pigeon forge insider, Author at Inside Pigeon Forge TN

All Chevy Supernationals in Pigeon Forge

For a region known for its car shows, if you’re into classic Chevrolets, there’s no better specialty show than the All Chevy Supernationals in Pigeon Forge. This year, the 2013 All Chevy Supernationals in Pigeon Forge TN includes anyone with a Chevrolet or GM car or truck, all makes, models, and years. We’re talking classic originals to completely modified late models. No matter if you’re a Chevy-lover or just a regular car show enthusiast, the All Chevy Supernationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is an awesome Pigeon Forge event and a great way to spend a weekend in the Smokies.

When and where is the 2013 Pigeon Forge All Chevy Supernationals?

The 2013 All Chevy Supernationals is June 14-15. Expect traffic in Pigeon Forge and area towns to be on the heavy side coming into, as well as leaving. The official event opening is 8am and goes until 6pm on Friday and 7pm on Saturday, but expect people to be hanging around and driving up and down the Parkway well into the night.

The Grand Hotel is the current event host, which is located right off the parkway Pigeon Forge, TN. However, due to the recent foreclosure and sale of The Grand Hotel, the venue may possibly change. You can check for regular event updates here.

Looking for a place to stay?

There are a number great Pigeon Forge cabin rentals and condos located in the vicinity of the event. Check out our Pigeon Forge cabin guide and our Pigeon Forge condo to find a great, private cabin or use our Pigeon Forge lodging finder to help you narrow your choice of hotel, motel, etc by searching location, prices, reviews, etc.

Every year is a great Car Show year in Pigeon Forge….

The 2013 All Chevy Supernationals in Pigeon Forge, TN is going to be a memorable one for everyone involved. This is one of the best car show events of the summer. And we don’t have to go into why you should be here if you own a suped-up Chevy or classic GMC hot rod.

Let us known how the weekend went in the comment section below, or tell us about your ride. Also, be sure to check out our Pigeon Forge car shows schedule to see all the other car shows and rod runs that will be taking place in Pigeon Forge, TN in 2013.

Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge

12th Annual Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge rolls into Pigeon Forge June 1, 2, and 3 at the Music Road Hotel. From the classic GTOs to the popular Trans-Am, they’ll be Pontiacs as far as the eye can see that weekend.

My, how the time has flown! This year marks the 14th year of the Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge Car Show. Despite the numerous events and exhibitions gearhead-related in Pigeon Forge each year, the Pontiac show is always one the area’s most anticipated.

If you want to see some of the most gorgeous Pontiacs around – GTOs, Trans-Ams, etc, be sure to attend the 14th Annual show on June 7-9, 2013. The show will be held at The Music Road Hotel in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

As if this show needed any added incentive, this year the event features a $1000 payout to be split by the Best of Show winners in both the stock and modified classes. And be sure to bring the whole family as there is something in Pigeon Forge for everyone! Whether you want to hit the water slide into the heated pool at the Music Road Hotel, visit Dollywood Amusement Park just down the parkway for some serious thrills and rides, or shop till you drop at the Tanger outlet malls, we assure you that this will be a weekend you won’t forget.

Still looking for a place to during the big Pontiacs in Pigeon Forge event June 7-9? Luxury Pigeon Forge cabins, as well as a number of beautiful Pigeon Forge condos can be found just minutes from the event itself. All feature amenities you just don’t find in the regular chain hotels like game rooms, hot tubs, theater rooms, etc. You can’t go wrong with a luxury Pigeon Forge condo or cabin just minutes from the Parkway.

Pigeon Forge Wildflower Update

“In bloom” is the current status of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its numerous wildflower species. As May creeps along, expect the magnificent blooming season to continue.

Rainfall in Pigeon Forge this spring has been fairly prevalent, especially in the higher elevations of the park. For wildflower enthusiasts, this is a great sign.

Here are just a few of the areas in the park reporting good wildflower coverage lately:

The Greenbrier area of the park, especially around Porter’s Creek Trail. This area is fairly well known for its wildflowers like the Fringed Phacelia. This wildflower forms a virtual blanket when it’s in full bloom. Other wildflower species like the Purple Dwarf Irises were visible as they grow in large groups. White Trilliums were in full bloom though there was still time for some to reach peak bloom. Others like the little white Squirrel Corn and Dutchman’s Breeches still had a little time before they peaked.

Large umbrella like plants called Mayapples were coming into bloom. They’re also plentiful in this area. As were the Bishop’s Cap.

A few of the earlier-than-expected “in bloom” wildflowers included Showy Orchis and the Fringed Phacelia. Though both are still double digit days from reaching their peak, their appearance indicates that this spring wildflower season could be one to remember. So, for all you wildflower enthusiasts out there, get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this spring if you want to view a spectacular spring nature show.

Porters Creek is just one of the many wildflower hotspots in the Smokies. Places like Ace Gap, the Bradley Fork Trail, Deep Creek, Oconaluftee, Rich Mountain Loop, and Spence Field are great spots in the park to view spring wildflowers. Check them out, as well as these wildflower walks suggested by the national park service. Also, makes plans to attend the next Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage that occurs annually throughout the park.

Pigeon Forge Gem Mine

If you’re someone who love jewelry and are looking for that specialty piece to mark your time in the Smokies, then the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine is definitely a stop you should make while in town. They’ve been an integral part of the Parkway in Pigeon Forge for over three decades.

The store’s mine is recreation of the old Ruby and Sapphire mines that were found in the Cowee Valley in North Carolina during the mid 1800’s. Ruby and Sapphire mining primarily went by the wayside after the 1930s when most discovered that you couldn’t get rich doing this kind of mining. Still, places like Franklin, NC, located in the Cowee Valley, refer to themselves as the Gem Capital of the World.

Now you’ll still find real gemstones in the area, especially at the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine. The mine has buckets overflowing with gemstones from all over the world, including Franklin, NC, and its in sand instead of clay or dirt. One bucket will bring you more gemstones than most old miners could find in a week during the old days.

As mentioned, the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine is located on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, only a stone’s throw from Dollywood, and minutes from the Smoky Mountain towns of Gatlinburg and Sevierville. All the gems that you find can be cut, polished, and mounted on site into jewelry. Their Rock and Fossil Museum is FREE to the public and the General Store includes such great spots as the Rock Shop, Fossil Shop, Jewelry Counter, Book Center, and other gifts made from rocks and fossils.

Because the Pigeon Forge Gem Mine is a part of the Three Bears General Store, stop by and feed the live bears. It’s a great way to spent an afternoon in Pigeon Forge and a great break from the hustle and bustle of the Parkway.

Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
2865 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-4733

Dollywood’s Barbeque & Bluegrass

Schedule and info for Dollywood’s BBQ & Bluegrass in Pigeon Forge, TN. If you love bluegrass, this is one event you don’t want to miss at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge!

If you love bluegrass music, then it doesn’t get much better than Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN during May and June! If you also love barbecue, then it definitely doesn’t get better than Dollywood’s BBQ & Bluegrass going on from May 29 – June 5, 2013.

The park will be filled with numerous bluegrass entertainers playing your favorite hits as well as some tunes you probably haven’t heard before! When you get hungry, you can chow down on some of the finest BBQ the Great Smoky Mountains has to offer. The BBQ action takes place at Market Square where visiting chefs will be cooking up some of the tastiest barbecue your mouth will ever taste. They’ll even be giving demonstrations on cooking BBQ so that you can be the king of the grill in your own neighborhood!

Park admission gets you 300 free concerts by a handful of the greatest bluegrass acts in the country, plus some great barbeque and apple pie. Musical acts this year include Grammy award-winner Ricky Skaggs (right), Kentucky Thunder, Riders in the Sky, Rhonda Vincent as well as a number of local and renowned national performers!

The list of performers for the bluegrass festival this year looks great! They have a great mix of big names as well as up-and-comers that are sure to leave the audiences beggin’ for more. If there was ever a reason to purchase a season pass at Dollywood, this is it! If you are lucky enough to make it to this bluegrass festival, be sure to share your experience in the comment area below! Also, be sure to check out our tips for visiting Dollywood.

Dollywood BBQ & Bluegrass Schedule

*Note* – Schedule is subject to change. Please visit Dollywood’s official bluegrass entertainment schedule for an updated and complete list of performers, dates, times, and locations.

A Summer Vacation in Pigeon Forge

When you talk about summer vacations in the South, places like Myrtle Beach and various locales along the Florida coast are bound to come up. For those who look inland, Pigeon Forge is as popular a destination for summer vacationers as any. Millions of people visit the area every year.

Recent national park numbers have reflected that nearly 10 million people visit the Pigeon Forge area on an annual basis. Of course, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the BIG draw. The views and vistas that are located just a stones throw from Pigeon Forge are unprecedented. A short, 10 minute drive from the parkway will put you right in the middle of the most beautiful country in the South. It’s really no wonder that Pigeon Forge has become one of the hottest summer destinations for U.S. travelers.

As far as things to do while you’re here, Pigeon Forge caters to all ages. From the more natural aspects of the area that appeal to the adults in the group to the rides and attractions found at Dollywood and along the Parkway that make children’s eyes light up, Pigeon Forge has all the bases covered.

If you’re a kid, a summer in Pigeon Forge means “BIG FUN”:

Sit back, relax, and float a tube down the Pigeon river
Play putt-putt at one of the numerous mini golf/arcade attractions in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville
Take a horseback ride in the Smokies
Between the roller coasters at Dollywood and the wave pool and water slides at Splash Country, you could make a week of it

For the teenagers and young adults, take a look at these options:

Take the thrill ride of a lifetime and bungee jump along the Parkway
The Pigeon River is great for a lot of things, including whitewater rafting trips
Take a zipline across the French Broad River in Sevierville
Zorb, it’s a funny word, but it’s so much fun. Look into it. Great on a hot summer day

For the adults looking for some fun in the Smokies:

Ole Smoky Moonshine in Gatlinburg offers a unique taste of the area’s Smoky Mountain heritage
There are so many trails in the Smokies you can’t go wrong. And for every skill level
Take a trip along the Smoky Mountain Wine Trail. The area has a growing number of local wineries
Find some of your favorite name brands at Five Oaks Tanger Outlet Mall in Sevierville

Any of this information come in handy? You might also like marking the 2013 Pigeon Forge calendar of events.

Chevy Classic Round Up

36th Annual Smoky Mountain Chevy Classic Roundup, May 16-19

If you’re into vintage Chevrolets, and by that I mean classic Chevy muscle straight from Detroit, then you’re going to want to be in Pigeon Forge come mid-May. The annual Chevy Classic Roundup brings in Chevy-lovers from across the country to show off, trade, sell, and talk all things classic Chevrolet in one big weekend at the Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge.

This year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than ever. In years past over 175 vintage 1955, ’56, and ’57 Chevrolets have made their way to Pigeon Forge to take part in one of the fastest growing Chevy gatherings in the South. Still searching around for that elusive part for your own project vehicle? There’s no better place to shop around for it than at the Chevy Classic Roundup in Pigeon Forge. Each year vendors row is the place to be and one of the busiest spots during the weekend, especially if you’re looking for custom Chevy parts and technical support.

Besides the Chevy roundup, the weekend features lots of other Chevy0related activities. For the kids, there will be a model car contest, as always there is plenty of food and restaurants within the vicinity of events, as well as great, live music.

For additional information and to register for the Chevy Classic Roundup, contact Vickie McMurray at 865-984-3758.

Looking for a place to stay, somewhere to eat, or some of the major attractions, while you’re in Pigeon Forge? Check some of the BEST Pigeon Forge cabins, Pigeon Forge restaurants, and shows in Pigeon Forge.

Guys Trip to Pigeon Forge

So you and some of your best friends are planning a guys trip to Pigeon Forge but you’re looking for a few tips on places to stay, new attractions, restaurants, etc. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

First off, if you’re planning a trip to Pigeon Forge, you don’t want to stay in some chain hotel or motel, rent a Smoky Mountain cabin and get some of the best views of the national park while enjoying a number of great amenities like game rooms, theater rooms, HDTVs, a pool. Most pigeon forge cabins are packed to the nines, but we suggest taking a look at such places like Sherwood Forest Resort, which is right off the parkway; Sugar Maple Cabins, which has cabins located throughout town, or Majestic Mountain Vacations.

Once you’ve booked a cabin, made it to town, and dropped off your bags, take in one of Pigeon Forge’s biggest adventures – Flyaway Indoor Skydiving. You’ll enjoy the thrill of skydiving without actually jumping out of a plane thousands of feet in the air. After you’ve gotten your fill of indoor skydiving, head out to the Lumberjack Feud or the Hatfield & McCoy’s dinner show. Both shows feature laughs and great stunts to go along with good southern cooking – fried chicken, potatoes, corn, biscuits, and deserts.

That next day, head on over to Flapjacks Pancake House for a big stack, bacon, biscuits and all the other breakfast trimmings. They serve a great breakfast that is second to none in the Smokies. If you’re looking to shed some of last night’s meal, as well as breakfast, head on out to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a quick hike, or maybe even some fishing on the Little River in Townsend, TN. If you do decide to head out to the park, make sure you plan for a day. Once you’re there, it can be tough to get in and out. So enjoy it, especially if the weather is good.

On your way back, which if you’re going into the national park will probably be the early evening, head out to somewhere like Buffalo Wild Wings in Sevierville or Blue Moose in Pigeon Forge for dinner. Both places offer some of the best chicken wings in the area and both places are lined with flat-screen HDTVs inside. We’re sure there will be a game on you’ll want to watch and these two places don’t miss any of them. They also feature a huge draft beer selection and trivia as well.

These are just a few of the many things that would make for a spectacular guys trip to Pigeon Forge. It really just depends on your group’s likes and dislikes. If nothing else, just cruise down the parkway and find something that does interest you. If Pigeon Forge has one thing to offer, it’s something for everyone.

Dollywood’s River Battle

In 2008, Dollywood opened one of the most inventive rides that they have ever put in their park. It is a water ride, but it is so much more. Part water gun fight, part water ride and fully interactive. The riders are not the only ones involved in the ride, the people that are watching the folks on River Battle get a chance to get in on the action as well.

The first thing you are going to notice about River Battle is the fact that it is beautifully made. It is designed with the younger visitors to the theme park in mind and Dollywood has spared no expense in making it look wonderful. The ride is decorated with plenty of Smoky Mountain critters and madness. Frogs, raccoons bees, flowers, parts to old cars, signs and everything else come alive in the lagoon that is the course for River Battle. When you step into the boat and find a seat you will notice that you have a water gun with a spinning handle on it in front of you. The faster you spin the handle, the more water that shoots out of the gun. As the ride gets going you will be able to shoot targets and the decorations and the people walking along the path outside of the River Battle.

And, the people that you are shooting at will have the opportunity to shoot back at you! Yup, the people that are watching the ride can walk to one of the water shooters on the rail along the ride and hose down the people that are on the ride. And you can shoot back at them. In fact, if you want to stay dry around River Battle, you need to give the ride a wide berth, walking in the dry areas around the ride itself. If you stray into the wet parts of the lane around the ride, you will get wet. This pitched battle between the people on the ride, the people on other boats in the ride and the folks walking around the ride is what makes this one of the most fun sections of Dollywood.

River Battle is one of the rides in the park that doesn’t have seat belts, it doesn’t have high speed drops and spins, it is a simple ride with lots of fun and lots of water powered high-jinx. And, after you come off the ride they have family sized dryers where you can get dried off before your next adventure, or… go find another water ride, like Daredevil Falls or River Rampage and see just how wet you can get at Dollywood in one day.

Long-Awaited “Island” District Set to Open in Pigeon Forge

For those of you who have waited patiently for the re-opening of the The Island in Pigeon Forge, you won’t have to wait much longer. The once bankrupt Pigeon Forge attraction looks to be on track for a May or June grand re-opening.

In all, The Island at Pigeon Forge’s first phase is slated to consist of a dozen restaurants and retail shops, according to Tom Horne, operations manager. Plans include another Mellow Mushroom for Pigeon Forge, though on a much smaller scale, as well as Island Yogurt and The Timberwood Grill.

According to Horne, workers have been on site since October trying to ready the property for a May-June opening. Infrastructure work has been a main priority lately, especially as it pertains to the bridges connecting The Island with the Parkway.

For those still wondering about The Island moniker, this was the Belle Island project. It began in 2003, but financial difficulties eventually led to bankruptcy in 2009. Touted as a family entertainment venue, The Island was pushed as a destination at the time with highlights from screen star Debbie Reynolds and NASCAR’s Darrell Waltrip.

There is a major attraction in the final planning stages for The Island, though details have yet to be released. The property has already seen a 200-foot sky wheel, called “The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel,” added on to The Island property.

To Horne, nothing about a project so large in scale has been easy. “It takes a lot of effort from a lot of different people,” he said. “So it’s been a big undertaking.”

The project’s second phase will include a hotel, a water-themed attraction, and 50 more retailers/restaurants, which is currently slated for spring 2014 opening.

The Island in Pigeon Forge
130 & 131 Island Drive
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863