April 26, 2023
9 Things You Can Only Find At The Island in Pigeon Forge
The Island in Pigeon Forge is one of the most popular entertainment venues in the Smoky Mountains. Visitors are able to enjoy delicious meals from several well-known restaurants, stunning visual displays, live music, thrill rides, and more, but what is it that makes this Pigeon Forge attraction so unique? Determined to find the answer, we've put together a list of things to do and places to eat in Pigeon Forge that you can only find at The Island.
1. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Pigeon Forge
The Margaritaville restaurant in Pigeon Forge is the perfect place for you and your family to get stranded for a few hours in the heart of the Smoky Mountains! Menu items range from the classic Cheeseburger in Paradise to the more unique Jimmy’s Jammin’ Jambalaya. There is something for everyone on the menu at Margaritaville!
2. A 200-foot-tall ferris wheel
How would you and your family like to experience some of the most breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains while sitting in a climate-controlled, all-glass gondola? That is just what you can do when you choose to take a ride on The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel at The Island in Pigeon Forge. If you have time, be sure to stop by The Island in Pigeon Forge at night to see The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel’s brilliant LED light show. With the help of over 1-million lights, the Pigeon Forge attraction lights up the night sky, and it can be seen for miles around.
3. Dancing water
The stunning visuals at The Island in Pigeon Forge are not secluded to The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. On the ground, visitors to the area can enjoy one of the many synchronized musical water shows at The Island in Pigeon Forge’s Las Vegas-style fountain. The fountain is constructed of over 89 vertical jets that are programmed to dance and change colors in sync with a variety of popular songs. Showtimes run roughly every 30 minutes, and visitors can enjoy the show from one of the several rocking chairs located around the fountain.
4. Free concerts
With great restaurants, fun attractions, and shopping, the only thing that The Island in Pigeon Forge is missing is good music, right? Fortunately for guests, The Island in Pigeon Forge has that covered as well. Not only is The Island home to a variety of free concerts throughout the year, but you can hear live bluegrass music outside of the Ole Smoky Moonshine Barn frequently on their outdoor stage!
5. Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
Along with the Margaritaville Pigeon Forge restaurant, guests to The Island also have the chance to experience some great-tasting meals prepared from the recipes of Paula Deen herself. Okay, so there might be more than one Paula Deen's Family Kitchen in the U.S., but there's none that offer the same experience as the one at The Island! Paula Deen's Family Kitchen includes a 4,000 square foot Paula Deen Retail Store and a full-service dining area with nearly 300 seats. What's unique about this restaurant is that it provides each guest a gorgeous view of The Island Show Fountain while you enjoy your food. Whether you're shopping or enjoying a delicious classic Deen family recipe, you're in for a great experience at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen.
6. Year-round free trolley rides
Nothing beats free, especially when it comes to transportation. That is why we were so excited when we heard that The Island in Pigeon Forge offers free tram rides all year round to help transport guests from their car to the entrance of the Pigeon Forge attraction. You can park in the LeConte Center parking lot and ride right to the entrance of The Island! This is especially nice during the warmer months and if you are visiting the area with small children.
7. A store all about puzzles
Puzzled is filled with all kinds of unique puzzles. There are Jigsaw, 3d & 4d, Scramble Squares, Rubik's, gifts, and souvenirs! We bet you've never seen a store with this many puzzles before. Browse more than 10,000 puzzles, both modern and classic, as you explore this innovative shop.
8. Teddy bear workshop
The Great Smoky Mountains are known for the over 1,500 black bears that call them home, so why not bring one of your very own home. We are talking about stuffed bears of course! And that is just what guests to the Build-A-Bear Workshop at The Island in Pigeon Forge can do. Here, you and your kids can create your own special Smoky Mountain friend to take back home with you. You pick out your favorite animal, add the stuffing (with a special heart), pick out the perfect outfit, and voila! You now have the perfect souvenir from your Pigeon Forge vacation.
9. Indoor Flying Attraction
One of the newest attractions to come to The Island is SkyFly: Soar America! Riders will strap into the moving seats and take a 6-minute ride over the most gorgeous landscapes and cities in North America, learning about the areas along the way. People of all ages will have a blast riding SkyFly when they visit!
Where to Eat at The Island in Pigeon Forge
All of these attractions, shops, and features are what make The Island in Pigeon Forge unique. There is so much to do and enjoy at the entertainment complex, but if you spend a long time here, you'll probably find yourself in need of a snack or a whole meal. Find out the best places to eat at The Island now!
