Sure, most people tend to spend their vacation time in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. But there’s plenty to do in Sevierville, too.
Recently, I was able to escape my home office and enjoy one of my favorite things during a workday: Work on site. My staff at TheSmokies.com had a long list of photos we needed of new attractions and new restaurants around the area, so we split up. I took Sevierville, and the rest of my team headed to Gatlinburg. As they looked for parking and fought the crowds of downtown Gatlinburg, I was walking around a nearly deserted downtown Sevierville. It made me realize that guests who visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park may be overlooking this area.
My top suggestions for things to do in Sevierville, TN include exploring downtown Sevierville, visiting the Dolly Parton statue, eating at Pinchy’s Lobster, visiting the Jackson Magnolia tree, taking selfies at the Wings of Wander mural, visiting the Apple Barn, Shopping at Tanger Outlets, visiting SkyLand Ranch and waiting for Dig’n Zone to open (all part of the theme, folks!)
Things to do in Sevierville
| Rank | Attraction | Best for … |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Downtown | Lovers of local boutiques and coffee. |
| 2 | Dolly Parton’s Statue | People who want a selfie with Dolly. |
| 3 | Restaurants | Foodies. |
| 4 | Jackson Magnolia Tree | History buffs. |
| 5 | Wings of Wander Mural | People in need of a good pic for the ‘gram. |
| 6 | The Apple Barn | Visitors in the mood for apple-flavored everything – from wine to jam to bread. |
| 7 | Tanger Outlets | Bargain hunters. |
| 8 | SkyLand Ranch | Families who love mountain coasters, petting zoos and mountain views. |
| 9 | Soaky Mountain | Lovers of waterparks (open in the summertime only). |
| 10 | Dig’n Zone | Kids who want to “play” with heavy construction equipment. |
1. Explore downtown Sevierville
I love downtown Sevierville. It’s pedestrian-friendly and never crowded. Plus there’s plenty of free unmetered 2-hour street parking available. There aren’t nearly as many shops specifically in downtown Sevierville as there are in Gatlinburg. It’s mostly offices, yoga studios or banks. But still, you have a handful of options if you’re looking to spend a couple of hours in a chill Smoky Mountain environment.
If you like crafting, be sure to check out The Cherry Pit Quilt Shop. Sweet Pea & Ivy is also a hidden gem in the downtown area. Finally, Beyond 436 offers a variety of hand-selected accessories and home decor.
2. Visit the Dolly Parton Statue
Crafted by artist Jim Gray, the statue was built in front of the Sevier County courthouse to honor the hometown hero, Dolly Parton. In an interview, Dolly once said that her dad would go down to the courthouse to clean off her statue for her while he was still alive. She said that he would tell her, “To your fans, you may be some sort of an idol, but to the pigeons down at the courthouse, you’re just another outhouse.” All joking aside, Dolly has said she is very proud of this statue. Plus, it’s probably the closest thing I’ll personally ever get to a selfie with her, so I’ll take it. The Dolly Parton Statue is located at 125 Court Ave, Sevierville, TN 37862.
3. Eat in downtown Sevierville
If you spend an afternoon in downtown Sevierville, there’s a good chance you’ll spend a lot of that time eating some great food. Graze Burgers is famous for its locally sourced, grass-fed beef and family-friendly atmosphere. On select nights, they have live entertainment on the patio. If you’re looking for a more upscale experience, The Appalachian offers a romantic aesthetic with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. But perhaps one of my favorite places to get a meal in downtown lately is Pinchy’s Lobster. I love their lobster rolls and sushi, and it has truly become a local favorite. Finally, if you’re in the mood for a pick-me-up, Honeybee Coffee Co. offers some of the best coffee in the entire area.
4. Visit the Jackson Magnolia Tree
Here’s a fun fact: Did you know that a piece of White House history grows in Sevierville? The Jackson Magnolia tree has quite a history behind it. In the 1800s, Andrew Jackson took a seedling from his wife’s favorite magnolia and planted it at the White House. A seedling from that tree was shared with Senator Howard Baker, who planted it and then provided a seedling from his tree to Judge Rex Henry Ogle, who donated it to the City of Sevierville. It is near the Bruce Street Gazebo in downtown.
5. Wings of Wander Mural
For an Instagram photo opportunity, look for a set of wings that are inspired by Dolly herself. The Wings of Wander was done by local artist Pinkie Mistry and features a monarch butterfly, inspired by Dolly’s song “Love is Like a Butterfly”. There’s also another mural downtown that depicts a young, blonde child enjoying a burger at Red’s Cafe, a former Sevierville restaurant that young Dolly was said to have favorited. The Wings of Wander mural is located at 111 E Main St, Sevierville, TN 37862.
6. Visit the Apple Barn
If you want to venture outside of downtown, one of my favorite “free” things to do in Sevierville visiting The Apple Barn Cider Mill. The area is free to explore, but you’ll probably be tempted to let go of a little cash once you smell the apple fritters. You can also sample wine and apple cider while you’re here. There are also two popular restaurants on site: The Applewood Farmhouse Grill and Applewood Restaurant. Neither take reservations and can be popular during the busy season. Free parking is available on-site. The Apple Barn is located at 230 Apple Valley Rd, Sevierville, TN 37862.
7. Shop Tanger Outlets
What’s a vacation if you don’t hit up a few outlets and get your discount shopping on? Tanger Outlets features dozens of popular brands including Old Navy, The North Face, GAP, Under Armour, Coach, Nike, Columbia, Victoria’s Secret, Torey Burch, Kate Spade and more. Ample parking is available but be warned – this outlet mall can become very crowded on holiday weekends and nearly impossible to navigate on Black Friday. Tanger Outlets is located at 1645 Parkway Ste 960, Sevierville, TN 37862.
8. Visit SkyLand Ranch
A relative newcomer to the Smoky Mountains is the SkyLand Ranch. SkyLand Ranch is almost like a mini, western-themed Anakeesta. There’s a chairlift, a mountain coaster, an observation tower, miniature animals, dining, and shows. I’ve never in my life felt more attached to a petting zoo creature than I did with resident miniature bull Diesel. If you see him, tell him I said “hi”. There are a variety of ticket bundles and packages available on the SkyLand Ranch website, but general admission (which includes their chairlift but not the mountain coaster) runs from $12.99 (kids 3-9) to $21.99 (ages 10-adult). Combo passes are also available. Free parking is available on-site. SkyLand Ranch is located at 1620 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862.
9. Visit Soaky Mountain
If you happen to be visiting Sevierville in the summer, be sure to check out Soaky Mountain – the area’s largest waterpark (usually open from late May – early Sept). Soaky has everything you’d want in a waterpark including mountain coasters, a wave pool, body slides, float rides, a surf simulator and one of the most cleverly designed kid’s play areas you will ever see. They even built miniature replicas of the adult slides by the wading pool for the littles so they’ll never feel left out.
Plus Soaky Mountain is just clean and modern. I prefer it to its area competitor, Splash Country (by Dollywood). Soaky even uses special flooring on the ride queues to keep your tootsies from burning while in line. Gotta love that little attention to detail.
Plus, Soaky Mountain is affordable. General admission is usually $49.99 per person. But they offer deals and discounts throughout the off-season including season passes and bundles, both of which we strongly recommend. Soaky Mountain is located at 175 Gists Creek Rd, Sevierville, TN 37876.
10. Dig’n Zone
Finally, we have an unusual theme park concept that you’re unlikely to see anywhere else – Dig N Zone. When complete, this theme park is slated to cover 27 acres and feature areas where guests of all ages can enjoy operating various heavy construction equipment.
This attraction was originally slated to open in early March, but true to its construction theme – construction has since been delayed. We now expect Dig’n Zone to formally debut by the summer 2024. Dig’n Zone theme park is located at 1707 Veterans Blvd, Sevierville, TN 37862.
RELATED VIDEO: Things To Do in Downtown Sevierville TN
What are your favorite things to do in Sevierville, Tennessee? Let us know in the comments.
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I will certainly make my way to this city in the near future. I have been there before to see Dolly at the Courthouse a few years ago and am glad the City has been upgraded. I love Pigeon Forge And Gatlinburg. See y’all soon.
You left out Seasons 101 and the Central Hotel. I love the restaurant. It also has a rooftop bar
There is a little shop right outside of Sevierville called Aunt Debbies Country Store. We went in there because my neighbor asked me to pick up some jam that was supposed to be there. What a gem, wonderful owner and locally made items along with the jam my neighbor was hoping for. My next trip I will be going back!
Midge Bee – Sorry to say that Aunt Debbies Country store is permanently closed
Wanderlust is a great place for a facial and/or haircut. After my recent appointment i walked around, found nice quilting & fabric store. Next door I went into the GRAZE & enjoyed a nice lunch..very laid back atmosphere. We are northern transplants & still looking for things to do!!
Omg we love Sevierville Tennessee there is so much to do there and the people there are so nice . We just came down there in June and got married. We went to the ckrt house for our marriage license. We are coming back down in sept to hopefully find a place to live at in Sevierville . My husband was offered a few different jobs down there and we really want to get down there so he can get to work .
Longs spring tiny homes are a great place to stay. After being at the crowds down at gatlenburg. Staying at the tiny homes was paradise. Clean and well kept. Loved our stay and the apple barn was the best. Good meal there also.
I love Sevierville! A ton of awesome restaurants with choices in many cuisines. Plus, you can drive easily. No stopping every five seconds for traffic.