Finding the Best Fudge in the Smokies

Which of the dozens of purveyors of this vacation staple is the best in the mountains?

We joke a lot about the foundations of the tourism business in the Smokies. At the bottom of everything, after all, is a layer of pancake houses, of go-kart tracks and mini golf upon which a second tier of mountain coasters and moonshine distilleries rest.

But there is something deeper, more ubiquitous than any of those. Something that transcends the Smokies and is at the very epicenter of any tourist location in the history of man. That something? Fudge … and its close companion, saltwater taffy.

How ingrained in tourism culture are fudge and saltwater taffy? Historians say that when Christopher Columbus made his way to the Caribbean, he stepped out of the row boats to be met by indigenous people with a variety of local goods … and one guy in the corner had a tray of fudge and saltwater taffy.

Not convinced? Go back through the eons when the first multi-celled organisms climbed out of the primordial ooze and made their way onto land – likely in a place that was later known as Myrtle Beach – they were met by a single celled paramecium who promptly offered them a two for one deal on fudge and saltwater taffy. Actually, I think the first box of saltwater taffy is back at our home in our pantry.

Vacations, fudge and saltwater taffy

Here’s the thing about fudge and its slightly lesser companion, saltwater taffy. They are almost exclusively something you purchase on a vacation. With the exception of the holidays when fudge makes a roaring comeback, do you ever buy fudge and or saltwater taffy at home? Have you ever written down your grocery list – or a Walmart mobile order – and said to yourself, “we’re almost out of fudge. Better get a couple of pounds and restock.”

I haven’t done any science on this, but I suspect it’s because fudge is so rich, we consider it somewhat decadent. It’s a little treat we give ourselves when we want to splurge and the vacation life, after all, is about splurging. It’s possible that in the middle of a long Thursday at work, you reach into your secret pick-me-up stash and pull out a couple of nice chunks of fudge. Maybe you do. I don’t think that’s the societal norm, but we’re not here to judge.

The question then becomes “well, what about saltwater taffy?” Frankly, that’s a question for another day. But I think it’s like candy corn. You need a little distance so you can forget how mid it is and then when you’re on vacation you think, “saltwater taffy, I haven’t had that in ages.” And BANG! They get you again.

Picking the best fudge in the Smokies

We have, over the years, given ourselves difficult tasks over the years here at the Smokies. Picking the best barbecue places? Extremely difficult. The best moonshine spots? Also very hard. The best fudge? It might be nigh impossible.

Why? Well, first the sheer number form which to choose is daunting. How many places sell fudge in the mountains? If it’s less than 100, I’d be gobsmacked. Secondly, we’re talking about impossibly small margins. Because fudge is so rich, so decadent, the room for distinction is tightened..

The distance between the best seafood you’ve had in your life is significant. It’s the distance from Johnson City to Memphis, to put it into Tennessee terms. Same for many other things we rank.

But fudge? The distance from the best professionally made fudge you’ve ever had in your life to the worst is fairly thin. Like the distance between the deep end and the shallow end of the pool at the Marriott Bonvoy in Gatlinburg.

However, for you, dear reader, we fling ourselves once more into the proverbial abyss. We put our reputations on the line so that when you – the visitor to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge – spend your hard-earned money on vacation fudge, you will not be disappointed.

Cue the .gif of the Grinch judging the Christmas Fudge contest.

1. Dollywood

This is, my friends, a quality control issue. There are a lot of positive things to be said about mom-and-pop fudge operations. But it only takes one family member to fill in while the chief fudge chef is on vacation and the fudge hits the fan, so to speak.

At Dollywood, you know there is competent corporate oversight. Teams of executives whose job is to ensure consistency and quality in all things from pastries and cinnamon bread to fudge. Plus, fudge is a down-home country treat, a mountain tradition. And Dollywood takes its mountain tradition food staples seriously.

2. Aunt Mahalia’s Candies

For my money, this candy shop located in the tip of the wedge where River Road splits from the strip in Gatlinburg is the best candy shop there is. Is there any personal bias wrapped up in that? Sure. Partly due to its location, it was the candy shop of choice for most of our trips to Gatlinburg in my youth.

I am a creature of tradition and in a place filled with tradition, there are few that can beat Aunt Mahalia’s which began Gatlinburg in 1939. The fudge is excellent and there are a number of other traditional homemade candies to try. No shopping trip to Gatlinburg is complete without a stop at Aunt Mahalia’s.

3. The Fudgery

With multiple locations in various tourist destinations, The Fudgery is an empire built from humble beginnings in the Outer Banks of North Carolina by a man known as Papa Fudge – a nickname that goes a lot of directions. From The Fudgery’s website, “The store looked like a fudge shop with its copper kettles and marble slabs, but it sure didn’t sound like one… With a big brass bell ringing, ‘Papa Fudge’ Marshall lured beachgoers into that first store with a unique mix of singing, showmanship, and the best fudge the world has ever known. And the show has never stopped.” When you realize it was 1980, it makes a lot more sense.

Today, when you order a slab of fudge – each slab weighs a half pound – you can taste the quality of ingredients and the craftsmanship that went into Papa Fudge’s life’s work. Do try the sea salt caramel.

4. The Fudge Shoppe of the Smokies

Now, it’s getting down to razor thin margins. Started in 1986, this family run shoppe has been peddling fudge on the strip in the Smokies – next to the Ripley’s Museum. What makes The Fudge Shoppe standout? Well, on its website it explains that they craft each batch using pure cane sugar, pure cream. European Butter as well as rich, imported Dutch chocolate and pure cold pressed Mexica Vanilla.

What does that all mean? No idea. Every fudge shop might be on the pure, cold pressed Mexican Vanilla, but the Fudge Shoppe of the Smokies is consistently excellent. While I am partial to peanut butter fudge, I recommend the Rocky Road.

5. Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen

They make candy, ok? Let’s not hold them too firmly to the math. Under the heading, “A Family Tradition since 1952,” the Ole Smoky website says the Candy Kitchen was founded in 1950 by Dave and Peggy Dych who were on their way to California to seek their fortune when they stopped in Gatlinburg and had an epiphany. The Dychs began wholesaling taffy out of their garage, sending it to Florida among other places.

Can you imagine going to Florida to buy “saltwater” taffy only to find out it had been made in a garage in the mountains? Scandal. They opened their first Parkway location and then a second not very far down the road. They are still in business today, selling 33 taffy flavors which you can watch being pulled by machines at their location right next to the Pancake Pantry and the Village Shoppes.

6. Buc-ee’s

Convenience is a factor here. When choosing from dozens of fudge-selling establishments, you’ve got to widen your perspective to create lanes of division.

Buc’ees – the massive Texas gas station chain that broke containment and is taking over Interstate across the south – is known for huge stores with more than 100 gas pumps, large bathrooms – now with red and green lights dangling from the ceiling to indicate whether or not they are occupied and uncommonly good gas station barbecue.

A lesser-known fact is that Buc-ee’s also has a counter dedicated to fudge. I don’t know that I’ve ever been involved in the act of road-tripping and thought to myself, “Man, I could go for some fudge.” But, if time is of the essence and you want a vacation treat to take home or maybe a gift that you forgot to get at a proper vacation store, Buc-ee’s is there with gas station fudge that is considerably better than it has any right to be.