If you’ve ever visited the Smokies, you’re probably familiar with the area known as Five Oaks.
Five Oaks is technically located in Sevierville, Tenn., although there are many who mistakenly assume it’s located in Pigeon Forge due to its close proximity.
Additionally, Five Oaks is home to a variety of attractions including Tanger Outlets, Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf, Five Oaks Farm Kitchen, Adventure Park at Five Oaks, Ogle Brothers General Store, Oak Tree Lodge and most notably, The Lodge at Five Oaks (details on each below).
But do you know the history of the area and how it got its name?
How Five Oaks got its name
Luckily, the Lodge at Five Oaks offers a rare historical glimpse into the rich history of this area on their website.
According to the Lodge, Dr. John W. and Blanche Ogle purchased approximately 128 acres in Sevierville and named the farm “Five Oaks” for the five small oaks that Dr. Ogle planted in the front yard.
Dr. Ogle was a medical doctor. He purchased the land due to its centralized location to make it easier for him to travel and see his patients by horseback.
The Ogles raised four children at the farm house that still stands across from the Oak Tree Lodge today.
The Ogles were beloved, known for entertaining guests and also treating everyone like family.
Many generations later, some of the property has since been sold or leased to private ventures, including the Five Oaks Mall, Ogle’s Waterpark and Open Hearth Restaurant. In the present day, a portion of the land remains. And in fact, many of the properties in the area remain with the Ogle family.
Below is a list of present-day attractions that can be found in the Five Oaks area:
1. The Lodge at Five Oaks
The Lodge at Five Oaks opened in 1994 and was renovated in 2011. It is owned and operated by members of the Ogle family.
It was created with its Appalachian roots in mind.
Photographs of Five Oaks Farm from the 1920s, before it became the tourism mecca it is today, line the walls of the Lodge celebrating its rich history.
“When we built this place we really wanted to pay tribute to the people who have lived here for over 100 years because it really runs in our blood,” says managing partner David Ogle, one of Dr. Ogle’s grandsons in a promotional video.
“That’s why we wanted to build this place so people could come and experience the hospitality that’s been going on for over 100 years.”
Authentic hardwood floors are in every guest room and, in true Southern hospitality fashion, every piece of bedding is laundered each night.
The Lodge is also within walking distance to several attractions including Tanger Outlets, Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf, Five Oaks Farm Kitchen, Ogle Brothers General Store and Adventure Park at Five Oaks.
Rooms, at the time of this writing, run at about $120-$150 per night.
The Lodge at Five Oaks is located at 1650 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862. It is currently ranked #1 out of 21 hotels in Sevierville on Tripadvisor.
2. The Oak Tree Lodge
The Lodge at Five Oaks isn’t the only Ogle-owned lodging game in town.
The Oak Tree Lodge is owned and operated in part by the Ogle family.
This lodge is a family-friendly, pet-friendly (complete with a large dog park) hotel located in the Five Oaks area in Sevierville, Tenn.
It is located within walking distance of other Five Oaks attractions and ranked among the top 10 hotels in Sevierville on Tripadvisor.
Room rates, at the time of this writing, run at about $86-$140 per night.
3. Ogles Brothers General Store
The Ogle Brothers General Store is the newest addition to the Five Oaks area. And it is also owned and operated (if the name wasn’t a clue) by members of the Ogle family.
The store features clothing, food, pottery, candy, toys, locally made arts and crafts and also souvenirs.
“Ogle Brother General Store was created not only to celebrate the history of our family but to celebrate the history of this community and this region,” says Jake Ogle, President of Ogle Brothers General Store.
“Everything that we sell has a purpose … this is experiential retail. We want this to be more than coming up and making a purchase. We want this to be a true experience where you can see how something was made or how something was done.”
Ogle Brothers General Store is located at 1640 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862 and is open from 9 am-9 pm daily.
4. Five Oaks Farm Kitchen
Five Oaks Farm Kitchen is also a relative newcomer to the Five Oaks scene. The restaurant, owned by the KBS Restaurant Group, opened in 2018.
KBS Restaurant Group also owns and operates several other popular restaurants in the area. This includes Crockett’s Breakfast Camp, The Greenbriar, Holston’s, Iron Boar Saloon, JT Hannahs, No Way Jose’s, Scrambled Jakes Breakfast Co and Smith & Son Corner Kitchen.
Five Oaks Farm Kitchen is located directly across from Tanger Oak Outlets and pays homage to Ogle family southern cooking.
With Chef Jason Albert at the helm, Five Oaks Farm Kitchen serves up homemade Appalachian-inspired dishes daily.
“We don’t have a freezer,” says Chef Albert on the restaurant’s website. “Everything is fresh, everything is scratch … we go the extra mile.”
This restaurant is located at 1638 Parkway, Sevierville, TN. And it is open Sunday through Thursday from 8 am-9 pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 am-10 pm at the time of this writing.
5. Dubby’s Adventure Park at Five Oaks
Dubby’s Adventure Park at Five Oaks is a 70-acre nature park located right beside Five Oaks Farm Kitchen.
The Adventure Park at Five Oaks features zipline tours and also horseback riding.
Adventure Park at Five Oaks location represents one of many Dubby Attractions in the area. The list includes Legacy Mountain Zipline, Lazerport Fun Center, Xtreme Racing Center and Speedzone Fun Park.
Park Hopper Passes are available on the company’s website for guests who wish to sample everything Dubby has to offer. Legacy also offers deals through Viator.
Dubby’s Adventure Park at Five Oaks is located at 1628 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862. It is open 8 am-7 pm daily, weather permitting.
Read Also: Horseback riding, petting zoos in the Smoky Mountains
6. Tanger Outlets at Five Oaks
Tanger Outlets is a nearly 500,000-square-foot outdoor shopping center located in the Five Oaks area of Sevierville, Tenn.
The outlet mall features over 100 brand-name stores and is open daily from 10 am-9 pm.
Several restaurants are also on site. Most notably, The Chop House is located in the heart of the shopping center.
Some popular stores include Michael Kors, Old Navy, Vera Bradley and Tory Burch.
7. Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf
And last but not least, we have the local favorite, Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf. This course features three courses and 54 holes with animated barnyard characters, water features and also interactive elements.
Adult tickets are $15.99 at the time of this writing. Children two and under are free. Combo passes can save up to $45 when booking online.
Old MacDonald’s Farm Mini Golf is located at 1639 Parkway, Sevierville, TN. It is located inside the Tanger Outlets shopping center and is open from 10 am-10 pm daily.
Read Also: Mini golf in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg: Our top 10 ranked
What’s your favorite attraction in the Five Oaks area in Sevierville? Let us know in the comments!
