Pigeon Forge, TN

Pigeon Forge sits in a scenic East Tennessee valley right at the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Most people know it as a lively mountain playground packed with attractions, dinner shows, and Dollywood, but it is also home to a year-round community of about 6,000 residents. The Parkway serves as the main spine of town, running through the heart of the action, while quiet residential neighborhoods and cabin communities branch out into the surrounding wooded hills.

The town takes its name from an 18th-century iron forge and the flocks of passenger pigeons that once gathered along the Little Pigeon River. Today, historic landmarks like The Old Mill stand alongside a thriving entertainment and hospitality industry. For newcomers, living in Pigeon Forge offers easy access to hiking trails and mountain scenery, paired with the lively energy of peak vacation seasons and relaxed, peaceful winters.