The city's name comes from an old iron forge that was located along the Little Pigeon River in the early 1800s. The river got its name because a flock of pigeons would often land along the river's banks.
Known mostly as a resort town, Pigeon Forge is nestled in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee
The city's name comes from an old iron forge that was located along the Little Pigeon River in the early 1800s. The river got its name because a flock of pigeons would often land along the river's banks.
Known mostly as a resort town, Pigeon Forge is nestled in the picturesque Great Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee. Tourists flock to the city to visit the national park, Dollywood, tons of musical theaters or the many outlet malls in the area. As of the 2010 census, 5,875 people call the city home.
Moving to Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge is built on the tourist industry, so finding rental properties or townhouses for rent shouldn't be difficult. Start your search at least a few months before your move to have the best luck finding your new home. If you decide to look for apartment rentals, keep in mind that you'll likely have plenty of options in lease terms. Many of the city residents work at one of the attractions and might have to travel out of town for work periodically. You might be able to find great deals on a studio apartment for rent, but don't overlook larger apartments where you can share the rent with roommates who might be out of town most of the time! Serviced apartments or all bills paid rentals can also help consolidate bills.
Neighborhoods in Pigeon Forge
Whether you want to be within hearing (or screaming) distance of the town's tourist attractions, or want to be able to pretend you're the only person in town, Pigeon Forge has a neighborhood for you.
Pigeon Forge Proper: Most of the attractions are found here, including Dollywood and the Dollywood Splash Park. You're close to the Parkway, too.
Walden Creek: On the west side of the city, Walden Creek is a great option if beautiful mountain views make you happy! It's a rural area, so rental houses are more the norm than apartments. You will be close to the tourist attractions, so you won't have to drive far when out-of-town guests want to check out the newest rides at Dollywood.
McCookeville: Considered part of Pigeon Forge even though it's slightly outside the city limits, McCookeville has a charming small-town feel to it. You'll feel a little secluded from the action, which might be a good thing if you value privacy above all else.
Cove Creek Cascades: On the southeastern side of Pigeon Forge, Cove Creek Cascades is ideally situated to offer a refuge from the touristy goings-on in Pigeon Forge. Don't worry though, you'll still be minutes away from all the shopping and dining in the city.
Living in Pigeon Forge
In addition to the greenways found throughout Pigeon Forge, the city also operates three parks. Pigeon Forge City Park has a walking trail, sports courts and an outdoor pool. Patriot Park and Wear Farm City Park both have walking trails as well.
You'll be right at the entrance to the majestic Great Smoky Mountains National Park. While this will certainly take your everyday jog to another level, keep in mind that you'll also share the road with the 11 million tourists who make the trek to the park each year as well. You might find it a little easier to navigate around town by taking one of the city's charming public buses. They're designed to look like old-timey trolleys and are even called "Fun Time Trolleys" by the locals. Jump on one to travel within the more dense downtown area. Spring and Summer, the Parkway -- the main scenic road in town -- becomes more of a parking lot. Dozens of car and truck shows -- called Rod Runs by locals -- in Pigeon Forge draws car enthusiasts to the city and its roads. Traffic jams can turn a quick three-mile trip into an eight hour ordeal, but thankfully these traffic snafus only happen during the Rod Runs.
For even more exciting attractions, you can see a replica of the Titanic, visit Dollywood, see a live show at the Dixie Stampede, or take a spin behind the wheel at the NASCAR Speedpark.
