History of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee in Timeline

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a mountain resort city near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a prominent tourist destination known for its Southern culture and country music appeal. Key attractions include Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country, WonderWorks, Alcatraz East Crime Museum, Dolly Parton's Stampede, outlet malls, amusement rides, and musical theaters. With a population of over 6,000, the city provides a wide range of entertainment and shopping options for visitors.

1934: Opening of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 1934, when the Great Smoky Mountains National Park opened, the Tennessee Valley Authority reported no tourism-oriented businesses in Pigeon Forge.

1961: Opening of Rebel Railroad

In 1961, shortly after Pigeon Forge incorporated, brothers Grover and Harry Robbins opened Rebel Railroad, a Civil War-themed train ride, in the Middle Creek area.

1964: Rebranding of Rebel Railroad to Goldrush Junction

In 1964, as interest in the Civil War Centennial waned, the Robbins brothers rebranded Rebel Railroad as Goldrush Junction, adopting a "Wild West" theme.

1967: Addition of Log Flume Ride

In 1967, the Robbins brothers added a log flume amusement ride to Goldrush Junction, which was acquired from the New York World's Fair.

1969: Zoning Plan Issued

In 1969, Pigeon Forge issued a zoning plan assigning the entire strip along US-441 for tourism use.

1976: Sale to Herschend Brothers

In 1976, Art Modell sold Goldrush Junction to the Herschend Brothers of Branson, Missouri, who renamed it Silver Dollar City.

1982: Initiation of Economic Plan and Opening of Factory Merchants

In 1982, Pigeon Forge initiated an aggressive economic plan centered around theme parks, outlet malls, and live music venues, with the first outlet mall, Factory Merchants, opening the same year.

1985: Herschends Partnership with Dolly Parton

In 1985, the Herschends approached Dolly Parton with a proposal for a partnership in the promotion and operation of Silver Dollar City.

1987: Proliferation of Outlet Malls

By 1987, there were four outlet malls in Pigeon Forge, contributing significantly to the town's gross revenue.

1994: Magic World Folds

In 1994, Magic World, a competitor to Silver Dollar City in Pigeon Forge, closed.

1994: Tearing Down of the Butler House

In 1994, the house purchased by Horatio Butler in 1797, which remained with his descendants, was torn down.

2001: Dollywood Expansion

In 2001, Dollywood expanded with the addition of a separate water park.

2010: Census Data

In 2010, the census recorded Pigeon Forge with 5,875 people, 2,238 households, and 1,482 families residing in the city. The racial makeup was predominantly White at 80.6%, with a Hispanic or Latino population of 18.2%.

2012: American Community Survey

According to the 2012-2016 American Community Survey, the median household income in Pigeon Forge was $34,949, and the median family income was $41,829. Approximately 9.8% of families lived below the poverty line.