Something Different: 10 Unusual Things to Do in Pigeon Forge and the Smokies
Pigeon Forge, TN is home to a number of attractions that are a bit unusual, but in the best way possible! These hidden things to do in Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains offer one-of-a-kind experiences that you won’t find anywhere else. To help you make the most of your next vacation, Visit My Smokies has put together a guide to the top 10 unusual things to do in Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area. Get all the details on the top Pigeon Forge things to do that will guarantee an afternoon of unforgettable memories:
1. Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Alcatraz East is an awesome museum dedicated to the history of crime in America. This popular attraction displays a variety of artifacts that once belonged to some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Highlights of the collection include Bonnie and Clyde’s getaway car, O.J. Simpson’s Ford Bronco, and Al Capone’s Rosary.
2. Outdoor Gravity Park
Outdoor Gravity Park is Pigeon Forge’s only destination for zorbing, a fun new trend that is sweeping across the United States. When you visit Outdoor Gravity Park, you’ll have the chance to roll down a 1,000-foot hill in an enormous transparent sphere called a “zorb.” Guests can choose between wet zorbing, in which the sphere is filled with over 10 gallons of cold or warm water, or dry zorbing.
3. Smoky Mountain Cat House
Visiting the Smoky Mountain Cat House is another one of the delightfully unusual things to do in Pigeon Forge. This quirky shop is dedicated completely to cat-themed memorabilia, including clocks, pillows, handbags, jewelry, change purses, wallets, T-shirts, home decor, and even more items. True to its name, the Smoky Mountain Cat House is home to a number of friendly felines.
4. Forbidden Caverns
Forbidden Caverns is a fascinating subterranean attraction in the Smoky Mountains. Visitors will enjoy guided tours of an illuminated cave that is filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and a stream. Forbidden Caverns takes its name from a Cherokee legend about a princess who lost her way in a “hollow mountain of two streams…which is forbidden.”
5. Hillbilly Golf
Hillbilly Golf is unlike any other putt-putt course you have ever seen. Perched on the top of a mountain, this attraction offers a complimentary tram ride to the first hole. Drawing on Appalachian stereotypes, Hillbilly Golf features memorable obstacles, including moonshine stills, outhouses, tractors, and other farm equipment.
6. Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum
The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum is home to over 20,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers! The museum’s marvelous collection features shakers with whimsical designs from all around the globe. Admission is only $3 and this money is applied to any pair of salt and pepper shakers available for purchase in the gift shop.
7. Smoky Mountain Snowpark
Would you love to visit a snow-themed park all year long? Head to Rowdy Bear’s Smoky Mountain Snowpark in Pigeon Forge! This one-of-a-kind attraction features the longest outdoor tubing hill in Tennessee! The tubing hill is 500 feet long with a 70 foot drop. During the winter, enjoy snow tubing, and the rest of the year you can enjoy outdoor tubing. There’s also an Avalanche Snow Coaster, a Ski Lift Shootout Coaster, axe throwing, a playground, and a sweet shop. You won’t want to miss all the fun at this attraction!
8. Goats on the Roof
A trip to Goats on the Roof never disappoints! As advertised, this shop really does have live goats on the roof. Guests can even feed the goats by hand or use a special bicycle/hand crank that delivers a bucket of chow to the top of the building. In addition to its signature animals, Goats on the Roof features a mountain coaster, gift shop, gem mine, and a variety of sweet treats.
9. Man Cave Metal
Man Cave Metal offers unique home decor that is perfect for a den, garage, or “man cave”. Virtually all of the furniture from this shop is made from car parts or other repurposed items. For example, visitors will find tables made out of tires, benches made out of tailgates, lights made out of valve covers, and other creative pieces. Man Cave Metal is a can’t-miss stop for gearheads!
10. Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium
Of course, no list of unusual things to do in Pigeon Forge and the Smokies would be complete without Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium! This fun attraction showcases bizarre artifacts like shrunken heads, medieval torture devices, and multi-headed animals. The numerous oddities at the museum are accompanied by mind-bending optical illusions and lots of interactive exhibits.
More Hidden Things to Do in Pigeon Forge
Looking for even more awesome things to do in Pigeon Forge and the Smokies? Check out these hidden things to do in Pigeon Forge.
