Area Information
- Pigeon Forge Area Information- Gatlinburg Area Information
- Sevierville Area Information
Pigeon Forge Area Information
Pigeon Forge is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. Situated just five miles north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Pigeon Forge is primarily a tourist resort. The city's attractions include Dollywood and numerous outlet malls and music theaters.
Early HistoryThe name "Pigeon Forge" comes from an iron forge built by Isaac Love (1783-1854) sometime around 1820. The name of this forge referred to its location along the Little Pigeon River, in the vicinity of what is now the Old Mill. The name of the river comes from the flocks of Passenger Pigeons that frequented its banks at the time of the first Euro-American settlers' arrival.
For centuries, the Cherokee used the valley where Pigeon Forge is now located as a hunting ground. A Cherokee footpath known as the Indian Gap Trail crossed the Great Smokies from North Carolina, and passed through the Pigeon Forge valley en route to its junction with the Great Indian Warpath in modern Sevierville (US-441 closely parallels this ancient trail, although it crests the mountains at Newfound Gap rather than Indian Gap). From Sevierville, the Warpath headed west toward the Overhill Cherokee towns along the Little Tennessee River.
Pigeon Forge TodayIn 1982, hoping the capitalize on the publicity generated by the Knoxville World's Fair, Pigeon Forge initiated an aggressive economic plan that centered around theme parks, outlet malls, and live music venues. The first outlet mall, Factory Merchants, opened that same year. By 1987, there were four outlet malls in Pigeon Forge, and by the early 1990s, outlet malls provided 44% of the town's gross revenue.
The increasing number of tourist attractions brought competition for Silver Dollar City and its chief competitor in Pigeon Forge, Magic World, which had constructed a theme park on the slopes of Pine Mountain in the city's south section. In 1985, the Herschends approached entertainer Dolly Parton (who was born in nearby Sevierville) with a proposal for a partnership in the promotion and operation of Silver Dollar City. After lengthy negotiations, Parton became a minority partner in the enterprise, and Silver Dollar City was renamed Dollywood to kick off a major marketing campaign. The move proved successful as Dollywood continued expansion into the 21st century. We now enjoy 2 theme parks - Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country.
Gatlinburg Area Information
Gatlinburg is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee. Gatlinburg is a popular vacation resort, as it rests on the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along U.S. Highway 441, which connects Gatlinburg to Cherokee, North Carolina through the national park.
Gatlinburg is hemmed in on all sides by high ridges, with the Le Conte and Sugarland Mountain massifs rising to the south, Cove Mountain to the west, Big Ridge to the northeast, and Grapeyard Ridge to the east. The main watershed is the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River, which flows from its source on the slopes of Mount Collins to its junction with the Little Pigeon at Sevierville.
Early HistoryFor centuries, Cherokee hunters (and Native American hunters pre-dating the Cherokee) used a footpath known as the Indian Gap Trail to access the abundant game in the forests and coves of the Smokies.[This trail connected the Great Indian Warpath with the Rutherford Indian Trace, following the West Fork of the Little Pigeon River from modern-day Sevierville through modern-day Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Sugarlands, crossing the crest of the Smokies along the slopes of Mount Collins, and descending into North Carolina along the banks of the Oconaluftee. US-441 largely follows this same route today, although it crests at Newfound Gap rather than Indian Gap.
While various 18th century European and early American hunters and fur trappers probably traversed or camped in the flats where Gatlinburg is now situated, it was Edgefield, South Carolina native William Ogle (1751-1803) who first decided to permanently settle in the area. With the help of the Cherokee, Ogle cut, hewed, and notched logs in the flats, planning to erect a cabin the following year. He returned home to Edgefield to retrieve his family and grow one final crop for supplies. Shortly after his arrival in Edgefield, however, a malaria epidemic swept the low country, and Ogle succumbed in 1803. His widow, Martha Jane Huskey Ogle (1756-1827), moved the family to Virginia, where she had relatives. Sometime around 1806, Martha Ogle and her brother, Peter Huskey, made the journey over the Indian Gap Trail to what is now Gatlinburg, where William's notched logs awaited them. Shortly after their arrival, they erected a cabin near the confluence of Baskins Creek and the West Fork of the Little Pigeon. The cabin still stands today near the heart of Gatlinburg.
In the decade following the arrival of the Ogles and Huskeys in what came to be known as White Oak Flats, a steady stream of settlers moved into the area. Most of these settlers were veterans of the American Revolution or War of 1812 who had converted into deeds the 50-acre tracts they had received for service in war. Among these early settlers were Timothy Reagan (c. 1750-1830), John Ownby, Jr. (1781-1869), and Henry Bohanon (1760-1842). Their descendants still live in the area today.
Gatlinburg TodayGatlinburg is a key tourism destination in Tennessee. It not only contains many man-made attractions but borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ober Gatlinburg, is both a ski resort and an amusement park. The only ski area in Tennessee, it has eight ski trails and three chair lifts. It is accessible via roads and a gondola from the city strip. The Gatlinburg Trolley, privately-funded public transit system, caters to area tourists.
Another popular attractions is Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies which also features special exhibits covering subjects like the Titanic, pirates and more recently the planet Mars. Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country, which are both named for Dolly Parton, are amusement parks located in nearby Pigeon Forge. A few music and family-oriented theaters make their homes in Gatlinburg as well, including the Sweet Fanny Adams Theatre, which hosts a musical comedy.
The entire area is a mega-haven for photographers of all types and even glamour model photographers often hold national events and shoots in the region. Some of the waterfalls, streams and other locations make for some of the most outstanding natural backdrops that are available.
Many visitors also partake of locally made candy (especially taffy and fudge), as well as visit one of the ubiquitous pancake houses. During the Christmas season the entire downtown area is decorated with lights. Visitors also benefit from a free shuttle bus that traverses the city every half hour.
Sevierville Area Information
HistoryFounded in 1795 and incorporated in 1901, Sevierville, (pronounced Se-VEER-ville) was named for John Sevier, the first governor of Tennessee. It is the oldest and largest of Sevier County's four cities and is the eighth oldest town in Tennessee. More than just a beautiful place for a vacation, Sevierville is a commSevierville Courthouseunity with a proud heritage and history. One of its most enduring symbols is the classic white clock tower on the 105-year-old Sevier County Courthouse with a clock that strikes every half hour in the time-honored tradition. The statue of Dolly Parton on the courthouse lawn was sculpted by local artist Jim Gray and unveiled by Miss Parton herself on May 2, 1987, with her parents in attendance. There's also a statue on the courthouse lawn in remembrance of our veterans. About 200 years ago, Sevierville was no more than a small rural community with one church, two mills, one tavern, one trading post, two lawyers and a stable for a courthouse. It was a stopping off point for settlers heading West toward the frontier, and as East Tennessee was settled, Sevierville became an important trading and commercial city. The city celebrated its bicentennial in 1995.
Sevierville, the county seat of Sevier County, is the first city many people see when they arrive in the Smokies. Just minutes from Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevierville combines a relaxed hometown atmosphere with ready access to hundreds of vacation attractions and recreational opportunities. Over the years, Sevierville, as the county seat, has known five different courthouses, with the last being built in 1895-96 for $22,000. The courthouse was later renovated in 1970-74 for $577,000 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sevierville is located in a picturesque valley at the foot of the Smokies. Take Exit 407 off Interstate 40, about 18 miles east of Knoxville. For a more scenic route, try U.S. 441 South from Knoxville or 441 North from Cherokee, N. C. U. S. 411 also connects through Sevierville and provides a journey through the East TN foothills. Knoxville's McGee/Tyson Airport is about an hour away, with over 90 commercial flights a day. The Sevierville-Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Aviation Center can accommodate a variety of private aircraft and has full service and maintenance facilities.
Sevierville has preserved its southern charm and the quaint personality of a small, historic town. The atmosphere in Sevierville is friendly, relaxed, and fun. . And the entire downtown area encompasses Sevierville's historic district, where a walking tour unfolds the history of the nation and its expansion westward.Sevierville also keeps the modern traveler in mind, with accommodations ranging from family motels to romantic mountain hideaways. Shopping is some of the best in the Southeast. Offerings range from mountain crafts to antique emporiums to outlet malls featuring famous brands.There are restaurants for any taste, from fast food to fine dining, and outdoor activities include tennis, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, and golf.
Sevierville is one of those rare cities where you can honestly say that it's a nice place to visit -- and live. It's often been called "your hometown in the Smokies."
