Planning & Itineraries 47
Tour Guide Notes
PIGEON FORGE HISTORY
- The earliest recorded history of what is now Pigeon Forge dates to the Cherokee and other Eastern tribes of Native Americans who used the area for hunting grounds .
- The first European settlers began arriving around 1781 .
- By 1820 , Isaac Love established and was operating a furnace and iron forge near one of two mills along the Little Pigeon River .
- The name Pigeon Forge is a combination of the ironworks and the river that flows through town . The river ’ s name refers to the vast number of now-extinct passenger pigeons that fed along the river .
- By the early 1900s , Pigeon Forge was a hub of activity with businesses clustered around the Old Mill , including a bottling shop , cannery and blacksmith shop .
- The Great Smoky Mountains began luring visitors to the area by the 1930s , and guest cottages began springing up along the river . Today , millions of guests visit Pigeon Forge each year .
HISTORIC-MARKER DRIVING TOUR
Share more about Pigeon Forge ’ s history with your group by pointing out the historical markers placed throughout town . A list identifying the city ’ s historical markers and their locations is available at CityofPigeonForge . com / library .
For example , near the Old Mill , you ’ ll find a marker that describes how Pigeon Forge got its name and offers information about one of the town ’ s first businesses .
WINTERFEST LIGHTS DRIVING TOUR Dozens of displays adorned with millions of twinkling lights are the hallmark of Winterfest in Pigeon Forge . Your group can see them all on a self-guided driving tour . Maps are provided online at MyPigeonForge . com / winterfest , and you can schedule your tour at your leisure . Light displays are visible from mid-November through Presidents ’ Day .
Pigeon Forge Municipal Parking Lot
PIGEON FORGE PARKWAY
Little Pigeon River
PIGEON FORGE WINTERFEST WONDERS OF LIGHT WALKING TRAIL
Experience a new way to enjoy Winterfest in Pigeon Forge
LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge
Pigeon Forge ’ s Winterfest will be bigger and brighter than ever this year with one million LED lights and displays located along the Pigeon Forge Riverwalk Trail . Experience 20 displays that are programmed to music , include walk-thru arches , a colorful 52-foot-long caterpillar , larger-than-life flowers , and more . There are three access points to experience the Wonders of Light Walking Trail , they are found at the Pigeon Forge Municipal Parking Lot C , Jake Thomas Road and Butler Street near Old Mill Avenue .
For more information about the Wonders of Light Walking Trail , Winterfest , or everything else that Pigeon Forge has to offer , visit www . MyPigeonForge . com
HOURS : 5:00 P . M . - 1:00 A . M . DAILY
Mountain Municipal Parking Lot
1 Gateway of Lights 2 Cascading Snowflake Pass 3 Snowman ’ s Meadow 4 Fountain of Playful Polars 5 Wish Upon a Star 6 Frosty ’ s Fireflies 7 Old Man Winter 8 Woodland Wildlife 9 The Hungry Caterpillar 10 Shaconage ’ Forest
BUTLER ST .
11 Dreamsicle Falls 12 Prancing in the Snow 13 Dancing Northern Lights 14 Star Light Star Bright 15 Flowers of Wonderland 16 It ’ s a Bug ’ s Light 17 Dolly ’ s Courtyard of Butterflies 18 Winterfest Wonder ’ s of Light Selfie Station 19 Snowflake Lane
Pigeon Forge Mass Transit
WINTERFEST WONDERS OF LIGHT WALKING TRAIL
This free outdoor walk-thru experience features more than 25 large scale lighted displays synchronized to music . The three-mile out-and-back riverside trail is accessible from the Municipal Parking lot ( located between The Island in Pigeon Forge and the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge ), the Old Mill , the LeConte Center and Patriot Park . The trail is paved and pet friendly . Light displays are visible from mid-November through Presidents ’ Day .
Patriot Park