The Smoky Mountains are home to WAY more than good pancake houses, hiking trails, and live country music. Even for the seasoned visitor, they have a few surprises in store. We’ll list some of our favorite unique attractions below. Make plans to see them all during your Pigeon Forge stay in 2017!
Real-Life Mermaids
For all the skeptics out there, simply head to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies* this summer and see for yourself! Every day at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. at the coral reef exhibit, you can see real-life mermaids swimming with the colorful fish. But hurry—this show only runs through the summer!
Even if you miss the mermaid show, Ripley’s Aquarium—which is rated the #5 aquarium in the world —has plenty of unique exhibits that are open all year long, including Waddle with Penguins, Splash with the Rays, and Sleep (yes, spend the night!) with the Sharks. Check them out during this year’s visit to the Smokies.
Goats … on a Roof
You always wanted to feed a goat, right? Well, this year’s family vacation to Pigeon Forge is your chance to make that dream a reality! Okay, so maybe it’s not a “dream” of yours, but it’s still fun. And it’s still an exciting attraction in store in the Smokies!
Other fun things to do at Goats on the Roof in Pigeon Forge? How about gem mining, tasting homemade fudge and ice cream, and shopping for everything from children’s toys to hillbilly-themed novelty items? Better still, this unique attraction has its own alpine coaster that zips through the woods at speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour! Bring the family for an only-in-the-Smokies experience at Goats on the Roof!
A Pot of Gold
No, you won’t find a little green man at the end of a rainbow in Pigeon Forge. But you will be on the hunt for a pot of gold at The Island! This popular attraction features all kinds of unique experiences for visitors, including The Escape Game.*
With a variety of ways to play the game—from breaking out of prison to hunting for a gold prospector’s buried loot—you’ll participate with 2 to 6 friends, doing your best to solve puzzles, crack codes, and find clues before you run out of time. Up for the challenge? We’ll see you at The Escape Game during this year’s Pigeon Forge visit!
A-List Celebrities
Yes, we’re talking Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Johnny Cash, and Johnny Depp. Still not interested? How about if we list John Wayne, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Charlie Chaplin? Okay, so you’ve probably figured out by now that these celebrities don’t actually live in Pigeon Forge, but you can still get your picture beside them at the Hollywood Wax Museum! A tribute to the U.S. film industry, this museum features all your favorite actors, past to present.
Let’s say you’re really only interested in one Hollywood figure, and let’s say that figure’s name is better known as “The King.” If so, head to the unique attraction completely dedicated to Elvis Presley in Pigeon Forge: the Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum! You’ll have the chance to view Elvis’s cars, clothes, and collectibles as well as hear a full audio tour recorded by two of his closest friends.
The World’s Only Dome ZipCoaster
One of Pigeon Forge’s newest attractions—and one of its most unique—is the Dome ZipCoaster, the only of its kind in the world! This ride offers half a mile of flying fun on a zipline that wraps around the dome, takes you through the woods, and circles the dome two more times before bursting through a billboard to the landing pad!
Sound crazy? What’s even crazier is to get to the 65-foot-high dome, you have to ride the world’s largest “Monster Bus” (imagine a school bus and a monster truck had a baby). This bumpy ride up the mountainside is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it when you get to see a panoramic view of the Smokies from the top of the SkyDome!
A Tropical Wonderland
Mountains, black bears, pine trees. You expected that in the Smokies. But how about this: secret gardens, colorful toucans, and exotic plants. You’ve arrived at Parrot Mountain and Gardens in Pigeon Forge! Filled with manicured gardens, a replica of Thomas Kinkade’s “Stairway to Paradise,” and hundreds of tropical birds housed in English-style cottages, Parrot Mountain is your chance to steal away in the Smokies for a sneak peek at paradise.
Along with general admission to Pigeon Forge guests, Parrot Mountain and Gardens offers special tours for school groups, church groups, and more. Be sure to visit this beautiful attraction during your stay—you might even find a newly hatched parrot to take home!
* Ripley’s Aquarium and The Escape Game are Pigeon Forge Cabins partners, which means you’ll receive a discount to their attractions when you book your Pigeon Forge stay with us. For information about our cabins, simply search our website or start an online chat with our Vacation Planners today!
