Scenic Drives of the Smokies: US 441 & Gatlinburg Bypass

a portion of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park extends to the few miles between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg along highways US441 and US321. Since Gatlinburg also has heavy traffic, there is a scenic bypass to get to the main entrance of the park.

This Dashcam footage is the highway from the edge of Pigeon Forge to the Gatlinburg Bypass. Along the bypass, there are some areas with downed trees, which shows what the wildfire-damaged areas look like five years later.

The Old Mill - Pigeon Forge

In the early 1800s, this gristmill was built on the Little Pigeon river in what was then a small mountain community of Pigeon Forge. The mill, which was built to make meal and flour for the locals still does that today. The Old Mill even furnished electricity for the town until 1935.

In 1830, William Love dammed the Little Pigeon and started construction on the mill using 40' long yellow Poplar logs.

In those days, the mill was the hub of local activity and now, 180 years later is one of the most popular tourist spots around the Smoky Mountains. The adjoining restaurant is also one of the most popular in Pigeon Forge. The Old Mill is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Adventure Golf: Shark - Pigeon Forge, TN (Now gone)

Sadly, this place is now gone and it is a vacant lot. Here is my write-up from 8 years ago.

"Big Jim" Sidwell worked at his family's furniture business in Murfreesboro, TN. He was looking for an outlet for his creativity when he and his family visited Goofy Golf on a vacation to Florida. In his backyard, he built a large dinosaur out of wood and wire mesh, and then another and another.

In 1961, he opened Jolly Golf in Gatlinburg with many of his creations. He went on to build more mini golf parks in Daytona, Marietta and Lake of the Ozarks. When other attractions which also wanted his dinosaurs came calling, he started a fiberglass dinosaur factory in Murfreesboro. In the late 70's his tourist attraction vision expanded to a theme park in Pigeon Forge called Magic World.

At the gateway of the Smokies, tourist attractions come and go, but one of the Sidwell family's parks is still open. Pigeon Forge exploded in popularity once Gatlinburg couldn't expand anymore. Adventure Golf along US441 looks like it remains popular after all these years. It has a charm I like that many of the newer large corporate parks don't have.

There's a large Dinosaur by the entrance and a shark in the pond right by the 18th hole. Perhaps the most noticeable thing is the over-sized octopus in another pond and one of its many tentacles is raised up in the air!

The Old Mill - Pigeon Forge

In the early 1800s, this gristmill was built on the Little Pigeon river in what was then a small mountain community of Pigeon Forge. The mill, which was built to make meal and flour for the locals still does that today. The Old Mill even furnished electricity for the town until 1935.

In 1830, William Love dammed the Little Pigeon and started construction on the mill using 40' long yellow Poplar logs.

In those days, the mill was the hub of local activity and now, 180 years later is one of the most popular tourist spots around the Smoky Mountains. The adjoining restaurant is also one of the most popular in Pigeon Forge. The Old Mill is also on the National Register of Historic Places

Scenic Motel - Pigeon Forge

This is a standard view of a vintage motel sign in the heavy tourist area of Pigeon Forge. I decided to upload this version, even though it can't compete with the way it looked one night at dusk in 2006, which flickr still says is my 2nd best photo in interestingness.

Scenic Motel sign - Pigeon Forge, TN

This, and many other, hotel sign is located along THE parkway in Pigeon Forge, TN (US Highway 441/321). Photographed at dusk with no photoshopping. I just happened to be there when the color of the sky was perfect. This was one of my first Motel neon signs photos and still seems to be my most popular.

Hillbilly Village - Pigeon Forge, TN

It's not a wacky tourist stop in Pigeon Forge unless it has a shotgun wielding moonshiner!

Hillbilly Village is one of the oldest tourist traps in Pigeon Forge. When it opened up in the 60's, there was vacant land on either side of the place. Now, there's no vacant space to be found anywhere along the main strip in Pigeon Forge. For years, their advertising material has pointed out that they have a real Moonshine Still out back, which really isn't that hard to find in the south. The day I was there, it was closed.

Adventure Golf: Sign with T-Rex and Jaws

"Big Jim" Sidwell worked at his family's furniture business in Murfreesboro, TN. He was looking for an outlet for his creativity when he and his family visiited Goofy Golf on a vaction to Florida. In his backyard, he built a large dnosaur out of wood and wire mesh, and then another and another.

In 1961, he opened Jolly Golf in Gatlinburg with many of his creations. He went on to build more mini golf parks in Daytona, Marietta and Lake of the Ozarks. When other attractions which also wanted his dinosaurs came calling, he started a fiberglass dinosaur factory in Murfreesboro. In the late 70's his tourist attraction vision expanded to a theme park in Pigeon Forge called Magic World.

At the gateway of the smokies, tourist attractions come and go, but one of the Sidwell family's parks is still open. Pigeon Forge exploded in popularity once Gatlinburg couldn't expand anymore. Adventure Golf along US441 looks like it remains popular after all these years. It has a charm I like that many oif the newer large corporate parks don't have.

There's a large Dinosaur by the entrance and a shark in the pond right by the 18th hole. Perhaps the most noticable thing is the oversized octopus in another pond and one of its many tentacles is raised up in the air!

Adventure Golf: The Giant Octopus

"Big Jim" Sidwell worked at his family's furniture business in Murfreesboro, TN. He was looking for an outlet for his creativity when he and his family visiited Goofy Golf on a vaction to Florida. In his backyard, he built a large dnosaur out of wood and wire mesh, and then another and another.

In 1961, he opened Jolly Golf in Gatlinburg with many of his creations. He went on to build more mini golf parks in Daytona, Marietta and Lake of the Ozarks. When other attractions which also wanted his dinosaurs came calling, he started a fiberglass dinosaur factory in Murfreesboro. In the late 70's his tourist attraction vision expanded to a theme park in Pigeon Forge called Magic World.

At the gateway of the smokies, tourist attractions come and go, but one of the Sidwell family's parks is still open. Pigeon Forge exploded in popularity once Gatlinburg couldn't expand anymore. Adventure Golf along US441 looks like it remains popular after all these years. It has a charm I like that many oif the newer large corporate parks don't have.

There's a large Dinosaur by the entrance and a shark in the pond right by the 18h hole. Perhaps the most noticable thing is the oversized octopus in another pond and one of its many tentacles is raised up in the air!

Mallard not afraid of the Giant Octopus

"Big Jim" Sidwell worked at his family's furniture business in Murfreesboro, TN. He was looking for an outlet for his creativity when he and his family visiited Goofy Golf on a vaction to Florida. In his backyard, he built a large dnosaur out of wood and wire mesh, and then another and another.

In 1961, he opened Jolly Golf in Gatlinburg with many of his creations. He went on to build more mini golf parks in Daytona, Marietta and Lake of the Ozarks. When other attractions which also wanted his dinosaurs came calling, he started a fiberglass dinosaur factory in Murfreesboro. In the late 70's his tourist attraction vision expanded to a theme park in Pigeon Forge called Magic World.

At the gateway of the smokies, tourist attractions come and go, but one of the Sidwell family's parks is still open. Pigeon Forge exploded in popularity once Gatlinburg couldn't expand anymore. Adventure Golf along US441 looks like it remains popular after all these years. It has a charm I like that many oif the newer large corporate parks don't have.

There's a large Dinosaur by the entrance and a shark in the pond right by the 18h hole. Perhaps the most noticable thing is the oversized octopus in another pond and one of its many tentacles is raised up in the air!

The Old Mill - Pigeon Forge

In the early 1800s, this gristmill was built on the Little Pigeon river in what was then a small mountain community of Pigeon Forge. The mill, which was built to make meal and flour for the locals still does that today. The Old Mill even furnished electricity for the town until 1935.

In 1830, William Love dammed the Little Pigeon and started construction on the mill usung 40' long yellow Poplar logs.

In those days, the mill was the hub of local activity and now, 180 years later is one of the most popular tourist spots around the Smoky Mountains. The adjoining restaraunt is also one of the most popular in Pigeon Forge. The Old Mill is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

Smoky Mountain Pancake House

There's no lack of Pancake breakfasts in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area. Based on viewer feedback, I'll say this place has the most popular sign. (Or at least three black bears agree.)

A Pigeon Forge Christmas

There's a open year round Christmas store at the Apple Barn complex in Pigeon Forge, TN. Santa is down with that, along with a member of his reindeer posse.

Halloween Candy: Mary Jane

When I was a kid, Mary Janes were my least favorite candies I'd pick up on Halloween. But I didn't like Skittles, gum or grape lollipops either, so I guess I was really fickle with candy.

Bits of the wrapper, would frustratingly always stick to the candy. It was a super hard and tough to chew taffy that was peanut butter flavored. That, and some point, I learned that Mary Jane was another name for Marijuana(not knowing it was a kind of shoe), and that has to make it bad, right?

Today, I think they at least look cool, with somewhat of an old design. I found this at one of the many Candy Shops in Pigeon Forge.

The Pigeon Forge sign

This sign has apparently been there for a long time, but I had never noticed it until I found a post card for it. Then, I kept my eyes open for it all over town, only to find it on the main parkway at the Gatlinburg side.

The Old Mill - Pigeon Forge

In the early 1800s, this gristmill was built on the Little Pigeon river in what was then a small mountain community of Pigeon Forge. The mill, which was built to make meal and flour for the locals still does that today. The Old Mill even furnished electricity for the town until 1935.

In 1830, William Love dammed the Little Pigeon and started construction on the mill usung 40' long yellow Poplar logs.

In those days, the mill was the hub of local activity and now, 180 years later is one of the most popular tourist spots around the Smoky Mountains. The adjoining restaraunt is also one of the most popular in Pigeon Forge. The Old Mill is also on the National Register of Historic Places