The Smoky Mountain Opry debuted their ninth season on Feb. 28, 2020 with all-new musical numbers, only to close their doors less than three weeks later.
The closing was originally meant to be temporary.
However, representatives with the Smoky Mountain Opry announced that they were not be planning to reopen for the remainder of the 2020 season – if at all.
Is the Smoky Mountain Opry permanently closed?
In recent months, additional clues about the Opry’s fate indicate that the attraction may be permanently closed, or at the very least have no plans to reopen in the foreseeable future.
While the building and signage remain standing in Pigeon Forge, the Smoky Mountain Opry business pages on Facebook and Instagram have been deactivated since April of 2020.
Secondly, the Google listing for the Smoky Mountain Opry marks the attraction as “permanently closed.”
The Opry’s former website has also been taken down.
At one time, the website redirected users to a website featuring other World Choice Investment dinner shows.
These shows include the Dolly Parton’s Stampede, Pirates Voyage, Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud and The Comedy Barn Theater.
Currently, the former website is no longer active at all.
Alternative shows in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
If you’re looking for a few alternatives to the Smoky Mountain Opry, here are a few other shows in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg:
1. Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show
Dolly Parton’s Stampede, located in Pigeon Forge, features a friendly North vs. South competition and a four-course feast of Southern comfort food.
Guests can enjoy a live show featuring music, comedy, live animals, horse stunts and pyrotechnics during their meal. Ticket prices are usually around $59.99 per adult (prices may vary by season). Check the website for details.
Read Also: Is Dolly’s Stampede worth the money? What do they serve?
2. Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show
Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show is a dinner theater experience in Pigeon Forge. Guests join the adventures of the infamous pirate Blackbeard and his quartermaster Calico Jack.
Guests receive a four-course feast in stadium seating during the show. Ticket prices are around $59.99 per adult (prices may vary by season). Check the website for details.
3. Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud
The Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show is a dinner theater experience in Pigeon Forge, featuring a homestyle all-you-can-eat feast.
Hatfield & McCoy claims to put the “fun” in dysfunctional.
Guests enjoy a comical, mountain-style feud during their meal. Ticket prices are around $59.99 per adult (prices may vary by season). See the website for details.
Read Also: What is the best dinner show in Pigeon Forge? Our top 5 ranked
4. The Comedy Barn
The Comedy Barn Theater is a live music venue in Pigeon Forge.
This show has clean comedy routine for the family and is an award-winning family comedy variety show. The shows feature magicians, jugglers, ventriloquists, comedians and live music.
The Comedy Barn is also a bit more economical than some of the other local shows at just $34.99 per adult (prices may vary by season).
But it’s important to note, this show does not include dinner. Visit them online to purchase tickets.
5. Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud
Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud Show and Adventure Park is a tourist attraction in Pigeon Forge located in the Shops at Lumberjack Square.
The show features two feuding families as they compete through 13 competitive lumberjack events in an outdoor amphitheater.
The Adventure Park features a zipline roller coaster, the High Woodsman Challenge, competitive lumberjack events and more. Tickets start at about $34.99 (prices may vary by season). This price does not include dinner.
If you book, check Groupon for discounts.
6. Impossibilities Magic Show
Erik Dobell is a master mentalist and magician.
Dobell has traveled from Las Vegas to South Korea performing for audiences and companies such as the NFL, Macy’s and Goodyear, and now he performs at the historic Gatlinburg Space Needle.
Ticket prices usually start at around $29.95 (prices may vary by season). Visit the website to learn more.
7. Grand Majestic Theater
The Grand Majestic is home to four shows including Soul of Motown, Hit Parade, Hazard Hoedown and The Magic of Terry Evanswood.
Whether you want to sing, dance, laugh or be amazed, Grand Majestic has something for everyone.
Evanswood previously performed at Wonderworks in Pigeon Forge.
Ticket prices range from $24.95-36.95 but may vary by season and performance. Visit them online to purchase tickets.
Do you miss the Smoky Mountain Opry? Do you think something else will open in its place? Let us know in the comments.
So sad…the best show in Pigeon Forge by far!!! Why have all the other shows reopened and our favorite remained closed????
So very sad! Our favorite show. We made a point to come every year. Our grandkids loved it. This was definitely a variety of talent all in one show. Guess we will travel to Myrtle Beach to see Slim Chance now.
Would love to see it reopen with all its professionalism.
best show. my wife and I would see a show in July for our anniversary and come back to see their Christmas show. it’s so sad that it has closed. we’ll miss Slim Chance.
This was the best show in town. I would be there 2 or 3 times a year. Always noticed something different. Nothing else can compare. Big fan of all the music and tech these used. I will treasure the DVDs that I have when they sold them.
Best show in town. We are local and went at least twice a year. This show had talent a cut above all the rest.
This is so sad. There are other good shows, but The Opry was tops. what a disappointment!
we went twice a year to the show very best show anywhere makes me so sad it has closed that was the reason we went to Pigeon Forge and of course we spent money at other places but will not be back unless the Opry reopens
Best show in pigeon Forge. Someone will surely open it up. It was well run from a fans view. OPEN IT BACK.
Loved this show. Please bring it back.
Why? Best show in town. If you need more money to stay open, raise your ticket prices….it will be worth it!!
SMO was our favorite. So much variety and talent. The show started going down a few years ago when several of the regulars left, but it was still a quality show. A trip to Pigeon Forge just isn’t the same without it.
We had been going to Pigeon Forge for years for are vacation and loved going to the shows were they played country music !!!!! Now that we missed a couple of years its not the same very few Country Show any more . Its Tennessee AND TENNESSEE IS COUNTRY MUSIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was the best show by far, last year I had to take our family to Country tonight and it was awful, only a few people running the whole show, nothing compared to what we had previous seen there years ago which WAS NO comparison to the Opra show. So disappointed. Looking for a good show to take our family to this year. Nothing looks that good or promising. Sad.
Please bring back this show. We love this show we would go 2 to 3 times a year
Sad that this venue closed. Need to find a way to open this beautiful venue with a new professional cast. We loved the Christmas Show. Best talent in town.
Rose Ferguson We are soooo disappointed the Opry has closed. We loved all the performers and Slim Chance!! We always looked forward to seeing the show. Please bring it back!!!!
Big mistake closing the Opry. It was the best entertainment show in the area and will be missed by faithful patrons.
So disappointed that this show has closed. It was my favorite of all of the shows. Loved the quick change artists and Slim Chance.
At Christmas time the Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry, (Pigeon Forge) was awesome. The live Nativity with flying angels, live animals and great Christmas Music. Sad to see this go.
This makes no sense to me. This was the best show ever! I cannot understand closing this. What a waste!
You can keep Dolly and her Stampede, bring back The Smokey Mountain Opry.
Hey Dolly do you think you could fix this?
The best show in Pigeon Forge by far has closed?? This show was one of the main reasons we came twice a year. I really wish some negotiating could be done to have it reopen.
Can’t believe this show will not be opening back up. Definitely the best show in Pigeon Forge. Can’t believe it.
Is anyone reading these posts…as late as 4 days ago? This was the BEST entertainment in Pigeon Forge, and people would flock to it if it reopened. Perhaps Dolly ought to take a look if she hasn’t already. Just saying.
Please re-open Smoky Mountain Opera, just loved going there every visit to PF area… I so wish Dolly Parton organization would take it over and put her name on it… I didn’t know there were any problems at this 1st Class/Top Shelf Entertainment Venue, so someone PLEASE get your act together and Reopen SMO, NOW (please)… Dolly can you please help get this accomplished… your the absolute best. You can make it happen, I know you can, you can do a welcome via Hologram… and I surely need my Christmas Fix at SMO…coming up… thank you for listening. Terry. Ephrata, PA
Hi Terry! World Choice Investments, the owner of the Opry and several other establishments in the area, is Dolly Parton’s dinner show company.
Have been to several shows here and they were great! Please reopen!!
Came to the Smokies this weekend with family. I had bragged and bragged about this show to them. I was soo disappointed to see they were closed.. this show was so many visitors favorite.. so disappointed
I really would love to see them re-open the doors!
We loved this show! Please bring it back!
The CHRISTMAS SHOW was the best. I just went to the sight to buy tickets for Dec only to see the venue is permanently closed. 😞. Is there any Christmas show that will compare?
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto to all the comments above. Truly a loss. I have recommended this theatre to many people going to the Gatlinburg area. SAD! What a loss. We have seen many Vegas shows but none compared to the enjoyment we had at Smokey Mountain Opry. It just has to re-open.
Paul and Penni
So disappointed that this show has closed. It was my favorite of all of the shows. Sure wish Dolly would consider reopening this theatre.
It makes absolutely no sense that this venue would remain closed. As another person suggested simply raise the ticket prices to help generate more income and people would stay pay a higher price because the shows were excellent especially at Christmas. Been there twice and am very disappointed it hasn’t reopened. It is the best show in the Smokies. Not sure what the owners are thinking, don’t make sense.
Our family is truly disappointed at hearing the SMO has closed. It was the best show ever! We need it to reopen. Please! I’ll never forget the fun-filled adventure! A disappointed fan,
Rachel
Slim Chance is performing at Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach. Not one of my favorites.
Joint with all the comments. The very best. Loved the Christmas show and especially Slim Chance.
Went online tonight to check availability of tickets for the Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Show and was very disappointed to see that it is closed. Thought Alabama Theater’s Christmas Show at Myrtle Beach would be hard to beat, but Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Show was better. Brought our whole family (12) several years ago and everyone really liked it (children through older adult). There was something for everyone. Please bring it back.
Well… so I am leaving my comment again… not really certain why my original comment was not posted … BUT PLEASE POST MY COMMENT!
I ABSOLUTELY AM devastated that the Smoky Mountain Opry has been closed. That was the reason why my family and I came to Tennessee… we loved the Opry.
We came every year 2 -3 times a year ESPECIALLY CHRISTMAS…
So, we drive down the strip anticipating the beautiful lights of the Opry this year to find NO LIGHTS 🙁 very sad that the locals and officials let this happen.
The Opry is a place for dreamers and a place where dreams come true …PLEASE PLEASE BRING BACK THE OPRY PLEASE 💚
Where’s Slim Pickens? You just can’t have a complete vacation to PF without him. Sad!
SMO being closed is very sad. Love this place. We miss going. I hope they find a way to re-open in the future. Absolutely the best entertainment in Pigeon Forge.
This by far was my favorite show in Pigeon Forge. Always came from GA. 3 to 5 times a year just to see this show. I will start going to Myrtle Beach from now on because Alabama Theater puts on a fabulous show like the SMO did. So disappointed they will not be reopening.
So sad when we saw this show was closed ! Hoping it reopens still yet .. No other shows compare to this amazing show & SLIM .. The Christmas Show was the BEST 💔💔💔
Bring back the show! We loved it! Best show there!
Please bring back my family’s favorite show in the smoky mountains!! Pigeon Forge tourist needed this show. Raise your ticket price whatever it takes best entertainment for sure.
World Choice Investments owns too many entertainment venues in one place and has a monopoly on entertainment . There are now two large theater venues that are empty and thats a lot of entertainers and musicians out of work and empty buildings deteriorate quickly , would be a shame to see these places torn down . When Louise Mandrell had the place it was great when it was entertainer owned , maybe an entertainer who wants to quit touring will set up shop in one of these places , that would be great to see a Brooks n Dunn or Reba move down here !