A local breaks down what may be the biggest season of change since tourists started flocking to the mountains

One thing about life in the Smoky Mountains is that change is always just around the bend. One season, you’re doing big business selling pancakes, racing go-karts or touting your special and authentic brand of moonshine.

The next season? Your life works are gone. Paved over for a parking lot, remodeled for a new restaurant, or rebranded into something newer and cooler and bigger and better and bolder than what had been the year before.

Living in the Smokies all these years, I’ve gotten a little immune to it. Things come. They go. The mountains and I remain; one of us is a little more eternal than the other. Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, you know?

But this year? This year – the year of our Lord 2025 – feels vastly different. The sheer number of projects that have opened, are opening, or are under construction surpass any season in my memory. We are facing an avalanche – or maybe a tidal wave – of new projects from one side across Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

What does it mean? Can the area support all the new businesses and sustain the old? Do area business leaders believe the available dollars spent in the region are enough to support all this change? Will a corresponding article in the next year or two examine a corresponding list of closures or businesses that didn’t make it?

Without any crystal balls, it’s hard to say. All we can be sure of is that word on everybody’s lips this season in the mountains will be “new.”

Things that have opened or will open imminently

Great Big Game Show in Pigeon Forge

Located on The Island in Pigeon Forge, the Great Big Game Show opened in February of 2025, bringing its interactive experience that allows guests to fulfill their lifelong dream of being a Game Show Guest right there in Pigeon Forge. With bright lights and two studios that hold 2 to 14 players, guests can show off their Game Show mettle by competing in a variety of mini-games in a studio that features the lights, sounds and energy of a real TV game show.

Taco Trail Taqueria & Bar in Gatlinburg

For years, one of the glaring weaknesses in the culinary community on the strip in Gatlinburg has been a surprising lack of quality Mexican options. Taco Trail – located in the old TGI Fridays spot – hopes to change all that. It is part of the Collier Restaurant Group, which owns a wide variety of regional restaurants. They include three pancake brands, a Golden Corral, and The Melting Pot. Taco Trail offers taco and burrito-inspired options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The restaurant is pushing its $6 cocktails and some non-traditional taco options.

Gorilla Taco in Pigeon Forge

In the mountains of East Tennessee, tacos are the new pancakes. Welcome to Gorilla Taco, a place with good food and marketing that makes me weep for the future.

I know it’s Pigeon Forge, so everybody thinks they’ve got to have a schtick. What’s the schtick at Gorilla Taco? It’s a couple of wrestling gorillas in luchador masks. “Think Mexican wrestlers, gorilla-sized margarita towers and a menu packed with bold tacos, burritos, Enchiladas.” But wait, there’s more. The Mexican wrestling Gorillas are taking a page from Guy Fieri’s playbook. Gorilla Taco is “where traditional Mexican cuisine gets flavor slammed!”

Again, I have nothing against the actual food. It’s just that Gorilla Taco is trying so hard to be fun and irreverent, but it all seems just perplexing to me. I don’t want to be a stick in the mud and I’m willing to concede it may be that I’m impossibly old. But reader, I have no wish to choose my fighter when ordering a margarita. Or to pay $69 to “Gorilla-size” my margarita.

Moonshine Mountain Cookies and Ice Cream in Pigeon Forge

Located in Pigeon Forge, next to the Mellow Mushroom in the place of a former ice cream shop is a … cookie and ice cream shop. Moonshine Mountain Cookies is a growing East Tennessee franchise with three locations in Knoxville as well as the new spot in Pigeon Forge, which may open before I finish typing this sentence. The freshly baked cookies are made from scratch daily and paired with creamy, hand-scooped ice cream – as opposed to feet-scooped, I suppose? It’s great, fresh cookies and good – maybe great – ice cream. You’d think that would be a good recipe for success, but I wonder if they’ve thought about adding Irish step-dancing Orangutans to the marketing scheme. Put a KICK into your cookies and cream.

Dollywood’s 40th

This is ongoing. Dollywood’s 40th operating season is underway with some recent updates and other things that will debut as the season goes on. Click here for more.

Taco Ranch in Pigeon Forge

Guys, we’re going to have to have a serious talk about the tacos and the marketing. Again, I am extremely pro-taco and am open to a future in which every other restaurant in the mountains is a taco joint. But can we all just turn it down a notch with marketing?

I do not want to be greeted by the phrase “Hola Y’all!” And I certainly don’t want to deal with a luchador-mask-wearing pigeon named Hector who wants me to call him El Jefe because “he’s the one calling the shots around these parts.”Can I just get some lunch? Must I swear to follow the “To life, lucha libre, and a love of tacos” code?

So, what is this place? It’s the “only” Western-style saloon on the parkway, inspired by the Old West and “perfected” by Southern Culture. “Taco Ranch combines the unforgettable flavors of a streetside taqueria, with the welcoming spirit of a down-home country ranch.”

Sure, I will be enjoying Taco Ranch tacos. Yes, of course, I love a good taco and these are good tacos. But will I want to shout “Yippe-ki-yay” after as the marketing promises? God, I hope not.

Compass Hotel Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge

Jimmy is gone. But the brand will live forever. The Compass by Margaritaville Hotel has opened in Pigeon Forge – just the entrance to the west end of Teaster Lane. Compass Hotel is the latest entry from the extensive Margaritaville brand in the region. Laid back with the bright colors of an old-style Florida getaway with an extensive indoor/outdoor pool area/mini waterpark, the classic hotel offers a complimentary breakfast and an on-site 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar and Grill. It’s a good place to not “waste away” your vacation.

Buffalo Breakfast Co. in Sevierville

The excellent and growing Sevierville foodie scene suffered its first real casualty late last summer when Trotters Whole Hog Barbecue shut down its restaurant and moved exclusively to catering. But in its place? The KBS Restaurant Family’s Buffalo Breakfast Co. KBS includes restaurants of diverse quality like the excellent Greenbrier and the significantly less excellent No Way Jose’s and a lot of stuff in between. Serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week, Buffalo Breakfast Co. offers “crafted Southern dishes with a modern twist” and a drink menu that’s described as “delightfully fun.”

Carhartt at Mountain Mile in Pigeon Forge

The durable work Carhartt clothing brand is having a moment in the culture. Carhartt is cool. To capitalize on the trend, there’s a new Carhartt store where you can buy work-clothing for men, women, and kids, as well as tons of Carhartt accessories, at the Mountain Mile just off Teaster Lane in Pigeon Forge.

Stellara Resort in Sevierville

Luxury tree houses near Foxfire Adventure Park in Sevierville combine comfort and the great outdoors. It’s a venue perfect for a vacation that doesn’t involve leaving the resort. You can, but with a place this nice, why would you want to? All Stellara Decks are equipped with private hot tubs, fire pits, telescopes, and barbecue grills. Did I say telescopes? Yes. Stellara is the perfect spot for gazing at the celestial wonder that is the mountain night sky.

The Fat Bear Family Tavern in Pigeon Forge

This family tavern offers smash burgers, wings, sandwiches, and an “all-day” breakfast in the strip mall next to the Food City location on Teaster Lane. The Family Tavern is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

Cinnamon Bread Factory in Sevierville

Have you ever seen a business model so obvious that you want to smack yourself in the face for not thinking of it? Reader, let me ask you this. What if you could have “Smoky Mountain Famous” cinnamon bread – in a style that’s, let’s say, reminiscent of what is sold at Dollywood – without having to pay a park admission? Located at 240 Forks of the River Parkway in Sevierville, it offers cinnamon bread and other sweet treats as well as bagels, from scratch soups and sandwiches. The hours are Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The factory is closed Sunday through Tuesday.

Panda Express Sevierville

This new location (820 Winfield Dunn Pkwy) employs approximately 40 people from the Sevierville community and boasts the newest restaurant design concept – “Panda Home.” Inside, customers will find a distinctly American Chinese design that bridges the East and the West with red lanterns, a moon gate portal and vibrant Chinatown signs.

As we all navigate the busy spring season, Panda Express offers a convenient meal solution for families, whether you’re looking for a balanced protein plate, want to take advantage of the $35 Family Meal or just need to satisfy your The Orange Chicken craving! The Sevierville store is also serving up the brand new Firecracker Steak & Shrimp, which is available for a limited time only.

Things that are “coming soon”

Jurassic Adventure at The Island in Pigeon Forge

The Island in Pigeon Forge is thrilled to announce the arrival of Jurassic Adventure, an epic experience 200 million years in the making! This larger-than-life FREE experience will transport guests millions of years back in time to encounter the awe-inspiring giants of prehistoric times including the Jurassic era.⁠

Opening this Spring, Jurassic Adventure at The Island in Pigeon Forge will immerse families in a world of dinosaurs, discovery and delightful adventure. 22 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, each with interactive elements, will take over The Island, captivating guests with their realistic movements and sounds. ⁠Curious explorers will find plenty of educational opportunities to broaden their dinosaur knowledge!

Duck Yeah! in Pigeon Forge

Do you ever have days where you feel hopelessly out of touch? Welcome to Duck Yeah!, a new shop coming “this spring” to The Island in Pigeon Forge. What is Duck Yeah! going to sell? Duck if I know. It’s a thing for Jeep owners it seems, particularly Jeep Wrangler owners. According to Al Gore’s internet, Jeep owners started “ducking” each other’s Jeep by placing a rubber duckie on them. The tradition started in Canada in 2020 and has gone ducking wild. I don’t know for sure, but I do know it makes me feel ducking old.

Hogan’s Wrestling (and/or Beach) Shop in Pigeon Forge

We don’t have to travel far to find another “Coming this Spring” shop on The Island in Pigeon Forge. The wrestler Terry Bollea – better known to millions as Hulk Hogan – is opening a shop on The Island and I’m not ducking kidding. Sorry, that was the last one. What exactly is coming to the mountains? It’s hard to say. Honestly, the Hulkster really could use a stronger marketing team. The initial teaser announcement featured a picture of Gatlinburg, and it hasn’t been 100% clear which brand he’s bringing to the mountains.

Hulk’s name is on a Florida beach shop – which is inland in Orlando – and a wrestling shop which is near the beach in Clearwater. Will it be a beach shop, a wrestling shop, or a bit of both? Whatever it is, I expect wrestling merchandise and memorabilia will be on sale at the island this spring.

Rafters Rage Soaky Mountain in Sevierville

It is unclear if the newest edition to Soaky Mountain – Rafters Rage – will be open when the park opens for the season. The Soaky site indicates this six-person raft ride will open in 2025, however. The ride starts 8 stories in the air, travels 825 feet and reaches a speed of 19 mph. It should be fun.

Ripley’s Illusion Lab in Pigeon Forge

While traditionally, Ripley’s has chiefly focused on Gatlinburg in Sevier County, the Ripley’s footprint in Pigeon Forge will expand this spring with Ripley’s Illusion Lab located in the former Welcome Center on the Parkway. It will be next to the former Smoky Mountain Opry. If you want a location without a former in it, it will be near the Hard Rock Café and WonderWorks.

What is Ripley’s Illusion Lab? Well, the one in Myrtle Beach says it will “switch up your perspective, challenge your senses, and spark your curiosity through optical, photographic, and interactive illusions.” It’s set to open “this spring.”

Scooby Doo Mystery Putt in Pigeon Forge

Opening May 8, Scooby Doo Mystery Putt is 36 holes of mini golf with a Scooby Doo theme. It is located close to Mountain Mile. Prepare yourself for a lot of Zoinks and Jinkies and other groovy phrases as well as holes themed around classic Scooby Doo locations, shows and themes. You can count on Scooby, the Gang and the Mystery Machine being involved. But I am hoping for some special guests like the Harlem Globetrotters. The big question is will Scrappy Doo – whose arrival on the scene in 1979 tore Scooby Doo purists asunder – be represented in the park? The answer could make or break Mystery Putt.

Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster

Located on the hill just above Wild Bear Tavern, where the old Dome on the Hill zipline used to be, the Pigeon Forge Racing Coaster is billed as the first racing coaster in the United States. Is that true? Maybe. But I’ve been burned too many times by people claiming to be the first, the only or “exclusive” to just go with it.

This mountain coaster will have two tracks, allowing guests to race against each other. It truly sounds like a lot of fun and may well be a game-changer in the Mountain Coaster game. The scheduled opening is in spring 2025. Here’s a video of schematics with some especially gnarly copyright-free guitar licks to pump you up.

Wildside MEGA Zipline in Pigeon Forge

Another “first” or “longest,” the Mega Zipline is billed as America’s longest continuous zipline. Is it? Maybe? Probably. I mean, 5,771 feet does seem like an extraordinarily long continuous zipline. This addition to the Wildside outdoor adventure park is scheduled to open this spring and will ratchet up the adventure. Riders will launch from an elevation of 2,472 feet and reach speeds of up to 55 mph on four side-by-side lines that allow family and friends to compete. The over-a-mile-long course features a nearly 20% drop.

A few caveats: riders must be at least 10 years old to zip and anyone under 18 must be represented by a legal guardian. Zipliners – I prefer Zippers – must be between 48” and 82” tall and must weigh between 50 and 260 pounds. Closed-toe shoes are also required.

Cambria Hotel Gatlinburg and rooftop bar in Gatlinburg

In 2020, the Cambria Hotel chain announced plans to build hotels in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Pigeon Forge location opened last fall while what is happening with the Gatlinburg locale has been a mystery. Gibson Hospitality Ventures – a nationwide hotel management company – has a website with a job listing for the hotel’s general manager position that indicates the hotel and its rooftop bar are “soon to open.”

The hotel is located on the Parkway next to the Smoky Mountain Trout House and will have 132 rooms. Cambria is considered an upscale brand. An article shared by several hotel industry sites in November of 2024 indicated the brand has had several recent openings – including the Pigeon Forge location – and talked about planned groundbreakings in Oregon and Missouri. But it did not mention the Gatlinburg location at that time.

Blue Moose Burgers and Wings in Gatlinburg

Coming to the former Landshark Bar and Grill near Margaritaville in Gatlinburg, the Blue Moose – which already has a Pigeon Forge location – is expected to open in May of 2025. What do they sell? Burgers. Wings. It’s right there in the name. They do not, however, serve Blue Moose at this family-friendly sports bar.

Myron Mixon’s

Goodbye, Crawdaddy’s. Hello, Myron Mixon’s Barbecue Co. Myron Mixon is a world-renowned barbecue chef, not a former Pittsburgh Steeler as I originally thought. The restaurant will remain part of the Kennedy Concepts family, which includes Pucker’s Sport Grill, Loco Burro and Johnny Rockets. Mixon is a champion on the barbecue competition circuit who has been frequently featured on reality TV cooking shows. The restaurant is expected to open in May.

Things That Have Been Announced but May Not Be Imminent

The Truth Traveler

The Truth Traveler, which will be located next to the China Gift Mart in Pigeon Forge, was announced with a planned opening of Spring 2025. It doesn’t appear from looking at the building that it’s going to meet that goal. This biblically based VR experience takes guests through key historic moments from the Bible.

The experience was developed in conjunction with the Ark Encounter in Kentucky and planned openings in Pigeon Forge and Branson, Missouri, have been announced. Mindscape Creative has an official website with a section for joining the teams in Branson or Pigeon Forge. However, the majority of the job listings are for the Kentucky facility. The respective Facebook pages for the Pigeon Forge and Branson locations are active – recently advertising the ultimate Time Traveler snack but updated opening information is not available on either.

Things that have closed or are closing

Walgreens Pharmacy (Not Store) Downtown Gatlinburg

It always seemed odd to me that Walgreens held onto that location on the strip. It seems like it could be more valuable as something else. I recognize that tourists need aspirin and other medicinal products, but it seems like they’d be willing to drive off the strip to get them. Meanwhile, who is filling prescriptions in such a hard-to-drive-to location? It just never made sense.

Trotters Whole Hog Barbecue

RIP. Gone too soon.

Landsharks Bar and Grill

First Jimmy. Now this. It’s a good thing there’s a couple more in Pigeon Forge.

Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!

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New Attractions in the Smoky Mountains for 2024

These are the new attractions from 2024 that are now open

Change is the nature of the business in the Smokies. Attractions come and go. Restaurants follow one after the other.

Sites that used to be go-cart tracks become T-shirt shops or pancake palaces or whatever the next great thing is. And all the while there is expansion.

Land is developed in Sevierville, Kodak or Wears Valley as the tourism footprint goes ever larger.

Here, I’ll list out the most anticipated new attractions for 2024

There is always something new in Sevier County and surrounding the mountains.

Either something is being built or remodeled or something else has just opened or is about to open.

Attractions that are already open

Target

Welcome to the White Whale of the corridor between Knoxville and Johnson City.

Shoppers have been clamoring for a Target – aka Wal-Mart with style – for decades.

We were close once at the development that was Exit 417, but it never got past the site development stage. But now, years of retail dreams are about to become a reality.

The new Target – located not far from Wilderness of the Smokies Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville

WildSide

This one is an already open site, but there will be more to come.

The new park is 900 acres of wilderness just minutes from downtown Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

The new park offers guests a range of activities from entry-level to challenging for those fearless adventurers with 15 miles of trails and 1,500 feet of elevation change.

Activities include hiking, biking, e-biking and guided UTV tours, which is like an ATV crossed with a dune buggy.

The park is built around the breathtaking views from the summit of Raven’s Den mountain.

Though WildSide is newly opened, there is more to come.

For instance, the park just announced – a mega zipline billed as the longest zipline in America.

The Mega Zip at WildSide will stand atop gorgeous mountain ridges overlooking Pigeon Forge.

The continuous line extends an impressive 5,771 feet, offering an uninterrupted flight that’s more than a mile if I’m doing the math right.

There is a total vertical drop of more than a thousand feet. This means that riders will soar through the air at speeds promised to leave hearts racing and spirits soaring.

The adventure begins from a towering elevation of around 2,472 feet, descending to a final elevation of 1,377 feet.

Whether you’re an experienced zip-liner or a first-time flyer, the Mega Zip at WildSide is engineered to provide an exhilarating yet safe experience.

The Mega Zip is expected to open in the spring of 2025. WildSide is from the same company that owns Anakeesta.

Sugarbaby in Gatlinburg

Wait, you’re telling me someone is trying to make a buck selling outlandish sweet treats in Gatlinburg?

It’ll never work. Seriously, though, Sugarbaby is going to make money hand over fist.

It offers everything from over-the-top milkshakes, with boozy options for adults, to whimsical cotton candy characters that bring a playful touch to every visit.

Dive into the sundaes or go all out with the loaded Celebration Kitchen Sink, perfect for sharing.

Is the stated mission to “enrich the lives of guests and team members by providing the highest level of food and beverage quality, as well as legendary guest service in a clean, comfortable environment with an energetic ambiance” a bit grandiose for a milkshake place?

Perhaps. But they do sell the Campfire, which is rocky road ice cream, Nutella, Biscoff dust, a red and orange drizzle, s’mores, mini Teddy Grahams, a toasted marshmallow skewer, a Hershey bar, mini cotton candy, whipped cream, and a sparkler.

So maybe our lives will be enriched. Sugar Baby is located at 727 Parkway #1 in Gatlinburg.

The Heirloom Room

For years, businesses have been trying to stretch the Parkway traffic down along the West Prong of the Little Pigeon with varying success.

Sure, Hillbilly Golf has been there for longer than any of us have been alive.

However, other businesses and restaurants have had varying successes.

There does seem to be some consistency developing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this area become just as active as the regular strip in the coming years.

The Heirloom Room offers a self-billed Smoky Mountain Culinary Experience.

This upscale dining experience focuses on the art and artistry of the culinary and mixology experience.

The menu is a mix of a daring nod to classic mountain flavors and favorites of foodies everywhere.

I doubt a lot of the mountain folk were doing charcuterie boards. But I guarantee they’d cook up some frog legs after a night of gigging.

This kind of restaurant is gaining a toehold in the Downtown section of Sevierville.

It’s exciting seeing someone try to make it work in Gatlinburg. The Heirloom Room is located at 333 Parkway in Gatlinburg.

Space Race Adventure

Not every new attraction in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is trying to reinvent the wheel.

Space Race Adventure – which opened in the spring of 2024 – offers laser tag, mini golf, go-kart racing and virtual reality experiences including a roller coaster.

It’s located across from the Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall on the Parkway.

Is it the best of any of those activities?

No. But it’s fun and a great spot to do a lot of things without having to drive around and find parking.

The Dolly Parton Experience

Are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced?

If you were hoping in vain that this Dollywood exhibit would be the Mountain Majesty’s tribute to Jimi Hendrix, you will be sorely disappointed.

However, if you were hoping this would be an upgraded version of the Chasing Rainbows Museum, you’re in luck.

Triple the size of the Chasing Rainbows Museum, the experience invites guests to explore three distinct areas highlighting Dolly’s incredible life.

There is the Songteller Exhibit which showcases her music career. Behind the Seams focuses on Dolly’s ever-evolving but always iconic style through the years.

The DreamSong Theater has also reopened with a revamped queue highlighting Dolly’s personal life, focusing on her family and faith.

Dollywood is located at 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd. in Pigeon Forge.

Smokin’ Banjo Wine Company

Located across from the Village Shoppes at 631 Parkway in Gatlinburg, the Smokin’ Banjo bills itself as the rebel of the rollin’ hills of Tennessee.

I don’t know about all that. But they do offer a line of wines and ciders they say are unconventional, so I say flirt with the bounds of good sense.

Sure, they offer several options that are about what you’d expect. There’s a variety of muscadine, a chardonnay and a variety of fruit wines.

But there’s also a Mountain Chocolate that caused one of my eyebrows to arch dramatically. And a Dreamsicle wine that caused both of my eyebrows to leap off my face and seek solace at a more respectable establishment.

Still, it’s fun and there’s a lot of variety – surely something that will please any palette.

There’s a lot of distillery competition in Downtown Gatlinburg.

I don’t know if Smokin’ Banjo should be first on your list. But at least they manage to stand out in the crowd.

Cloud Catcher Zipline

When area businessman Joe Baker and his team purchased the iconic but fading Ober Gatlinburg, many in the region were excited.

Baker’s track record of leadership and – frankly – the presumed ability to invest boded well for the attraction.

Those optimistic feelings have been rewarded as the re-branded Ober Mountain located on Ski Mountain Rd. seems to be in the process of reaching new heights. In this case quite literally.

The Cloud Catcher Zipline Experience at Ober Mountain features the highest starting point of any zipline in the Smoky Mountains.

The journey begins as you ride the Scenic Chairlift to the peak of Mt Harrison at over 3,400 feet in elevation.

The zipline course features breathtaking views of Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Each zip features four parallel lines, so you can soar above the clouds – or through them – with up to three of your friends and family.

It’s a 3,200-foot-long zip ride that’s over 300 feet off the ground.

The Cloud Catcher offers a fully automated braking system and state-of-the-art equipment from industry leaders in Bonsai.

It’s hopefully a taste of more to come at Ober.

Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay

If you want to make a splash in the Seiver County mini-golf scene, you’ve got to go big or risk getting left adrift in a sea of mediocre courses.

Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay went big. Located across the strip from Teaster Lane near the Mellow Mushroom and Magic Castle, Sky Pirates features 36 holes of “epic” mini-golf theming.

You choose from two 18-hole courses – one mermaid-themed and one Sky Pirate-themed.

In addition to the regular mini-golf obstacles on the courses – one indoor and one on the roof – there are mermaid and sky pirate characters you can meet and interact with along the way.

It’s big, shiny and new and stands in stark contrast to many of the mini-golf courses in the area which have seen better days.

Change is constant in the Smokies. New experiences or new versions of older experiences are always on the horizon.

It’s part of what makes visiting the mountains – or living here – fun.

Whether you’re in the mood to mini golf with mermaids or test the laws of physics eight stories high in a raft designed to make it feel like you’re in space, there’s almost always something new for everyone in the Smokies.

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10 New Restaurants in the Smoky Mountains You Need to Try

There are seemingly always new attractions and restaurants opening up in the Great Smoky Mountains. For example, LeConte Tapas & Grill is a new restaurant that just opened in 2023. The highly anticipated Azul Cantina in Pigeon Forge is also now open.

LeConte Tapas & Grill

This Spanish-style tapas and grill opened in May 2023. We’ve come a long way, honestly.

Tapas in East Tennessee would have been nigh unthinkable 30 years ago. But be aware.

The lunch menu is a lot more “grill” than it is “tapas” with burgers and sandwiches and apps like pretzel bites and mini corn dogs and fried green tomatoes.

But when the night comes? Everything changes like a culinary werewolf.

The tapas options include bleu bacon dates (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with gorgonzola, pan-seared and served with blue agave syrup) and gambas al ajillo (gulf shrimp scampi with fresh Roma tomatoes and herbs served with a grilled baguette).

There are also non-tapas dinner options including the miso-glazed Chilean seabass, honey charred ribs, and an executive kabob (with skewered tenderloin tips, Maine lobster, sweet peppers, red onions and squash glazed with wine honey served with vegetable rice pilaf). LeConte Tapas & Grill is located at 803 East Parkway, Gatlinburg.

Underdogs Pizza

Keeping up with the comings and goings of pizza joints in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg must be a full-time gig.

Like, I imagine there’s somebody in the depths of the Sevier County courthouse – a subordinate of the Registrar of Deeds – whose office smells vaguely of tomato sauce and green peppers – with a stack of legal documents stapled to the back of pizza boxes.

As for the Underdogs business model?

It’s a bit … different. It’s part of the Smoky Mountain Trout House, Crystelle Creek Restaurant and Parton’s Deli family of business all there near each other on the Parkway.

The place, which opened in spring of 2023, does not deliver, or take online orders.

The menu is pizza, wings, and garlic sticks. The place seats up to 20 customers with a 75-inch HDTV to watch sports.

It’s basic but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. Underdogs is located at 334 Parkway, Gatlinburg beside the famous car parked in front of Parton’s Deli (IYKYK).

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Rooftop Bar

Come for the food, stay for the party. What in the name of Blake Shelton’s is this?

In 2023, country singer Jason Aldean – from Macon, Georgia – became the latest in a long line of celebrities like Jimmy Buffet, Paula Deen and more going all the way back to Ronnie Milsap to open a joint in Sevier County.

Aldean’s seems to follow the Ole Red model, though I’m sure Shelton followed someone else’s model. 

The restaurant itself is split into three floors. The first is primarily a gift shop.

Floor two houses the main restaurant. And floor three features a rooftop bar with live music and quick-service BBQ (cooked on a real smoker with much faster service).

Starters at the main restaurant include nachos, buffalo cauliflower and a Bavarian pretzel.

Truthfully, the main courses run the gambit of about what you’d expect – chicken diablo pasta and a pulled pork sandwich – to surprising.

For instance, I did NOT expect an $80 “Tommy” hawk ribeye there amongst the other entrees which range from $16 to $26.

The menu notes it was created by Aldean and Chef Tomasz Wosiak. Let’s hope Jason let the Wos handle the heavy culinary lifting. Jason Aldean’s is located at 644 Parkway, Gatlinburg.

Azul Cantina

The waiting? It was the hardest part. Azul looked like it was going to be awesome. The under-construction restaurant with a rooftop bar had a cool design.

It had a cool website that promised authentic Tex-Mex flavors at a time when good Mexican food was hard to find in the area. And then?

Everything just stopped. No work, no updates, no Azul. It had gotten to the point that I assumed Azul would never be. And then one day, it was. Work resumed.

The restaurant opened and everything was as good as promised. It’s good Tex-Mex cuisine with a rooftop bar that offers an interesting view of the strip.

It’s fun, fresh and delicious.

Start with the esquites beef eggroll and go to the birria burrito or the chicken tacos. You won’t be sorry. Azul is located in the Mountain Mile at 2655 Teaster Lane, Suite 305.

Crumbl Cookies

Crumbl Cookies is a chain of cookie stores with branches across the country. The Pigeon Forge Crumbl sells cookies for pick up or delivery.

The menu changes weekly with six gourmet flavors – including the mystery flavor for which you must either go to the store or download the app to solve the riddle of that week’s six flavors. What else do you want to know?

They’re cookies. They’re delicious. Are they worth more than $4 each? That’s a personal decision that I can’t make for you but if you’re asking me?

The answer is grudgingly, “yes”. Crumbl Pigeon Forge is located at 2655 Teaster Lane, Suite 245 Pigeon Forge and closed on Sundays (at the time of this writing).

Sunnyland Farms

At some point, you have to respect the dedication of a store or restaurant dedicated to specificity. What do they sell? Nuts. Located among the Mountain Mile shops – like Azul and Crumbl Cookies – Sunnyland Farms traffics in the best and freshest pecans and nuts you will find.

They also have “goodies” and “gifts.” “Goodies” are a variety of baked items – most of which contain pecans and nuts – like banana bread, pecan pie or fruitcakes. “Gifts” are a variety of items for giving to other people – tins full of things like nuts and pecans, or a nice-glazed apricot, if you’re into that kind of thing. Sunnyland Farms is located at 2655 Teaster Ln Store #243, Pigeon Forge.

The Corner Diner

Located at unsurprisingly, the corner, of the Food City building on Teaster Lane, the Corner Diner is a surprising addition to the Pigeon Forge culinary scene. We are all taught not to judge a book by its cover. 

You wouldn’t think a corner spot of a grocery-store-anchored strip mall would be the go-to place to celebrate the intricate beauty of Classic American Diner cuisine but here we are.

Every time we’ve been to the place it is hopping. The menu is a tribute to the beauty of what a true artist can do with a grill. Classic smash burgers, pancakes, French toast, omelets, waffles as well as biscuits and gravy and more.

When you stop in at this diner, do what all true diner-heads do when they find a new spot and sample the chili.

It’s the perfect spot for classic American diner food for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Corner Diner is located at 3060 Teaster Lane.

Sun Diner

Located on the first floor of Jason Aldean’s building on the Parkway, the Sun Diner is another Nashville establishment that made its way to the Smoky Mountains.

Open for breakfast and lunch throughout the week and for breakfast, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturdays, the Sun Diner is kind of like the Hard Rock but devoted specifically to the heyday of the classic Sun Records in Nashville and the artists who recorded there.

We’re talking Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash.

The menu? It’s Southern fried diner food with a rockabilly twist. We’re talking chicken n’ waffles, country fried steak and eggs, burger melts and more.

If you want the real Sun Records experience, there is one thing you have to do: Get the Elvis Pancake, even if it’s just for the table where everybody can get a bite. Elvis – if he has any real claim to the title King of Rock and Roll – became the King when he recorded for Sun Records.

The best way to pay tribute to the King is to eat these fluffy pancakes with peanut butter drizzle and bananas foster. The Sun Diner is located at 646 Parkway, Gatlinburg beside Jason Aldean’s.

Solarzanos Pizza

It’s classic Italian pizzeria food via Hoboken, New Jersey with locations in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and a handful of places in Florida. It’s pizza by the slice, classic signature pizzas and a variety of gourmet pizzas.

If you’re looking for something less traditional, the buffalo chicken gourmet pizza is a classic white pizza with a ricotta base, mozzarella cheese, fried chicken, ranch and buffalo drizzle.

But if you’re looking for something more traditional, the Solorzano’s supreme is the classic pie topped with pepperoni, sausage, meatball, bacon, mushroom, onion, green peppers and black olives. There are now two locations in the Smokies.

The Pigeon Forge location is at 204 Pine Mountain Rd #5. The Gatlinburg location is at 1235 East Pkwy (at the old Taste of Italy spot).

Roma Table

Roma Table is the newest concept in the Collier Restaurant Group – which includes a wide variety of tastes and styles including The Melting Pot, TGI Fridays, Quaker Steak & Lube, three different Pancake Cabins and the Golden Corral.

In all, it’s 10 restaurant concepts and 18 locations. Roma Table will offer “elevated” Italian dining that includes pizzas and classic Italian entrees.

Located at 1503 Parkway in Sevierville, the restaurant is across Collier Drive from Quaker Steak & Lube and across the Parkway from the Walmart Supercenter.

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Major New Attractions (And More) Coming to Dollywood in 2025, 2026

If the 40-year history of Dollywood has taught us anything, it’s that the park’s leadership does not believe in allowing the park to stagnate.

When Dolly Parton partnered with Herschend Family Entertainment, Silver Dollar City, as the park was known, received an instant investment infusion of $5 million.

When it opened for the 1986 season as Dollywood, the park was rewarded with a massive attendance increase. Perhaps as much as 75%, depending on your source. The way forward was clear. 

Through a well-thought-out and measured campaign of investment and growth, Dollywood would shed its cocoon of a relatively minor theme park. Wings were stretched and Dollywood became one of the world’s best and most recognized amusement parks. 

That doesn’t mean every decision has worked out or that there haven’t been bumps in the road. For instance, the River Battle was – I believe – a good and well-executed idea. But it just didn’t work.

To their credit, Dollywood’s management recognized it wasn’t working. They shut it down after nine seasons and you’ll see something new in its place this year. 

The ability to be clear and level-headed, not stubborn, has been a big part of Dollywood’s success.

There is a willingness to recognize what works and double down, such as the popular Wildwood Grove addition, which was quickly followed by the Big Bear Mountain roller coaster. More growth beyond Big Bear seems to be coming down the pike. 

With this in mind, here is what we know about what is – or might be – coming soon.

1. A new restaurant

The Wilderness Pass Restaurant will open for the 2025 season in mid-April. It will be at the former location of the River Battle.

The restaurant, with its covered outdoor seating, will bring some sorely needed quick-service dining to the Wilderness Pass Area of the park between Mystery Mine and Wild Eagle.

The restaurant’s menu includes rotisserie chicken, fish, and pork. Menu prices range from around $15 to $22.

2. New parking

As much as I appreciate the efforts of Dollywood management to improve the park over the years, the biggest lingering issue is parking. The lot itself is awkward.

The buses and trams can get overwhelmed during peak times. As I’ve said before, my top 10 worst experiences at Dollywood have all been trying to get back to my car at the end of the day.

There was even a day last year when Dollywood officials suggested people park at Patriot Park and take the city trolley to Dollywood.

I don’t have many hard and fast rules in life, but one of them is that if the amusement park’s parking lot is full, the park is full. Go somewhere else. I’m not taking a tram just to get on another tram to go to your park.

The good news is that help is on the way. Dollywood officials have unveiled a large new lot above the preferred parking area that will significantly increase Dollywood’s parking capacity.

Work began in the summer with dozers moving earth and flattening a space to create more space for parking. I’m certainly curious as to how it changes parking logistics.

The lot is placed on the far side of the preferred pay lot, away from the park. It doesn’t appear accessible to the current tram and bus system. Will it have a bus route?

It’s walkable, but it would be a pretty good hike for some. I’m also curious if there will eventually be a public Wildwood Grove entrance – as part of the multi-phase Wildwood Grove rollout – which could save people walking up and down that massive hill to the current second bus system.

3. Wildwood Grove phases

When Wildwood Grove – a massive expansion that increased park size by 20% – opened in 2019, the indication was that was just phase I.

The addition of the Big Bear Coaster appears to have been phase II. Owens basically said they are developing another park at Wildwood Grove. He also indicated phase III is coming in 2026 and a phase IV beyond that. 

“The Goal is we become the preferred family destination in the United States,” Owens said.

If you think about it, Wildwood Grove as a second park makes sense. Dollywood has opened two major hotels in DreamMore and HeartSong and plans for up to three more.

To accommodate that many guests, Dollywood either needs a second park or to make the existing park much bigger.  

4. A $50 million attraction 

We have these listed as three separate entries, but there’s a chance all three are related. In his interview, Owens says the 2026 project is phase III.

It isn’t 100% clear, but he appears to be referring to this attraction, which he discusses in slightly more detail later in the interview. Asked if it’s a ride, Owens hesitates.

He refers to it as a major attraction. The nearly $50 million attraction put me in mind of something like Disney’s massive and immersive Star Wars Rise of the Resistance until I searched on Yahoo and found out that Rise cost $500 million. So, it’s probably not that. Plus, Owens indicated it’s something entirely new. 

“It’s something that no one has ever done before,” Owens said.

But what is it? Well, the Mountain Press reported that Dollywood officials revealed to the Pigeon Forge City Commission that the attraction would be 43,000 square feet on a three-and-a-half-acre tract behind Wildwood Grove. The building will hold up to 1,000 people.

Silver Dollar City – Dollywood’s sister park in Branson, Missouri, recently launched an all-new version of its classic Fire in the Hole, a sister ride to Dollywood’s Blazing Fury. The old version was weird and cheesy. It’s a $30 million dark ride built in a large building with themed surrounding acreage known as the Fire District Area.  

However, making an appearance on something called No Coaster Con, Dollywood officials made a vague reference to Ranger Ned building a storage shed behind Big Bear. The implication is that whatever is being built back there will fit neatly with the Wildwood Grove theming. And not some shoe-horned version of Blazing Fury, which wouldn’t match the Wildwood Grove theming at all. 

5. Blazing Fury refurbishment

During his interview, Owens referred to a legacy refurbishment. During the conversation, Owens certainly seems to be referring to two separate projects, the $50 million attraction and the legacy refurbishment.

And on the preview day, as suspected, Dollywood announced that Blazing Fury will be updated and the water feature is returning.

What other additions are coming to Dollywood in 2025

The Dollywood Website has announced several other improvements or additions for the 2025 – 40th anniversary season. They include a new stage show celebrating the park’s history of entertainment.

Also added are a new 40th-anniversary drone and fireworks show and a “newly refreshed” Country Fair with all new seasonal overlays. At the preview, it was confirmed that Country Fair games are gone, replaced by a new splash pad.

Other improvements include new paint, carpet, and seats in the Celebrity Theater. A new outdoor Dollywood sign on a hill, inspired by the Hollywood sign in California, will also be installed.

The Heartsong Theater has been renamed The Imagination Playhouse. The Heartsong Show will move to the Dolly Parton Experience.

Are you planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains soon? Make sure to check out our coupons page before your trip!

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