March 8, 2024
Many people recognize Pigeon Forge for being a bustling vacation destination, but the town has a rich history that has shaped it into the popular tourist spot it is today. To help you learn more about the city and how its success has come about, we thought we’d share a bit more about its history with you! Here are 4 fun facts about the history of Pigeon Forge:
1. Part of Its Name Comes from an Extinct Species of Bird.
Have you ever wondered how the name “Pigeon Forge” came about? We bet you’d never guess that part of it was derived from an extinct species of bird! While the “Forge” in its name comes from an iron forge that was built along the Little Pigeon River, the “Pigeon” is from the passenger pigeon. The riverbanks were lined with beech trees, which were a popular food source for the passenger pigeons. Flocks of passenger pigeons could often be seen flying throughout the area and landing in the trees next to the river. The last passenger pigeon was seen in Pigeon Forge in 1914, but it will live in the town’s name forever.
2. It Saw a Rise in Tourism in the 1980s.
The city was officially incorporated in 1961, but until the 1980s, growth in Pigeon Forge had happened slowly. Pigeon Forge hit a tourism boom in 1982, and since then, the growth has been rapid. The city created a tourism plan in 1982 that included outlet malls, theme parks, and live music. The Parkway in Pigeon Forge was expanded to 6 lanes, and Teaster Lane was constructed to offer an alternate route from the busy Parkway. In 1986, Dolly Parton partnered with the Herschend brothers to open Dollywood, which welcomed 1.3 million visitors in its first season! Today, Dollywood is one of the most popular theme parks in the country.
3. The First Dinner Show of Its Kind Opened in 1987.
One important year throughout the history of Pigeon Forge was 1987. This was the year that our sister show, Dolly Parton’s Stampede opened! Dolly Parton’s Stampede was the first show of its kind and paved the way for more incredible shows to be successful in Pigeon Forge. It’s become a family tradition and welcomes guests year after year to enjoy its high-spirited adventure and four-course country feast.
It wasn’t until 2011 that the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud began entertaining visitors. Now, we’re still inviting guests to become a part of the longest running feud in history! When you visit us, you can expect a full evening of feudin’, feastin’, and family fun. While you watch, you’ll get to enjoy an all-you-can-eat Southern homestyle feast straight from Granny’s kitchen! Other popular shows in Pigeon Forge are The Comedy Barn and Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show.
4. It Almost Wasn’t a Part of Tennessee.
We bet you’ll find this fun fact about the history of Pigeon Forge hard to believe. Pigeon Forge almost wasn’t a part of Tennessee! Originally, Pigeon Forge was a part of a different state — settlers first came to the area when it was governed by North Carolina. In 1790, the area was ceded to Tennessee. We can’t picture this city not being in the beautiful state of Tennessee!
Now that you know more about the history of Pigeon Forge, TN, we bet you can’t wait to start planning a visit to explore. Check out our guide to planning the perfect Pigeon Forge vacation!
