3 Things to Know About the History of Pigeon Forge

Our world-class dinner attraction is located in the heart of Pigeon Forge, TN. This vacation town welcomes millions of visitors each year to take in its scenic beauty and enjoy its endless opportunities for fun. To help you learn more about this amazing town you can explore when you visit our show, we’ve made a list of the top things to know about the history of Pigeon Forge.

1. It almost wasn’t in Tennessee.

Pigeon Forge is located in the beautiful state of Tennessee, but did you know that that almost wasn’t the case? In the late 1700s, before Tennessee was officially recognized as a state, Sevier County almost became the Union’s 14th state. The new territory, which was known as Franklin, included both Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. However, in 1790, the area was ceded to Tennessee. We can’t picture this city or our show not having a location in Tennessee!

2. It got its name and saw growth in the 1800s.

It wasn’t until the 1800s that Pigeon Forge got its name and truly started to grow. Religion actually played a major role in the town’s development, as many clergymen would come to preach Methodist teachings in the valley. This led to churches eventually being established throughout the communities. The year 1817 was important for the town due to a man named Isaac Love building an iron forge along the banks of the Little Pigeon River. The forge, along with the immense number of passenger pigeons that flocked to the area, resulted in the town being named Pigeon Forge. The Love family had an important impact on Pigeon Forge. In 1841, Love’s son built the first post office in town! It was growth like this that eventually led to the first resort opening more than 20 years later, inviting tourists to the area.

3. Tourism flourished in the 1900s.

The 1900s is when tourism started to really flourish in Pigeon Forge. Not only did businesses continue to open, like a blacksmith shop, a barber shop, a grocery store, a medical practice, and more, but there was even a brand new school building! What helped the area the most, however, was the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934. This put Pigeon Forge on the map and led to the city being officially incorporated in 1961. Over the years, more attractions began to open, and tourism stayed on the rise. The first amusement park opened in 1961, and it became the famous Dollywood in 1986! In 1988, our dinner show opened!

About Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Pigeon Forge

Our dinner show was the first of its kind when it opened. You couldn’t find anything like it anywhere else in town! We saw much success early on and provided a place where guests of all ages could sit back and enjoy both a delicious meal and an action-packed show. While we’ve added new things to our show over the years, we still remain the same place visitors fell in love with back when we first opened. We love welcoming both new and returning guests year after year!

Interested in learning more about Pigeon Forge and its history? Take a look at these fun facts about Pigeon Forge.