April 12, 2022
4 Fun Facts About Pigeon Forge & the Smoky Mountains
The Comedy Barn has a great location in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — one of the top tourist destinations in the country! Millions of visitors flock to Pigeon Forge each year to enjoy the city’s beauty and fun, and to explore the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area is home to so much excitement and is constantly growing with new things to do. To help you learn more about it, we’ve made a list of 4 fun facts about Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains.
1. It was named after an iron forge and an extinct species of birds.
Have you ever wondered how Pigeon Forge got its name? We bet you never would’ve guessed this answer! The “pigeon” is a reference to the passenger pigeon. This species of bird was very common throughout the Smoky Mountain area, but it was ultimately declared extinct, with the last documented passenger pigeon dying in 1914. The “forge” is a reference to the city’s iron forge, which was located along the Little Pigeon River. The original iron forge no longer exists, but a blacksmith shop currently operates where the forge used to stand.
2. It’s within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the United States population.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the country, and it’s not hard to understand why. One of the reasons is due to its location. The Smokies and Pigeon Forge are within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the country’s population. Within 24 hours, a majority of people in the United States can drive to Pigeon Forge and the Smokies! Can anyone say road trip?
3. The “smoke” in the Smokies comes from trees.
Have you ever wondered what makes the Smoky Mountains “smoky”? The truth is, it’s not smoke at all. It’s actually fog from the area’s vegetation. Plans exhale volatile organic compounds, or “VOCs.” VOC are elements that have a high vapor pressure, which means they can easily form vapors at room temperature. The millions of trees, bushes, and other plants in the Smoky Mountains all give off the vapor, which creates the fog and gives the Smokies their signature look.
4. It’s home to the most successful clean comedy theater.
You might have already known this fun fact about Pigeon Forge: It’s home to the most successful clean comedy theater in the world. The Comedy Barn Theater provides everyone from young children to adults an evening filled with a thousand laughs. We want to make sure that families with members of all ages can enjoy our show, which is why our performers keep the audience laughing using kid-appropriate humor. Everyone from our juggler, to our comedians, to our barnyard animals will have you laughing until you can’t laugh any longer!
Now that you know all of these fun facts about Pigeon Forge and the Smoky Mountains, we bet you can’t wait to start planning your trip to the area, and to see our show! Get your tickets to The Comedy Barn and be prepared for an evening of clean, family fun!