Category: Shopping

The best places to shop in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Read an insider’s reviews and tips on where to go, when to go, and where to park!

Three Bears General Store

Three Bears General Store in Pigeon Forge is the type of place you can find just about anything from novelties, food, candy, jewelry, apparel. However, there are 5 HUGE reasons this store has become a destination for people visiting the Smokies – they offer a live bear habitat in store where you can come watch and feed real bears. Yep, you read that right, real live bears.

Three Bears General Store, established in 1979, is a true Pigeon Forge original. Right next door to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Three Bears General Store is 40,000 square feet of Smoky Mountain shopping bliss. Children will love the Make-UR-Bear Factory were you can stuff your own teddy bear and purchase outfits and accessories, enjoy the arcade, or sit in for your very own session at the Ol’ Tyme Photo studio. Have your picture made in the Old West, jump on a Harley Davidson motorcycle, or sit a spell on our “Hillbilly” porch.

The Three Bears General Store exudes “southern hospitality” as well as quality products like homemade fudge and various gift baskets. You’ll find things that you thought you’d find there and a few things you wouldn’t like Amish jams and jellies, “moonshine water” and over 555 Great Smoky Mountain souvenirs. If they don’t have it in the store, it might not exist.

Now, don’t leave without seeing the live bear habitat. That’s the big draw! Visitors are allowed to feed the 5 live bears as well. Here’s a bit more bear information:

Hours of Operation: 10 am til Dusk
Admission: $3.25 per person; Children Under Age 2 FREE!
Feed the Bears! Cup of Bear Food only $1.25
Feeding Hours: 10 am – Noon, 3-4 pm, 7-8 pm

Three Bears General Store
2861 Parkway, Traffic Light No. 4
PIgeon Forge, TN 37863
1-800-867-2272

Red Rocket

The Red Rocket has closed. Information below is maintained for historical purposes.

Pop Culture covers every wall and every surface at Red Rocket in Walden’s Landing in Pigeon Forge.  From TV and movie themed t-shirts to home decor from I love Lucy to Star Trek, Red Rocket is the perfect place to shop for that lover of everything TV and movies in your life and that geek on your shopping list.

Red Rocket is a store dedicated to tall of the most loved TV and movies that have come out over the course of American history.  From nostalgia items linked to shows like I Love Lucy to more contemporary movies and TV like the Twilight series, there is a little something for every taste.  Whether your idea is a t-shirt to wear or if you are looking for magnets or little pieces of minutia linked to your favorite Tv program or movie, they might have it at Red Rocket.  And if you are looking for something for that special geek on your shopping list, they probably have that as well.

For the geek in all of us, Red Rocket has a full selection of all things geeky and wonderful.  From Star Trek and Star Wars oriented merchandise to video game t-shirts, you can find something for that special someone that likes to geek out.  They also have retro gaming merchandise that fits the bill for those 8-bit players in your life.

Red Rocket is pop-culture personified.  It is a favorite shopping point for a lot of people when they come to the SMoky Mountains. It is located directly behind Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Walden’s Landing.  They are not very hard to find, so while you are waiting to go eat or maybe just while you are browsing around the shops at Walden’s Landing, make sure you pay a visit to Red Rocket.

The Red Rocket
2530 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
865-908-5252

Old Mill General Store

Milled Corn Meal and More!

Every town in the Smokies had a small general store that supplied the goods that people needed to exist in the shadows of the mountains.  In Pigeon Forge, the mill was also the site of the general store.  As the town grew, the people that run the Old Mill Restaurant decided to keep this general store idea going and you can stop next door to the locally famous restaurant and do some shopping for everything from corn meal, that was milled by the water wheel, to area souvenirs.  The Old Mill General Store is one of those places that everyone needs to stop at, at least once, while they are vacationing in Pigeon Forge.

When you are driving through Pigeon Forge you will notice a sign at traffic light 6 for the Old Mill and Patriot Park.  Turn onto Old Mill Avenue and after you drive past Outback Leather (on the right), you will see a gigantic water wheel on the right hand side of the road.  Pull into the parking lot for the Old Mill General Store and the Old Mill Restaurant and head inside.

The general store has a little bit of everything, like general stores of old.  Jams, jellies, cookbooks, souvenirs and of course sacks of flour and corn meal line every wall.  Right as you come in the door you will be presented with everything Pigeon Forge. From collectibles to t-shirts, bumper stickers to toys, there is a souvenirs for all of those people that you left at home when you went on vacation.  Browse through the aisles.  Make your way around the store and you will find yourself confronted with rows and shelves covered with edibles.  Jams and jellies from the foothills of the Smokies, cookbook from churches and organizations in the area (maybe even one by Dolly Parton herself) and of course flour and corn meal.

If you have never had flour and corn meal ground fresh in an old fashioned mill, get a bag of flour or meal while you are at the general store.  You can watch the meal work while it is operation during the day, see the corn and wheat getting ground.  Watch as the folks that run the mill go through the process of making a product that has been produced in this location since 1830.

Stop at a traditional general store.  Do some shopping.  Learn a little more about how to mill flour and corn meal.  Experience history.  All this and more at the Old Mill General Store.

Old Mill General Store
160 Old Mill Avenue
Pigeon Forge TN 37863
865-453-4628

2013 Tax Free Weekend in Tennessee

Information about the 2012 Tax Free Weekend in Tennessee. Find what what you can buy and how much you can spend per item and not pay taxes on your purchases! We also show you were to find coupons for Pigeon Forge to save even more money!

The 2013 Tax Free Weekend in Tennessee takes place on the first Friday of August (Aug. 2) starting at 12:01 a.m. that Friday and lasts until 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday night. This is a perfect time to visit Pigeon Forge, TN if you love to shop! Pigeon Forge has a ton of great outlet malls and stores to choose from. The most popular mall in the area is arguably Five Oaks Mall in Sevierville, TN. Five Oaks has plenty of great stores such as:

  • Nike
  • J.Crew
  • Old Navy
  • Gap
  • Banana Republic
  • Carter’s
  • Children’s Place
  • Polo Ralph Lauren
  • Strasburg Children
  • Hartstrings
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Disney
  • Adidas
  • and so much more!

There are numerous items that you can purchase and not have to pay taxes on. According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue, here are the following guidelines for what can be purchased tax-free:

Clothing – $100 or less per item
School & Art Supplies – $100 or less per item
Computers – $1,500 per bundled package

If you have questions about the tax free weekend in Tennessee, you can call (800) 342-1003 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and they can help you understand what can be bought and how much can be spent in order to not have to pay taxes on it.

What’s better than not having to pay taxes on your purchases? Well….not much…but coupons help out!!! Be sure to visit our coupons for Pigeon Forge page to find the best discounts and Pigeon Forge coupons for your shopping spree…you can also save money on food, entertainment, and accommodations with our list of coupons!

You can also visit the Sales Tax Holiday Web site at www.tntaxholiday.com to learn more about the weekend’s exempt items.

Enjoy your 2013 tax free weekend of shopping in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee August 2-4!

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

Smoky Mountain Fudge in Pigeon Forge

When people come to shop in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountain area, they aren’t just looking for clothes and various collectible trinkets that symbolize the area. In fact, a growing number come searching for something a bit tastier: FUDGE.

It’s funny how one word can make your mouth start watering like crazy.

One place that knows a thing or two about fudge is Pigeon Forge. As mentioned, some come to Pigeon for that exact reason – to load up on fudge. As for retail establishments in Pigeon Forge that offer fudge for sale, there are many. One of the most popular locales for fudge in Pigeon Forge is The Old Mill. The Old Mill (164 Old Mill Ave., Pigeon Forge) offers a number of fudge flavors and even has a place on its website where you can order it online if you can’t make it to Pigeon Forge to purchase in person. Though they offer a number of homemade candies at The Old Mill, fudge is what people buy the most of.

Miss Patty’s Pasture Pattie is probably the most popular fudge selection. And it is delicious! It’s a cow “patty” shaped piece of fudge that weighs 16 ounces and costs $19.95. From someone who’s tried it before, it’s definitely worth the price if you enjoy fudge as much as we do.

If you’re coming to Pigeon Forge with a large group of people, check out the Old Mill’s fudge Slab. All of 6 pounds of fudge, the Slab is made up of your favorite fudge flavor and costs $69. It’s the perfect piece of fudge if you’re with a lot of people who enjoy it as well. And it’s a great way to save a little money. It’s also a great gift idea if you know someone who hasn’t experienced the thrill and deliciousness of Pigeon Forge and The Old Mill.

Some of the other flavors they carry include Butter Pecan, Vanilla, Tiger Butter, Rocky Road, Pumpkin, Peanut Butter, Oreo, Maple Walnut, Chocolate Walnut, Chocolate Pecan, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Chewy Praline and Vanilla Walnut, among others. A number of places also offer sugar free fudge.

Pigeon Forge’s Hottest Shopping Destinations Are Offering Thanksgiving and After Thanksgiving Day Sales This Year!

Looking for great deals, numerous Pigeon Forge locations will be holding Thanksgiving Day sales beginning as early as 10pm Thursday, Nov. 22.

Located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge, TN, has quickly become known as a shopping destination that offers a wide range of national and local brands, from outlet center deals to one-of-a-kind art and quality antiques. This Thanksgiving, some of Pigeon Forge’s most popular shopping destinations are offering late night Thanksgiving and After-Thanksgiving sales, making this a perfect time to shop in Pigeon Forge.

Tanger Five Oaks Factory Outlet Center is replacing its annual After Thanksgiving Magic of Midnight Sale with a Moonlight Madness sale that begins at 10pm Thanksgiving night. That’s right, all the stores at Tanger Five Oaks will offer Black Friday specials starting at 10pm Thursday, November 22 until 10pm on Friday with sales and specials running through the weekend.

As an added bonus, beginning at 10pm on Thursday, Nov. 22, the first 250 people to visit the Customer Information Center at Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Center will receive a $10 gift card compliments of Chase Freedom and another drawing will occur around 2 am.www.tangeroutlet.com/sevierville

Another popular shopping destination is Smoky Mountain Knife Works. They will open its doors at 7am on Friday morning, with great deals on knives, kitchen accessories and bakeware. Their Black Friday sale runs Nov. 23 through Dec. 12. www.eknifeworks.com

Bass Pro Outdoor World’s five hour sale, from 6-11am on Friday morning, will also offer lots of great specials. www.basspro.com

Belz Outlets of Pigeon Forge will be having a Midnight Madness sale to kick off holiday shopping. Stores will open at 12:01 am. Friday. Other events include the “Gift With Purchase , Friday through Sunday. Receive a $20 gift card when you spend $250, Nov. 23, from 12am until 6am. Receive a $20 gift card when you spend $350 or more Nov. 23 through Nov. 25. You must be 18 or older, present your receipts to the mall management, and have a valid email address. The gift cards will be given while supplies last.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is conveniently located just off Interstate 40 Exit 407 in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Within a day’s drive of over half the nation’s population, Pigeon Forge is annually visited by millions of people who enjoy the shopping, attractions, restaurants and shows this quaint town has to offer.

Stages West

Stages West in Pigeon Forge offers the best in western wear and cowboy boots in East Tennessee.

If you’re the type of person who thinks a pair of Wranglers, a Resistol cowboy hat, and a pair of Justin boots are the start of a pretty sweet outfit, well you’ll find everything you need at Stages West in Pigeon Forge. The place for western wear and everything that goes along with it, Stages West has been a family-owned, Pigeon Forge fixture on the Parkway since 1975.

Stages West prides themselves on offering the BEST in “Cowboy Couture” at affordable prices. Located in a 15,000 square foot building that gives the appearance of an Old West saloon, Stages West carries not only the finest in western wear, they’re building to include a working stage where local and national acts can come to perform.

Of course, Stages West is known for their boot selection. Men, come select from some of the finest cowboy boot brands you’ll find in East Tennessee including Abilene, Ariat, Black Jack, Corral, Dan Post, Dingo, Durango, Justin, Laredo, Rocky Boots, and many more. For the ladies, it’s almost the exact same list in many styles and categories from exotic and ropers to work and lacers. Looking for purses or dresses? Stages West has them ladies. Men, in the market for a new belt buckle or dress shirt? Stages West has you covered. They even have boots, hats, clothing, and accessories for the kids.

Want to win a pair of boots? Who doesn’t want FREE boots? Register online at StagesWest.com to win a FREE pair of Ariat boots every week. A new winner is chosen each week until November 16. So get online and register for your chance to win a pair of new Ariat boots.

Stages West will also match any price online. Visit their web site at StagesWest.com.

Hours: 9am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday; and 10am to 6pm, Monday through Thursday. Closed Sundays.

Stages West in Pigeon Forge
2765 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
865-453-8086 or Toll free 877-717-8243

Mountain Valley Winery

Mountain Valley Winery in Pigeon Forge offers Some of the region’s best locally-produced wine made from the best regional grapes.

Mountain Valley Winery in Pigeon Forge is a great little spot to taste and purchase some of the area’s finest in wine offerings right on the parkway. It’s also a member of the growing Rocky Top Wine Trail which has expanded to include a winery in Kodak, TN, a few Sevierville wineries, itself, and a winery in Gatlinburg. To say that the region is learning how to grow grapes would be an understatement.

Like other wineries in the area, Mountain Valley urges people to stop by their facility, learn about their wine-making processes, and taste the literal fruits of their labor during the winery’s free daily tastings.

In all, Mountain Valley Winery produces more than a dozen wines. And for all you lovers of all things local, each one is made from locally grown grapes. That’s right, there are a number of vineyards in East Tennessee. You’ll find dry wines, semi-sweet wines and dessert wines along their list.

Since 1991, Mountain Valley Winery has been producing many popular award-winning varieties. Their focus has been on French and German style wines as well as sweet, fruit wines. A few of their offerings include:

Dry Wines

  • Tennessee Special: Made in small batches and grown in East Tennessee.
  • Chardonnay: A white dinner wine aged in oak which makes it a very complex wine.
  • Cynthiana (a.k.a. Norton): Spicy and vivacious, pair this wine with zesty foods.

Semi Sweet Wines

  • Gewurztraminer: A German style wine great on its own or with fruit and cheese.
  • Mountain Valley Blush: This wine goes with anything, anywhere and is made from a blend of different grapes.

Sweet Wines

  • Mountain Valley Red: Produced using Concord and other native American grapes.
  • Mountain Berry: A Concord and Raspberry blend.
  • Blackberry: You’ll know how this sweet wine got its name once you taste it.
  • Mountain Peach: If you like fresh peaches, you’ll love this wine.

The month of October is actually the perfect time to come by and visit Mountain Valley Winery in Pigeon Forge. From September to October, guests can come and watch the wine-making process as workers bottle wine and crush grapes during these two months.

In addition to their various wines, the Mountain Valley Winery gift shop sells Tennessee farm products. Visitors can find some of the best regional cheese in the Mountain Valley gift shop.

Mountain Valley Winery
2174 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
(865) 453-6334

The Best Places to Shop in Pigeon Forge

Discover the best places to shop in Pigeon Forge, TN and get some great shopping tips and advice to get the best deals, discounts, coupons, where to go and when to be there! Shopping in Pigeon Forge starts here!

Pigeon Forge, TN has become the place to shop, especially when you’re talking outlet mall shopping, in the southeast over the past couple of decades. Gatlinburg’s local craft shops lured visitors in years ago and still do today, but as the years went on, more and more stores began popping up and Pigeon Forge saw its first large outlet mall. Locals refer to that once bustling space as the “Red Roof Mall”. Malls like the Belz Factory Outlet Mall would open in later years. Still, there are quite a few smaller stores that carry unique items. Walden’s Landing and The Christmas Place are just a few of the newer shopping opportunities in Pigeon Forge. Again, they cater to people looking for the higher-end retail items like art, sculptures, and various holiday decor.

Outlet malls still remain the popular choice today among people coming into the area from out of town. Outlet shopping in Pigeon Forge, especially Black Friday shopping, has become a yearly event over at Tanger Five Oaks Mall in Sevierville (about 1/4 mile from the Pigeon Forge City limit). While Tanger is not “technically” in Pigeon Forge, their Five Oaks outlet offers the highest quality name brand shopping. Some of the stores you’ll find at Tanger Five Oaks are:

  • Coach
  • Old Navy
  • Gap
  • Banana Republic
  • Carter’s
  • Children’s Place
  • Polo Ralph Lauren
  • J. Crew
  • Strasburg Children
  • Nautica
  • Under Armour
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Disney
  • Starbucks
  • Nike

There are also numerous restaurants, cafes, and even a brand new Joes’ Crab Shack to calm your appetite. You could literally spend all day here…and many do!

If you decide to go shopping at Five Oaks Mall in Sevierville, TN, browse through the following tips. They will make your shopping trip that much more enjoyable.

  • GO EARLY – Okay, this is probably a no-brainer, but if you’re going on a weekend then you better plan on arriving before the mall opens (9am on Saturdays and 10am on Sundays). The parking lots fill up quickly and it soon turns into a game of musical chairs trying to find someone leaving. The best area to be in (if you plan on hitting most of the stores) is around The Chop House. This way you can shop at the store in the front of your mall and drop of your bags as you make your way to the back of the mall.
  • Shopping Coupons and Discounts – As soon as you get out of your car, head over to one of the mall offices to grab a coupon book. This will potentially save you a ton of money.
  • Have some kind of a plan – Don’t just wander around aimlessly. Know what stores are available before you go by visiting The Five Oaks Directory to see the full list of stores and even download a printable map with store locations and phone numbers!
  • Dress Smart – I’ve seen too many people complain about their feet or that they’re hot or cold. This is an outdoor strip mall that requires a lot of walking. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. It could be hot, cold, wet, or dry…be prepared! You’ll enjoy shopping much more when your “dogs aren’t barking” (That’s southern for “my feet hurt!”)
  • Fun for the Spouse and Kids – If your husband and children need something to do then they will love the Ripley’s Old McDonald Miniature Golf & Arcade! The NASCAR Speedpark is also within walking distance and provides enough fun for the entire day…you’ll probably be ready to go before they will be!
  • Ask About Return Policies – Some outlet store purchases cannot be returned to their “normal” stores you may find in another town. Be sure to ask where you are allowed to return or exchange your purchases.
  • The Tanger Guarantee – Any purchase made at Five Oaks is apparently guaranteed in price for 30 days after your purchase. If you find it advertised cheaper somewhere else, then bring the advertisement in with your receipt to the mall office and they will refund you the difference!

If you follow just one of those tips, you’ll have a better time than most. There are lots of bargains and a lot of stores…don’t get overwhelmed and pack a TON of patience. The parking, lines, and waits to eat can be a pain at times… but such is the price apparently for a great pair of shoes!

Map to Five Oaks Mall in Sevierville, TN

View Larger Map

Address:
1645 Parkway, Suite 960
Sevierville, TN 37863
Phone: (865) 453-1053
Fax: (865) 429-8626

Regular Hours:
Monday – Saturday
9:00am – 9:00pm
Sunday
10:00am – 7:00pm