Opinion ID: 1631438
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The City of Pigeon Forge

Text: Pigeon Forge is situated astride U.S. Highway 441 (The Parkway), which is the principal traffic artery from Knoxville into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Gatlinburg. It is a progeny of the phenomenal growth and development of the fabulous and fascinating resort [1] city of Gatlinburg. As Gatlinburg developed and expanded and its real estate became more expensive and scarce, an overflow resulted and commercial utilization crawled down the Parkway to the theretofore undeveloped village of Pigeon Forge. The first motels and restaurants were located nearest Gatlinburg and gradually the development inched its way in the direction of Sevierville. Thus, the town of Pigeon Forge came into existence. It was incorporated in 1961. The growth has been dramatic from a standpoint of commercial activity, virtually all of which is tourist oriented. It has become a smaller Gatlinburg made attractive by enterprising business leaders who have created a tourist mecca in its own right. While its resident population is small  approximately 1,880  it is saturated with motels, restaurants and places of amusement. Pigeon Forge is a linear city, approximately three and one-half miles long with commercial developments along either side of Highway 441. Except for two protrusions (Silver Dollar City and Tommy Bartletts), it generally runs back from the highway only a block or so in depth. It is evident that the initial incorporation was extended primarily to encompass the commercial enterprises and regulate the orderly growth and development of the city. As time passed by history began to repeat itself. The commercial development of Pigeon Forge spilled over beyond its corporate limits to the Little Pigeon River and the northern most boundary of Sevierville. This area  from Pigeon Forge to Sevierville  is the only portion of U.S. Highway 441 not under municipal control from the North Carolina-Tennessee line to Sevierville, except for the lands embraced in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This strip is but a continuation of Pigeon Forge and is geographically and topographically inseparable therewith.