WHAT’S NEW IN PIGEON FORGE FOR 2019

Pigeon Forge always delivers on the promise of something new for visitors to see and do each year, and 2019 is no exception.

New Attractions and Things to Do in Pigeon Forge

Dollywood theme park’s Wildwood Grove, opening this May, features 11 new experiences for guests, six of which are ride attractions, including a suspended family roller coaster called the Dragonflier as well as a 55-foot-tall Wildwood Tree, live entertainment, the Till & Harvest restaurant, and various indoor and outdoor play areas including Hidden Hollow, a 4,000-square-foot indoor play space. Dollywood.com

The National Enquirer Attraction opens May 24, 2019, and will feature 90 years of history in more than 20,000 square feet of display space. Guests will have the opportunity to learn the story behind the story as told through more than 100 interactive exhibits with state-of-the-art technology, including the Paparazzi Camera, Human Kaleidoscope, Live the Life of a Celebrity, Create Your Own Front Page, Dance with Your Favorite Celebrity and more.

PINK Adventure Tours is a premier off-road adventure company founded more than 60 years ago. What started as America’s first Jeep® tour will offer unforgettable excursions and up-close encounters with the beauty and splendor of the Great Smoky Mountains. PINK® Jeep® Wranglers are customized from top to bottom to provide unique off-road capabilities.

The new Rocky Top Mountain Coaster sits on more than 20 acres and takes riders on a nine-minute journey that traverses multiple 360-degree turns, four tunnels, thrilling curves, and daring hairpin turns, all propelled by four uplifts and four drops, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. Able to accommodate riders as young as three years of age (with minimum height requirement), it is another family attraction.

Other attractions opening this summer include Collection of Titanic Lifejackets at Titanic Museum Attraction, the world’s largest ever assembled since the ship’s maiden voyage. Only 12 lifejackets are known to exist, and beginning July 1, seven from collectors worldwide will be on display through November 2019 in Pigeon Forge for the first time in history.

The 200-foot-tall Mountain Monster three-in-one thrill ride anchors the Tower Shops at Mountain Mile, a 180,000-square-foot multi-purpose retail, dining and family entertainment development that spans 174 acres. Mountain Monster, opening this summer, will offer guests a drop ride, a dive ride and a swing, all in one attraction.

The Island in Pigeon Forge, a retail, dining, lodging and entertainment complex, has added Yee-Haw Brewing Company, a production brewery and taproom that offers ales and lagers, including Yee-Haw’s World Beer Cup award-winning Dunkel, as well as seasonal and high-gravity beers. Visitors also can enjoy the Spinning Parrots family coaster; RideMakerz, an immersive remote-control car customizing experience; and the Savannah Bee Company which sells specialty honey and honey-based products.

Uncle Lem’s Outfitters, a soon-to-open 4,580-square-foot retail space, supports and encourages a love of the great outdoors by supplying enthusiasts with the necessary gear. Uncle Lem’s takes advantage of the area’s natural setting and plans to offer the services of hiking, fishing, bicycling, and outdoor adventure guides. It will open with paddle board and kayak rentals with bicycle rentals to follow.

New Shows in Pigeon Forge

Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show is the centerpiece of the new Lumberjack Square, which also is home to Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Adventure, a ropes course, extreme zipline, roller coaster, an 80-foot-tall jump tower, a multi-level lumberjack-themed adventure park and an aerial kids’ playground. The show features 11 competitive lumberjack events including axe throwing, chopping, sawing, speed climbing, and log rolling in a 350-seat climate-controlled outdoor venue where world-class lumberjacks square off daily from spring through December.

Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, a Dolly Parton Company, will be located adjacent to The Island in Pigeon Forge in a 21,000-square-foot arena. Crimson and Sapphire pirates battle on deck, in the water, and in the sky above their full-sized ships in a 15-foot-deep indoor lagoon. The show also includes a four-course pirate feast.

New Lodging in Pigeon Forge

Pigeon Forge offers more than 14,500 overnight accommodations, ranging from hotels and condos to cabins and campgrounds. Joining the lineup this year are:

Ramsey Hotel & Convention Center (200-room)

Fairfield Inn & Suites (108-room)

Tru by Hilton (102-room)

New Restaurants in Pigeon Forge

The family-friendly vacation destination’s food scene also expands to include:

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant (2480 Parkway): home to Southern hospitality and culinary favorites

Wild Bear Tavern (4236 Parkway): serving authentic German cuisine three times daily

Teaffle (2656 Parkway):, offering dessert-filled made-to-order bubble waffles and a variety of fruit and milk teas

Gaucho Urbano Brazilian Steakhouse (111 Valley Drive): the city’s first traditional Brazilian steakhouse with churrasco-style dining

Brick and Spoon (136 Community Center Dr.): where hearty Southern breakfast, brunch and lunch fare are on the menu