Pigeon Forge is a beautiful spot in the Great Smoky Mountains and an excellent stop on an RV trip. There are some big attractions including Dollywood and the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But there are lots of other activities to do in Pigeon Forge as well.
The area is known for its ironwork, so you can spend time watching a blacksmith at work. You can even try your own hand at the craft! There’s lots of fishing in these beautiful mountains, and you’ll want to catch some music the area is known for. Finally, be sure to try some famous Tennessee barbeque while you’re in town.
From what to see to where to eat, here are the Pigeon Forge activities to try.
- Visit a Blacksmith
- Find Some of the Top Fishing Spots
- Listen to Live Bluegrass Music
- Listen to Live Appalachian Music
- Check Out the Chuck Wagon Cookoff
- Try Tasty Barbeque
Must-Try Pigeon Forge, TN Activities
Pigeon Forge is a wonderful southern destination for RV travelers. You can spend a day (or several!) at Dollywood, riding the amusement park rides, splashing at the water park, and taking in dinner shows and other entertainment. You’re also close to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the hiking and sightseeing there. The town of Gatlinburg is also nearby, and you can spend a day or two shopping, dining, and entertaining yourself there as well.
Visit a Blacksmith
There are several places to visit a historic blacksmith in this town, which has a long history of ironworking. Many of these shops let tourists make their own knife, horseshoe, or other item so you can go home with a unique item you crafted yourself. Here are a few spots where you can stop in and watch blacksmiths at work.
Circle Bar T Forge & Blade Works
You can take a blacksmith lesson and forge your own piece at this shop. Circle Bar also specializes in making a variety of metalworks, so you can purchase a candle holder, hook, or other item or you can even commission a special piece.
Iron Mountain Metal Craft
This ironworking business has demonstrations and even classes where visitors can try their hand at a new skill. The shop is located in the quaint Old Mill Square so you can shop and eat along with your blacksmith visit.
Dollywood’s Blacksmith & Foundry
If, like many Pigeon Forge visitors, you’re headed to Dollywood, you can find a blacksmith there, too! Blacksmiths at the amusement park demonstrate how to forge knives, horseshoes, and many different ironworks. They also make hand-poured aluminum cast signs. Guests can also forge their own knife for an extra fee.
Find Some of the Top Fishing Spots
There are lots of excellent fishing spots in Pigeon Forge. If you’re interested in fishing, you’ll want to make sure you have a valid fishing license for anyone over 12 years old. You can fish all year long, beginning half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. You can purchase a fishing license in many Pigeon Forge stores including Clabough’s Market, J & B Market, Pigeon Forge Hardware, and Rocky Top Outfitters.
West Prong of Little Pigeon River
If you’re looking for some great fly fishing, this stream is a great option! You may catch brook, rainbow trout, or smallmouth bass.
Dudley Creek
Dudley Creek is near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There isn’t an official access point for the creek, but you can follow it along Highway 73 and find a good spot to set up. You might catch bass or rainbow trout in the creek.
Big Rock Dude Ranch
The Big Rock Dude Ranch offers catch-and-releases fishing at their stocked pond. You might find bluegill, crappie, catfish, or bass. You don’t need a fishing license, but you do need to buy a fishing pass which is good for three days. You can also rent equipment on-site.
Music in Pigeon Forge, TN
The home of Dollywood is a wonderful place to find lots of live music! If you want to get your toes tapping to some bluegrass or Appalachian music, there are lots of venues to visit. Here are a few of the best.
Bluegrass Music
If you’re looking for the sweet harmonies and syncopated rhythms of bluegrass, there are lots of places in Pigeon Forge to check out.
Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn
The Ole Smoky Tennessee Distillery has locations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. There’s no cost to come for the live music at Pigeon Forge. You won’t want to miss trying some samples or getting a tour of Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery, though. On live music nights, you might hear a local band or a famous act like the Soggy Bottom Boys. Either way, you’re in for a night of fun!
Dollywood
The theme park named after the Queen of County has lots of live entertainment, including bluegrass shows! Some shows are even tailored to the seasons. The Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival in late spring attracts some big bluegrass acts and the Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival celebrates the season with bluegrass Christmas music.
Sugarlands Distilling Company
This distillery is just a short drive away, in Gatlinburg. You can take a still house tour and learn about distilling their signature moonshine. But if you’re looking for live music, the Back Porch Concert Series on their back patio features lots of bluegrass local and touring bands.
Appalachian Music
Many of the same live music venues that showcase bluegrass music also have Appalachian music some days. Along with checking out the venues mentioned above, you can try:
Alewine Pottery
This shop on the arts and crafts loop in Gatlinburg produces handmade pottery of the Smoky Mountains. The shop also hosts Appalachian and bluegrass music performances in an intimate, unique setting.
Junction 35 Spirits
This Pigeon Forge distillery has moonshine tastings, plus an on-site restaurant and bar. Local musicians perform at the distillery as well, usually on Tuesday nights.
Puckett’s
Puckett’s restaurant in Pigeon Forge has barbeque favorites like beef brisket and pulled pork, along with Southern specialties including fried green tomatoes, mac & cheese, and pimento cheese bites. The restaurant also hosts musical acts, especially those featuring bluegrass and Appalachian music.
Eating Your Way Through Pigeon Forge
Tennessee is known for a variety of foods. The state’s barbeque, hot chicken, and moon pies are popular local delicacies you’ll want to be sure to try. Here are a few places to indulge in the best Pigeon Forge-area foods while you’re in town.
Chuck Wagon Cookoff
Every year in late winter, chuck wagons head to Clabough’s Campground for a 3-day cookoff. The event includes live music, cowboy church, and a cookoff competition featuring chuckwagons – America’s first food trucks! Chuck wagons are awarded prizes for various food categories like meat, potatoes, bread, beans, and dessert. There is also a prize for the most authentic wagon.
The Chuck Wagon Cookoff is a great way to experience a historic American meal – chuck wagons used to feed cowboys working cattle drives across the prairies. And while the menu seems basic and unchanging, you’ll get a wide variety of creative flavors from the various chuck wagons participating in this event.
BBQ
You can’t visit Tennessee and not have some of the barbeque the state is known for! Fortunately, Pigeon Forge has several highly-rated barbeque joints where you can try a variety of delicious grilled and smoked meats.
Bennet’s Pit Bar-B-Que
Bennet’s slathers their pork ribs, brisket, and other meats in their own special sauce and smokes them over hickory wood for up to 14 hours. They then serve it with more warm sauce on the side so you can add as much as you’d like. You can also try their pickle chips, deep-fried deviled eggs, pork rinds, and other Southern delicacies.
Hickory House BBQ
If you’re spending the day at Dollywood, treat yourself to barbeque at this highly-rated restaurant. Their food features smoked meats and mouthwatering, Memphis-style barbeque sauce. You’ll also find tasty treats like Twisted Taters, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and a Brownie Bar for a delicious dessert.
Boss Hogg’s BBQ Shack
The meat at Boss Hogg’s – from pulled pork to beef brisket to pork ribs and chicken – is all hand-rubbed and smoked on-site. In fact, you can see the giant outdoor smoker just outside the restaurant’s doors. You can enjoy traditional BBQ sides like coleslaw, baked beans, and collard greens. You can also order up generous slices of carrot, chocolate, and strawberry cake if you have room for dessert.
Corky’s Ribs & BBQ
This chain has delicious pulled pork, ribs, burgers, and other traditional barbeque favorites. You can also try fried dill pickles, Memphis Mountain Nachos, pork rinds, and other appetizers. Corky’s has drive-thru and takeout options as well, if you want barbeque without an entire night out.
Pigeon Forge is a wonderful stop on an RV vacation. Between Dolly’s famous amusement park, the outdoor activities like fishing, and the delicious food in town, you could easily spend several days exploring the area. If you’re visiting nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out the advice from Wonder Wherever We Wander to make the most of your trip!
