, his life and loves'.

TNDixieGirl · #7 10-13-2009, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonehorses

I prefer Townsend. It is quiet and not too far from G-burg or PF.
Townsend, Tennessee, Chamber of Commerce - Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park From The Peaceful Side of the Smokies

I agree with the Townsend recommendation.

reddogge · #8 10-13-2009, 08:50 AM

We just came through there in Sept and stayed at the Best Western for around $60/night. Very nice and you get the nice breakfast bar the next morning. It's right on the main drag.

Jim Shugart · #9 10-13-2009, 10:01 AM

If you have even a slight interest in knives, then the Smoky Mountain Knife Works is a must. It's in Servierville, not far from Pigeon Forge.

It's a museum and a knife store, plus they've got lots of other stuff. The basement is cooking utensils.

Firehouse · #10 10-13-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Shugart

If you have even a slight interest in knives, then the Smoky Mountain Knife Works is a must. It's in Servierville, not far from Pigeon Forge.

It's a museum and a knife store, plus they've got lots of other stuff. The basement is cooking utensils.

A big thumbs up. Just about every knife you could ever imagine in that place. When my Wife and I first got married we honeymooned in Gatlinburg. We stopped at the SMKW on the way in and she bought me one of those Buck survival knives that came with the little removable screw on grappling hook thingies. Still have it after all these years. Good knife. Never tried the grappling hook thing though.

enfield · #11 10-13-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ridewv

I've been through a few times, but never stayed. It's a little too "honky tonk" for my tastes. Same for Gatlinburg IMO. The surrounding area is nice though.

Ditto. My first thought on seeing Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg was "Oh Lord, it's Myrtle Beach without the ocean".

Jim Shugart · #12 10-13-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enfield

Ditto. My first thought on seeing Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg was "Oh Lord, it's Myrtle Beach without the ocean".

But when you get past all of that commercial ****, the GSMNP is one of the best places on this planet. (IMHO, THE best place on this planet.)

It's 500,000 acres of a botanist's wet dream.

My two favorite places to visit are the GSMNP and Colonial Williamsburg. Both were made possible by the Rockefeller family. Hat's off to them.

The Highlander · #13 10-13-2009, 10:45 AM

If you don't own a camper (why not?), and want to stay in Gatlinburg, go to the Park Vista. Sits high on a mountain overlooking everything. Nice place. There are dozens if not hundreds of motels in Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Kodak, all the usual recognized names. I don't have a recommendation, we own an RV. But, my daughter recently stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Kodak, right beside the Bass Pro Shop. She said it was fine for an overnighter.

The whole area is very touristy, but Gatlinburg is a neat little place. Off the main roads are some nice artists galleries. The hiking is great, the wildlife is great, etc. We are there pretty often, business meetings are always in Gatlinburg. For pleasure trips, we stay places I hope you never find! There is an ordinance against we locals telling you where we go and how we get there!

If you want the outdoor experience, hiking, nature, botany, animals...without the tourists, let me recommend Roan Mountain State Park (TN). Cabins, camping, amazing scenery. And not too far away is Asheville, Boone, Blowing Rock (all in NC). Much my preference to the Pigeon Forge area.

To keep me on Lee's good side, pm me for some suggestions on where to eat, what to see.

The Highlander

moosedog · #14 10-13-2009, 12:32 PM

I appreciate all the helpful info.
Sounds to me like we will stay out of Pigeon Forge proper as I don't do crowded conditions well.
Basically I am looking for a base to explore the Great Smokies from without dragging my camper 1,000 miles plus.
Day hikes and viewing from the car is more my wife's style.
I'll start checking out some of these places that you folks have given. You folks are great. Any military or firearms museums worth seeing on the way?

ladder13 · #15 10-13-2009, 01:06 PM

There's a place, Cataloochee, near Maggie Valley NC where you can view the elk herds. I remember driving something like 20 miles on a winding gravel road through the mountain with no shoulder to pull over. The road was barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass, and on one side(depending if you were coming or going) was the valley a couple hundred feet below

At the end of this road was a little oasis where the elk herds gathered at dusk. Amazing site, as the elk came within yards of our car.
Even somewhat more amazing were the cars with trailers behind them, and I'm thinkin' "how did they get here?". Did they travel the road I just did?

We stayed at a Holiday Inn in Cherokee, which is at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Pkway, for 3 nights. They have a casino and Indian reservation.
Spent most of our time down there in the GSMNP, a true national treasure.
BTW, I was not happy with food selection in the Cherokee area. Pickins' were mighty slim. Or just maybe we didn't know where to look.

afriqueart · #16 10-13-2009, 01:40 PM

For a GSMNP base, try Townsend. Very little crowding. Virtually no traffic and if you want to get to a town, Maryville is about a 20 minute drive with no touristy junk. From Townsend, you can get into the park in minutes. Stop by the GSMNP visitor center and pick up a couple of books on trails, fauna, etc. It is a beautiful park. It just so happens that it is also our back yard. Literally!

My wife and I call PF and Sevierville Hillbilly Orlando.

Enjoy your visit!

HAWKEYE10 · #17 10-13-2009, 01:53 PM

Christmas Village Inn. The best place to stay in P/F.
We just back from there a few weeks ago, it was fun.
They also have a all you can eat breakfast. "It's free"
Eggs,meat,cereal,fruit,donut's,and coffee. Don

n4zov · #18 10-13-2009, 02:09 PM

That's easy! The Riverhouse Motor Lodge in Gatlinburg:

Riverhouse Motor Lodge Downtown Gatlinburg Tennessee Motel

It's downtown but secluded and private. A great place with homemade doughnuts and coffee. We've been staying there for almost 30 years, and we don't even both with any other place. Be sure to call for reservations because they are popular and especially during football season.

model10 · #19 10-13-2009, 09:12 PM

been there got the tee shirt , yea but had fun pigen forge was a turist trap but G.B is nice for eating an sigh seeing ride the tram to the top of the mountian , an yes bring your own liquor , part of pigen forge is dry except in eating places an u have to know which one , the ride tho the mountians is nice unless u get behind a MH either u pull off an sigh see or hope he does , a cabin is the best bet if u can get one , tv hot tubs an pool tables lots of fun , but its been years sents i was there , i an sure it has change a lot