A small mountain town in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Pigeon Forge is a year-round travel destination. Named for the Little Pigeon river and the iron forge built by Isaac Love in 1817, Pigeon Forge has a population of about 7,000, but about 9 million tourists visit the small town each year.
The weather in Pigeon Forge fluctuates with the seasons. The warmest month is July when the temperature averages around 88 degrees (31C) while the coldest month is January with an average temperature of 26 degrees (-3C). The area averages about 48 inches of rain and 6 inches of snow each year.
The crime rate in Pigeon Forge is 61 per thousand residents. However, most crimes are property crimes, including auto theft, burglary and theft with about 334 each year. There are about 47 violent crimes in the area each year. The crime rate seems higher because the population of Pigeon Forge is relatively small yet there is a large influx of visitors to the area throughout the year which could inflate the crime rate.
The closest airport to Pigeon Forge is McGhee Tyson Airport located in Knoxville, about 47 miles away.
Because Pigeon Forge offers activities throughout the year, it is an excellent vacation spot. The area has many cabins scattered throughout the Great Smoky Mountains that are available for rent and many have amenities like swimming pools, hot tubs, pool tables and more. The rental rates are also very reasonable, and cabins are located in close driving distance to the many activities available in the mountain town.