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Helen Betts | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> The 'Unique' Experience of Pigeon Forge, TN tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

The 'Unique' Experience of Pigeon Forge, TN

We took a trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to visit the American Eagle Foundation headquarters as well as see at least some of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Quite by chance, we were also there for the total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, just miles from the path of totality. Dollywood is located in Pigeon Forge, but we decided not to see it due to the $126 entrance fee for the two of us (plus we've never had any desire to go there, anyway).

I haven't quite figured out how to organize this gallery since I have a lot of pictures from the AEF, some from the mountains and many from Pigeon Forge, which, not intending to insult anybody from there, has to be one of the tackiest looking towns I've ever seen, putting Las Vegas to shame.
Total solar eclipse in Pigeon Forge, TN
Total solar eclipse in Pigeon Forge, TN		 Meeting Challenger
Meeting Challenger		 Appearances can be deceiving
Appearances can be deceiving		 Pbase meet-up with Buz Kiefer
Pbase meet-up with Buz Kiefer
Hint of things to come
Hint of things to come		 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park		 Challenger
Challenger		 King Kong overseeing Pigeon Forge
King Kong overseeing Pigeon Forge
King Kong in context
King Kong in context		 'Free moonshine tasting' in Wears Valley
'Free moonshine tasting' in Wears Valley		 1830 original unaged corn moonshine
1830 original unaged corn moonshine		 Smoky, an African grey parrot and AEF staff member
Smoky, an African grey parrot and AEF staff member
Sahraa takes a swim
Sahraa takes a swim		 Titanic museum
Titanic museum		 Machine gun rentals?
Machine gun rentals?		 Glimpse inside the Christmas store
Glimpse inside the Christmas store
George, the turkey vulture
George, the turkey vulture		 Over-the-top entryways (1)
Over-the-top entryways (1)		 Over-the-top entryways (2)
Over-the-top entryways (2)		 Over-the-top entryways (3)
Over-the-top entryways (3)
Been there, not done that
Been there, not done that		 Reminders of devastation
Reminders of devastation		 Belle, the eastern screech owl
Belle, the eastern screech owl 		Magic
Magic
Patriotic stables
Patriotic stables		 'Goats on the Roof'
'Goats on the Roof'		 Roller coaster and goats on the roof
Roller coaster and goats on the roof		 'Get rustic' moonshine
'Get rustic' moonshine
Challenger showing off (1/4)
Challenger showing off (1/4)		 Challenger showing off (2/4)
Challenger showing off (2/4)		 Challenger showing off (3/4)
Challenger showing off (3/4)		 Challenger showing off (4/4)
Challenger showing off (4/4)
Challenger taking a break
Challenger taking a break		 'Cute' in Wears Valley
'Cute' in Wears Valley		 A bit bizarre
A bit bizarre		 Enormous waterslide
Enormous waterslide
'Hand forged Tennessee spirits'
'Hand forged Tennessee spirits'		 One half of the distillery
One half of the distillery		 The other half of the distillery
The other half of the distillery		 Sundance, the Harris's hawk
Sundance, the Harris's hawk
Keowah, the red-tailed hawk
Keowah, the red-tailed hawk		 Christmas all year round
Christmas all year round		 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, again
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, again		 Interesting combination
Interesting combination
Kettle corn
Kettle corn		 'Welcome, friends'
'Welcome, friends'		 Lance, the gyr-saker falcon
Lance, the gyr-saker falcon		 The alternate Ferris wheel
The alternate Ferris wheel
Bear country
Bear country		 Buy a bear
Buy a bear		 'Chainsaw carving'
'Chainsaw carving'		 Cemetery in the national park
Cemetery in the national park
Barry, the barred owl
Barry, the barred owl		 Another 'magical' place
Another 'magical' place		 Bear clothing?
Bear clothing?		 It's always Christmas in Pigeon Forge
It's always Christmas in Pigeon Forge
'Sugarlands Shine'
'Sugarlands Shine'		 Bo, the American kestrel
Bo, the American kestrel		 'Rock climbing' at Clingman's Dome
'Rock climbing' at Clingman's Dome		 'Boiled peanuts'
'Boiled peanuts'
Another pass by the Titanic
Another pass by the Titanic		 'God bless America'
'God bless America'		 Not yet officially named desert owl
Not yet officially named desert owl		 'Dinner feud'
'Dinner feud'
Great Smoky Mountain forest
Great Smoky Mountain forest		 Bears and eagles, for a change
Bears and eagles, for a change		 Catfish with solar eclipse glasses
Catfish with solar eclipse glasses		 'Christmas Done Bright'
'Christmas Done Bright'
Owltilla, the great horned owl
Owltilla, the great horned owl		 High above the town
High above the town		 One more amusement park
One more amusement park		 Tasteful bears
Tasteful bears
Mountain stream
Mountain stream		 Not attracting many customers
Not attracting many customers		 Biscuits and guns
Biscuits and guns		 A different color palette
A different color palette
Sort of a Hollywood Mount Rushmore
Sort of a Hollywood Mount Rushmore		 One of Tennessee’s biggest exports
One of Tennessee’s biggest exports 		Flying pigs at Old MacDonald's Farm
Flying pigs at Old MacDonald's Farm		 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Jean D06-Sep-2017 21:17
An admirable collection of images, all well captured, Helen. ~V
danad06-Sep-2017 15:12
A fine variety of images covering your trip to Tennessee. Interesting notes too. V.
Kuriacose Joseph04-Sep-2017 22:39
Having been through the area a couple of times on our way to the Smoky Mountains, my thought always was to spend as little time as possible there. I did not know about the American Eagle Foundation though. That sounds like a place worth visiting.
Karen Stuebing02-Sep-2017 22:38
You've captured the natural beauty along with the almost carnival feel of Pigeon Forge. V.
Jeff Real01-Sep-2017 17:20
I really enjoy this visual journey of your trip
~V~
Zoltán Balogh30-Aug-2017 10:27
Must have been a great trip Helen, these photos are really cool. V
Dave Petersen Photography26-Aug-2017 20:41
A wonderful collection from a place I have driven through on numerous occasions on my way to the Smokies. What great timing with the eclipse. I hope you post more from this trip. V
Buz Kiefer26-Aug-2017 15:59
Wonderful gallery featuring Pigeon Forge, TN, and the American Eagle Foundation, Helen. It was so nice finally meeting you and Tim. Vote.
victorswan26-Aug-2017 14:54
Just a lovely gallery Helen, great work BV
Regine L.25-Aug-2017 15:49
Nice posting. This is an area I could live in. Thank you for posting.
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