The mountains are calling, but there are some new, exciting attractions echoing out from the Smokies as well in 2019 and 2020! All-new or revamped, guests new to the area and long-time returners, visitors are in for an exciting year of development in the Pigeon Forge area. Fresh flavors, state-of-the-art attractions, and brand-new shows are hitting the stage to reignite excitement for annual Smoky Mountain cabin dwellers and spark curiosities for those who used to overlook the Smokies during their seasonal vacation planning. With so many ways to relax in your Pigeon Forge cabin and hundreds of attractions, it’s time to start planning your dream Smokies vacation and check out what’s new in the mountains!
New Theme Parks and Adventures
Wildwood Grove in Dollywood
Enter a magical fairytale land through the giant hollowed log in Dollywood, where 11 new rides, stunning attention to detail in the fountains and trees, and real-life fairies let you play as a family in your imagination come-to-life.
New Additions to Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show & Adventure Park
While the incredible athletic show re-opened last year, development kept moving along at Lumberjack Feud! Now families can try their own skills at some of the very events they watched the professional lumberjack athletes preform at the High Woodsman Challenge, Loggersports, Boom Run, and Log Roll! Don’t worry: you all will be harnessed, unlike the lumberjacks.
Pink Jeep Adventure Tours
Sightseeing is a must-do in the Smoky Mountains. Make it an all-out adventure in a Pink Jeep Adventure Tour! Roll over rocks and through streams along Newfound Gap, Roaring Fork, and Oconaluftee Farm while taking pics on the smoother stretches of your ride!
New at TopJump: Hologate Virtual Reality
Rated as one of the Top Attractions by TripAdvisor, Top Jump stepped its game up even more with the addition of a state-of-the-art Hologate Virtual Reality experience where you can explore space, fight the zombie apocalypse, and more!
Rowdy Bear Ridge Adventure Park
Reach speeds of up to 35 mph on a tube at Tennessee’s first year-round outdoor tubing hill at Rowdy Bear Ridge Adventure Park! Five hundred feet long with a 70-foot drop, this awesome attraction is only the first of 3 attractions in this park with the addition of a twin-seat mountain coaster and flying coaster this fall!
NEW Shows and Exhibits
Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show
As the newest show on the Parkway and member of the Dolly Parton franchise, the whole family is in for an exciting adventure filled with fire breathers, acrobats, colorful pirates, and hilarious exchanges among the interesting crew, all while digging into a hearty meal of pan-fried chicken, bone-in pork chops, mac ‘n cheese, and more! Find a show date and find out about pre-show activities and menu options on their website.
National Enquirer Live
If you have a pop culture fanatic in your family, they will love this incredible museum experience filled with crazy headlines, an Augmented Reality Scavenger Hunt, and a #WeBelieve BigFoot Experience!
Savage Seas at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies
Explore the all-new, 4-gallery exhibit that transports your family back in time to a tumultuous time of piracy and exploration of unknown oceans and lands. Enjoy interactive learning while touring Life on the Savage Seas, Sea Monsters, Shipwrecked, and Mother Nature. These tales of myth and adventure are included in your ticket to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies!
SkyBridge at Gatlinburg Skylift
Walk across North America’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge for the most breathtaking views beyond the handrails and below your feet at the midpoint where large glass-floor panels allow you to see straight down to the forest floors, 140’ below!
NEW Flavorful Eateries
Gaucho Urbano Brazilian Steakhouse
Enjoy fine dining in cozy atmosphere with an impressive fireplace and a menu that flaunts delicious cuts of steak that you can hand-pick and desserts so beautiful you will have to fight the urge to dig in before you can catch a good pic.
Gibby’s Candy Coop
From mouthwatering candied apples and homemade fudge to intriguing sweets like chocolate-dipped bacon and gummy worms, your sweet tooth has found heaven at this charming shop of sugary goodies!
Funky Buddha Tennessee
Get your flavor fix from the tasty mixed drinks at Pigeon Forge’s newest nightlife attraction, Funky Buddha, a dance club open until 3 AM most nights and great for bachelor and bachelorette parties looking for some kid-free fun while vacationing in a Pigeon Forge cabin.
King’s Family Distillery
Pair your dinners in the cabin with some of the finest Tennessee whiskey, sweet bourbon, or spicy rye from the newest name but long-time experts in the Smoky Mountain distilling scene. Created in small batches, King’s Family Distillery confidently provides flavorful bottles of spirits like ginger vodka, apple whiskey, and blended whiskey.
Check out these new Smoky Mountain additions and all your favorites in between sipping drinks with mountain views, relaxing in the hot tub, and cuddling by the fire during your stay in a Pigeon Forge, TN cabin. And be on the lookout for more new developments coming in 2020 such as The Mountain Mile, August Moon Drive-In Theater, and much more!
