On any trip to the Pigeon Forge Parkway, you're bound to see dazzling lights and impressive attractions. But from all of the exciting places you could explore in Downtown Pigeon Forge, there are a few eye-catching destinations that stand out from the rest.
From towering Ferris Wheels to a scale model of the Titanic, these are the 5 most iconic attractions of the Pigeon Forge Parkway that you don't want to miss!
1. The Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center
On any trip to Pigeon Forge, you won't miss the sight of a gigantic gorilla scaling a skyscraper along the parkway. This impressive reference to the famed 1933 King Kong film is the exterior of the Hollywood Wax Museum, a two-story attraction filled to the brim with life-like wax replicas of A-list celebrities, movie stars, and entertainers.
As one of the largest wax museums in the United States, the Hollywood Wax Museum is the perfect place to relish the glamour of Hollywood while you see television and movie stars from today and yesteryear, as well as musical artists and other pop culture icons. Better yet, you can even get your photo taken with your favorite stars and use provided props to immerse yourself into the scene!
While this star-studded attraction is a classic stop on the Pigeon Forge Parkway, you can also check out other attractions within the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center including Castle of Chaos, Outbreak - Dread the Undead, and Hannah's Maze of Mirrors. Purchase an All Access Pass and get all four attractions for one ticket price.
2. The Titanic Museum
Near, far, wherever you are, the building shaped like the RMS Titanic on the Pigeon Forge Parkway is one of the most jaw-dropping sights in Pigeon Forge. Though the museum is built half-scale to the original ship, this towering attraction is no less impressive.
Inside, you'll find interactive displays that tell the story of this ship's infamous maiden voyage across the frigid waters of the North Atlantic in 1912. Complete with tour guides dressed in period dress, this museum allows you to experience the journey of a passenger aboard the Titanic.
With stunning displays from a recreation of the ship's grand staircase based on the original blueprints to a simulator that recreates the movement of the ship as it began to tip vertically in the air, this museum goes to great lengths to share the story of this famous shipwreck.
3. The Alcatraz East Crime Museum
As you drive through Downtown Pigeon Forge, you might be shocked to see a 19th-century style prison building amongst the brightly lit attractions of the Parkway. This new attraction is known as "Alcatraz East Crime Museum," an interactive museum attraction named in honor of the infamous Alcatraz penitentiary in San Francisco Bay. This unique attraction explores the history of crime and punishment from medieval bandits to pirates on the high seas to modern "White Collar" criminals.
Other highlights of Alcatraz East include:
- A Recreated CSI Lab
- John Dillinger's Death Mask
- A Safe Cracking Exhibit
- A Simulated Shooting Range
- OJ Simpson's Ford Bronco
4. The Wheel at the Island
Towering 200 ft above the Pigeon Forge Parkway, The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel is an enclosed gondola ride that stands as a centerpiece of The Island attraction in Pigeon Forge. Similar to iconic rides in locales such as London and Las Vegas, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel stands as one of the tallest attractions in the Southeast.
By taking a ride on this jumbo-sized Ferris Wheel, you can enjoy an incredible panoramic view of Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains. Better yet, this vista is even more impressive in the evening when the glittering lights of the parkway are on full display. While you're there, you can check out other sights at the Island like the fountain show or enjoy a delicious country meal at Paula Deen's Family Kitchen.
5. Wonderworks
It's hard to miss the jaw-dropping site of a large building turned upside down on the roadside. As the story goes, this once top-secret laboratory was transported to Pigeon Forge from the Bermuda Triangle by an experiment gone awry. Though the lab landed upside down all the experiments were kept in-tact.
This educational, interactive museum contains over 35,000 feet of entertaining science exhibits. With an interesting gallery dedicated to the powerful forces of natural disasters and an imagination lab, there's a lot to explore in this unique attraction in Pigeon Forge.
Wonderworks also features a laser tag arena and an indoor ropes course, so this destination is a perfect stop for families with kids!
Final Thoughts
The Pigeon Forge Parkway wouldn't be the same without these iconic attractions, so be sure to explore these iconic sights in the Smoky Mountains! If you need help planning your Pigeon Forge cabin getaway, be sure to contact our helpful reservations office at (865) 429-4121.
Written by Hayden Brown