Great Smoky Mountains National Park Names New Park Deputy Superintendent

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash announced that Clayton F. Jordan has been selected as the next Deputy Superintendent. He replaces Patty Wissinger, who passed away in June 2014. Clay is currently the Resource and Visitor Protection Division Chief, where he has served since 2010. He also recently served as the Smokies Acting […]

Tennessee Legislature Issues Clean Comedy Day Proclamation, Cites Comedy Barn Theater’s 20 Years of Clean Family Comedy

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (April 2015) – To commemorate the landmark 20th anniversary of The Comedy Barn Theater, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., the Tennessee Legislature declared April 28, 2015, Clean Comedy Day in the Volunteer State, encouraging all Tennesseans to join them in recognizing the importance of clean family comedy. The proclamation was sponsored by Senators […]

Deadline Approaches To Nominate ‘Super Student’ To Win $5,000 for School, Plus Family Vacation

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (April 29, 2015) – This Sunday (May 3) is the deadline to nominate students who set good examples so one can win $5,000 for his or her school and a family vacation to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in the Great Smoky Mountains. The Pigeon Forge Super Students promotion encourages parents, teachers and friends […]

Celebrate the Smokies’ 100,000 Unique Life Forms during Biodiversity Days, June 19-21

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK (June 2014) – From the park’s famous black bears to humble snails, from slimy stream algae to the majestic poplar trees, Discover Life in America will celebrate all life forms that call Great Smoky Mountains National Park home June 19-21. Activities include short, family friendly hikes, lively presentations, hands-on workshops […]

Dollywood’s FireChaser Express Blasts Off; Nation’s First Dual-Launch Family Coaster

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (April 2014)—Already home to a number of innovative family attractions, Dollywood theme park has added to its stellar roster with the debut of FireChaser Express, the nation’s first dual-launch family coaster that travels both forward and backward. Boasting a 39-inch minimum height requirement, FireChaser Express invites families to enjoy the exciting journey […]

7 New Spring Break Diversions in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (March 2014) – Spring break can mean mountains as well as beaches, especially for families, which makes Pigeon Forge and Great Smoky Mountains National Park popular destinations for winter-weary people from many states. Here’s a collection of new and almost-new activities for the spring break crowd.   The Titanic Museum Attraction makes […]

Lighthearted Pigeon Forge Tourism Commercial Wins Emmy Award

Great Smoky Mountains destination scores fourth television award PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (March 11, 2014) – A bespectacled, redheaded boy who constantly reminds his parents of the joys of a Pigeon Forge vacation helped the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism add an Emmy Award to its collection of industry recognitions. The award was in an Emmy […]

Pigeon Forge’s Wilderness Wildlife Sets Attendance Record in New Home

Program visitation at LeConte Event Center totals 27,800 PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (February 2014) – Wilderness Wildlife Week, Pigeon Forge’s annual salute to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and numerous outdoor recreation topics, relocated to the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge the last week of January and set a program attendance record of 27,800. This was […]

Pigeon Forge Expands Wilderness Wildlife Week to 320 Programs, 55 Hikes

24th annual salute to Great Smoky Mountains National Park scheduled Jan. 25-Feb. 1 PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (January 2014) – Wilderness Wildlife Week, January’s highlight event for Pigeon Forge Winterfest, is growing to 320 indoor programs and 55 hikes, excursions and tours into Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It also is moving into a new home, […]

Tennessee Action To Open Great Smoky Mountains National Park for Five Days

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Oct. 16, 2013) – Tourism officials and business owners in Pigeon Forge celebrated as the National Park Service announced that Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be open Oct. 16-20. The park had been closed for 15 days due to the partial shutdown of the federal government, a situation that adversely affected […]