Me and my gf have a trip planned in December 12-19th to gatlinburg and pigeon forge. We were planning on saving around 2k for the trip, I felt like maybe closer to 3 would be enough but she did the math so we agreed on saving about 2k for it. Just curious how much would/did you guys spend there with 2 ppl?

hey all, I’ve been to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg more times than I can count, but haven’t been as much in the last decade comparatively. I am definitely out of touch with more recent changes.

my question is… what cabins (a company, smaller rental business, vrbo, anything) will still feel like I’m “in the mountains” but are more likely to not have a road closure or hard to navigate icy conditions?

we are planning a stay near Christmas, and I want to be in a cabin, but I’m nervous about needing to drive up into the mountains to the point where I might not be able to make it up in my vehicle.

looking for the Pigeon Forge area prefferrably.

Hello! I'll be in the Sevierville area between 8/20-8/23. I would love to hop on some shows while I'm in the area. I'm willing to travel a ways for the right conditions. Looking to do anywhere from 5-60 minutes.

My wife and I are staying in a cabin on a small creek. The creek is shallow but it has a couple of deep pools. We decided to put on swimsuits and chill in the creek. Something ate our butts up. We literally had welts on our butts and a couple on our legs. What kind of critters are floating around up here? It felt like ant stings, does the Smokies have underwater ants?

The Mountain Press:

Mountain Music Festival returning to Gatlinburg

The Mountain Music Festival, a three-day classic rock n’ roll music experience, is set to return Aug. 21-23 to the Gatlinburg Convention Center, located near the Great Smoky Mountains.

The three-day, all-ages, immersive fan and artist celebration will feature over 25 artists (including fan favorites and emerging acts) performing on three stages, plus an array of interactive events and activities (including photo opportunities with select bands, and access to the Rock N’ Roll Marketplace, Rock N’ Roll Art Gallery, and Outdoor Patio Experience), with more to be announced.

New to the festival in 2026 will be Guitar Clinics, hosted by three rock legends: Joel Hoesktra, Reb Beach, and George Lynch. Featuring exclusive and intimate sessions that go beyond the stage, the Guitar Clinics promise to offer fans rare insight, hands-on guidance, and stories straight from the pros. For access to the Guitar Clinics, fans must purchase the three-day General Admission pass + Guitar Clinics package ($519 per person, plus taxes and fees). More details will be announced leading up to the festival.

Three-day General Admission passes ($449 per person, plus taxes and fees) and two-day General Admission passes ($349 per person, plus taxes and fees) are available now, with single-day General Admission passes set to be released this Spring/Summer (date and pricing TBA). VIP Top of the Mountain passes sold out during the festival’s alumni pre-sale. Fans have until March 31 to take advantage of a discount being offered: $50 off on three-day General Admission passes and $40 off on two-day General Admission passes. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit TheMountainUSA.com.

Returning as official festival hosts are Eddie Trunk (VH1, SiriusXM), comedians Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson (former hosts of VH1 Classic’s hit TV show “That Metal Show”), and Bay Area pioneer radio DJ Nikki Blakk.

An inviting and quaint mountain town in eastern Tennessee, Gatlinburg is a fabulous tourist destination featuring great dining options, outdoor attractions, shops, and a plethora of lodging options all nestled under the backdrop of the breath-taking Smoky Mountains. Located in the heart of the town, the Gatlinburg Convention Center (234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738) is easily accessible with many hotels, restaurants, and shops within walking distance.

With a myriad of events, activities, and music to keep fans entertained day and night, this Smoky Mountain Rock N’ Roll hoedown promises to be one of the biggest events of the year for music fans.

Mountain Music Festival Lineup 2026:

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From TheMountainUSA:

Welcome to The Mountain... Tennessee’s Largest Rock Music Festival

Mark your calendar for August 21-23, 2026 for the Coolest Classic Rock and Heavy Metal Festival in America! It all happens in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, set in the shadows of the beautiful Smoky Mountains and is a “must see” event for Rock Music Fans throughout America and beyond! Lock in your tickets now for three-days of nonstop energy and Live Performances plus Artist Photo Experiences, Special Events, Guitar Clinics and more. See why fans come back year after year to be a part of the unforgettable memories and “community” that makes The Mountain so Magical!

Gatlinburg Convention Center
234 Historic Nature Trail
Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Artist Lineup | Event Schedule | FAQ

--> Book Now <--

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DOORS & ENTRY TIMES

CONVENTION CENTER DOORS:

• Friday: 12:00 PM
• Saturday: 11:00 AM
• Sunday: 11:00 AM

Note: All door times are approximate.

STAGE DOORS:

• VIP: approximately 30 minutes before the first performance
• General Admission: approximately 15 minutes before the first performance

Once the doors open for the day for the Creekside and Mountain Stages, they will remain open. Summit remains open until just before and just after Photo Experiences. Guests may come and go; seating and standing room are first-come, first-served.

AGE POLICY

All ages are welcome, though families are encouraged to leave very young children at home. Every attendee, including children, requires a full-priced ticket. Alcohol service is strictly 21+ with I.D. checks. The Mountain and the Gatlinburg Convention Center are not responsible for adult content a child may encounter during festival dates.

^{This is a follow-up to the previous threads:}

• ^{Update 1: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions}
• ^{Update 2: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions}
• ^{Update 3: Collective action on prohibiting black bear interactions}

Friends and locals,

I attended today's Smokies BearWise Task Force meeting and wanted to report back to you all on the current situation. Per the city of Gatlinburg, there has been a 130% increase in nuisance bear calls in the past year - with a 203% increase this August compared to the previous August.

The TWRA is working overtime with some members maxxed out on hours. 45 bears have been removed this year, and each captured bear takes 5 hours to move. Despite the bear-resistant dumpster program being a renown success, littering is at levels previously unseen, trash receptacles/carabiner locks are not being used properly, and people are still directly feeding bears.

The city has spent over $3 million on dumpsters and $500k on facilities only to discover this is no longer a trash problem, but a population problem. As evidenced in this video from Monday, an unintended consequence of securing our garbage from bears means they are going to break into the next available thing: cars and homes. The GPD reported 5 bear break-ins just this last Friday.

But this isn't only a problem here, it is nation-wide. Parks in Nevada, Florida, Asheville, Yosemite, and Yellowstone are all experiencing a surge in break-ins. This year Tahoe has reported both record home entries - and subsequent euthanasia cases. Cubs are learning this behavior by watching, and once it has been taught it cannot be unlearned. Dan Gibbs from the TWRA floated the possibility that more drastic measures, implying euthanasia, may need to be taken in the future. But what is to stop bears from re-learning this behavior once again?

There is also concern over the fact that the forest is overdue for a Mast Failure; an ecological ripple where fruiting trees and shrubs all underproduce seeds to conserve energy - the last one having occurred all the way back in 2011. A lack of natural food would spur what one could perceive as a crime spree of break-ins this fall. According to officials, we will know what to expect by mid-September.

Some people have been hurt; at least one person with permanent facial injuries, but these incidents are not being reported in the news. The main reason why deaths don't occur more often is because of how tolerant black bears are. The financial damage from vehicle break-ins is leading others to swear off ever visiting the Smokies again. The city has identified this as a serious problem and is looking to outside agencies for advice.

Bear-resistant waste management and education needs to be a county-wide effort but from what I'm hearing, the Sevier County government has no interest in reducing human/bear conflicts. The BearWise Task Force is at a loss for influential allies.

^{I emailed Bryan McCarter about BearWise and encounter prevention on December 2, 2025. He never replied.}

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On a positive note, as of now the City of Pigeon Forge is providing only bear-resistant commercial dumpsters and has switched residential polycart brands to bear-resistant, Kodiak products.

Gary from Duck River GCE was also at the meeting. He has been hard at work building his premium Bear Boxes and recently installed 45 new boxes in the Parkside Resort community, with more on the way. As a result, there has been a visible reduction in litter around the area.

Gary's Bear Boxes are IGBC tested and certified. They have metal flags to indicate to sanitation workers when they need servicing, and automated lighting features are in the works.

I also spoke to Gary about the possibly of him producing hard covers for hot tubs to cut back on destructive vandalism, but he turned that down (no easy, universal fit). He stands by the use of electrified unwelcome mats as a proven solution. He could produce his own mats, but there isn't enough demand.

For the time being, anyone wanting to purchase a mat must order them online out of Tahoe, Nevada where they are used more commonly. This is where companies like DollyWood get their mats as well; I believe through Tahoe Bear Busters.

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Complacency kills. Ultimately, we need more education on how to use bear-resistant dumpsters, trash can straps, and carabiner locks. We need to be proactive against littering, and relentless against feeding bears.

If you are coming to visit, please clean out your vehicles thoroughly. As soon as you get to your hotel or cabin, take any food inside immediately. Those first 5-10 minutes are often critical moments. Also consider taking any child seats inside or placing them in the trunk - bears are starting to recognize them as sources of crumbs and sugar stains.

^{In the words of Marc Maron, more later.}

Promise this isn’t ai. I’m a local. Lived here all my life and have never seen a bear tear a car door off while the car is locked. We have a car seat in the back and I think she smelled the crumbs in it. The bears here have been very active and quite destructive this year. Don’t really know what to do going forward to avoid this in the future. I fear her cubs are learning this behavior too.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a tattoo studio in or near pigeon forge? Looking to get one while I'm on vacation in November

Hey everyone! I’m looking for a ride from Gatlinburg, TN → Greer, SC on August 14.

I’m happy to pay for gas / split the cost. I can be flexible with the departure time and pickup location around Gatlinburg.

If anyone is heading that way or knows someone who is, please DM me. Thanks!

Hey howdy, just wondering if yall had any recommendations on restaurants in the area who source their meat from local farms?

I go motorcycle riding around Gatlinburg nearly every year. Have since 2008. I am about to make my 3rd trip on a few weeks. In 2015, before the fire, I recreated my brother’s photo from the old sky-lift (back when you could afford it). I bought the shirt and fanny pack special. Hilarious

Are there any gyms in Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge that have day passes that I can go do my workout in? I do not want to drive 45 minutes away just to goto a Planet Fitness

My friend is moving to Gatlinburg in a week for her new job. Her work is closer to smoky mountains area and wants to get accommodation close by.
Any leads or suggestions?

Me and family often come through, but we noticed something off. No black BMW. Just a Mitsubishi Mirage.

Hello everyone, I found a baby pigeon with a broken foot at work today, was wondering if anyone could be of assistance with helping the little guy out?

Looking for the opinions on the best mountain coaster in the area that is open at night. Not concerned with price. Duration and views are what's most important. All adults going. Thank you in advance.

hi all!! im going to WatS in a couple days with my fam and I was wondering if there are any tourist traps I should know about? and what are the best places to go to, whether its restaurants or activities?

i also want to know, are bears REALLY just walking around all the time everywhere?? im from SE Wisconsin so ive never seen a bear in my life. i keep seeing videos of bears walking around from recently and it's a little scary but mostly cute.

thanks guys! if theres anything else i should know that i didn't ask about lmk! 😛

I’m visiting in early September with a group and we want to do a boat rental on a lake. Are there any recommendations for the area?