GOATS ON THE ROOF
OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
865.366.7139
OF THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS
865.366.7139
If you're planning a visit to Goats on the Roof of the Smokies, you're already headed in the right direction for family fun and quirky memories. Located on Wears Valley Road in Pigeon Forge, our unique stop is surrounded by great places to eat, explore, and enjoy the Smoky Mountains.
When you think of farm animals, goats might not be the first that comes to mind, but these spirited creatures are winning hearts worldwide. Known for their playful personalities, intelligence, and unique characteristics, goats are becoming increasingly popular as pets, companions, and even therapy animals. Let's delve deeper into why these fascinating animals are so captivating and why you might consider adding one to your life. We have several goats on our roof, so take a closer look at these wonderful animals.
Planning a fun vacation for the family can always be a challenge, but when young children are involved, the task can prove to be even more daunting. You want everyone to have a good time, but sometimes, coming up with outings that all ages can enjoy equally isn't the easiest thing to do.
We're experiencing a bit of a seasonal lull in the Smoky Mountains. Now that all the kids are headed back to school, the weekdays have slowed down a little bit, and things will likely stay that way until the fall colors begin showing up in October. Between now and then, however, there are still lots of good reasons to come play in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.
When we started digging into our last blog post - which was an overview of new attractions, restaurants, shops and lodgings in the Smokies - we had no idea that we were opening up a whole can of vacation-themed worms. There was way more to bite off than we could chew in one blog post (not that we're into eating worms…), so we're back this week to wrap things up and let a few more of those wiggly critters out to play.
Visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains sure do seem to love cars. And we're not necessarily talking about their own vehicles (although on any given day in the Smokies, you'll see plenty of those). What we're referring to specifically are custom cars, trucks and other assorted four- (and two-) wheeled vehicles. Whether they're new or vintage, original equipment or heavily modified, there's definitely a fascination with all things automotive here in these mountains, everything from muscle cars and old-school VW Beetles to classic roadsters like Corvettes and Mustangs.
Smoky Mountain Railroad is operating its special Bunny Hopper Express train through the end of March - a 4.5-hour train ride through the mountains of Western North Carolina. The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg KOA is having a special Easter weekend March 29 through 31, and there's also an egg hunt at Wear Farm City Park in Pigeon Forge. Lastly, look for Easter at Ober Mountain in Gatlinburg on March 31. It consists of a morning sunrise service 2,700 feet above Gatlinburg.
Officially, there are still two more weeks of winter, but the warming temperatures and blooming vegetation are telling us that more pleasant days are just around the corner. That means it's almost time to shed those winter layers, throw on the shorts and short-sleeved shirts and start playing outside again. So if you're thinking about visiting the Great Smoky Mountains in the next few weeks, your fun-time options are expanding by the day. This week, we're sharing some of our picks for things to do here in this later-winter/early-spring period that will help you shake those winter blues for good.
In our last post, we introduced you to just a few of the many music theaters in the Smokies that are offering themed holiday entertainment to celebrate the Christmas season. But in hindsight, we realize we only scratched the surface of what's available when it comes to nightlife in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. So in the spirit of giving, we're back with a few more Smoky Mountain venues that, collectively, offer a wide variety of stage productions. Consider any of these destinations the perfect end to a perfect day in the Smokies - which could also include a visit to Goats on the Roof in Pigeon Forge.
Sure, it's technically still autumn (and will be for another six weeks). But here in the Great Smoky Mountains, we're looking ahead to the next season. That's because everyone is already celebrating Winterfest, the annual four-month-long festival during which we celebrate winter, the Christmas holiday, seasonal shows and much more.
There's no doubt about it: Miniature golf is a must-do activity when you're on vacation. And it seems like no matter which vacation spot in the country you visit, there's always a mini golf course nearby. You'll find them in big cities, and you'll find them in some of the most remote, podunk places you can imagine.
Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville have a reputation for their live music shows. The area's community of music theaters has been going strong for more than 30 years now. In years past, performers such as Lee Greenwood and Louise Mandrell starred in their own shows in Pigeon Forge. Such venues typically offer a variety of music and other forms of entertainment on a fairly large scale. Some theaters seat as many as 2,000 guests, and many also offer a dinner component as part of the entertainment. Examples include places like Country Tonite Theatre, Memories Theatre and the Grand Majestic Theater. Of course, Dollywood theme park itself is home to a variety of different theaters and music venues.
Podcasts are having a moment these days. They've been around for some 20 years, but instead of fading into the background like so many obsolete technologies and media have, podcasts have actually enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years.
As human beings, we seem to have a natural affinity with bodies of water. That would explain why so many of us head to the ocean for summer vacations or why we can spend days and days on the lake, enjoying recreational fun like water skiing, tubing, jet skiing and more.
Ideally, your summer trip to the Smokies this year is a full week-long extravaganza, giving you plenty of time to do a lot of cool things - everything from an adventure in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to full days at multiple major attractions. And that would still leave enough time to fill in with shopping, shows, special events and dining out.
We don't call ourselves Goats on the Roof for nothing. In the tradition of the original Goats on the Roof attraction, which has been a mainstay on the Wisconsin tourist scene for decades, we feature live goats on the roof our main building. This time of year is prime goat season, because it's warm enough for our friends to relax and graze up on the roof, but it's not too hot for them to be outside.
Now that spring is in full swing, more and more folks are heading outdoors to take advantage of these warmer days and, when they're fortunate, abundant sunshine and blue skies. Weather like this is made for outside play, especially when visiting the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. So next time you're in our area, consider either of both of our recommendations for Smoky Mountain attractions where the good times can be enjoyed during what is arguably one of the most pleasant and beautiful seasons of the year.
We're about one week into a new year, which means that a lot of things have slowed down in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the national park, several road closures are in effect due to winter weather conditions and scheduled repairs/maintenance. Most of the music theaters in Pigeon Forge are on a winter hiatus, as are Dollywood and a number of outdoor-based attractions.
Have you been out to Goats on the Roof yet this holiday season? If not, you should swing by the next time you're in Pigeon Forge. We're all decorated for Winterfest, so even after dark, our family attraction is a sight to see.
Welcome to winter, the season for snow skiing, ice skating, Winterfest-light viewing, sitting on Santa's lap, Christmas shopping and all sorts of things a person can do when visiting or vacationing in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Now that Halloween is in the rear-view mirror, it's time to set our sights on two of the year's biggest holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the Smoky Mountains, we include both days in one big festival called Winterfest. It's actually a four-month-long observation in the Smokies - from mid-November through February - an entire season-long celebration of winter (and late fall) and the many holidays and festivities that accompany it.
Autumn doesn't get much better than it has been lately here in the Great Smoky Mountains. Most days in the past few weeks have been sunny, clear and pleasantly cool, while nights have gotten down into the 30s (but without subjecting us to freezing temperatures). Combine that with all the cool things to be found in the Smokies on a daily basis as well as all the unique special events going on in the area, and you've got a whole list of reasons to come visit the mountains in the very near future.
It seems that there's an app for everything these days. No matter your interests, hobbies, type of job or family life, digital assistance in the form of a specialized application for your phone or electronic device seems to be a given.
By definition, an attraction is a business that is interesting enough on some level to compel people to visit it. In the Smokies, we measure attractions by the dozen, everything from Dollywood and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies to the many music theaters of Pigeon Forge and destinations like the Titanic Museum Attraction.
A couple of weeks ago, we shared some of our recommendations for music theater shows in Pigeon Forge. From country music and comedy to murder mysteries and equestrian entertainment, we revealed how there's a little bit of something for everyone on the stages of the Great Smoky Mountains.
So many places to see, so little time. That's the dilemma facing most Smoky Mountain vacationers, because visitors to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville literally have hundreds of attractions to choose from. It can be overwhelming, especially for those who may never have been to the area and have no previous experience when it comes to what's worth seeing and what's not.
Spring is Goldilocks season in the Smokies. It's not too hot, and it's not too cold. In general, the weather here is just right for all kinds of outdoor fun, including everything we have to offer at Goats On The Roof. It's hard to beat a pleasant spring day when you're enjoying our alpine coaster, gem mining attraction and live-goat exhibits.
If you have a soft spot for all things that walk on four legs (and sometimes six or more), then you need to plan a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. The region is known for its population of black bears, not to mention all kinds of other critters that live in the wild, including deer and elk. If you take a drive or a hike into any remote region of the national park, there's a decent chance you'll spot some sort of wildlife. (Always respect the native fauna and keep a safe distance from them.)
Usually, you hear people talking about escaping TO the Great Smoky Mountains for a romantic getaway or vacation. But for the past few years, more and more visitors to the area have been spending time trying to figure out how to escape FROM the mountains. That's because escape-room attractions have become all the rage in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
In the classic '80s movie Top Gun, lead characters Maverick and Goose famously said, “I feel the need, the need for speed!” In their case, that meant hopping into the cockpit of a fighter jet. However, the next time you're on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains, we'd like to suggest a mode of transportation that will allow you to move along at a good clip but is also much less risky: go-carts.
At Smoky Mountain Ziplines in Pigeon Forge, they're proving that any time of year is a great time to hook onto a sturdy steel cable and take off flying through the air like a bird. The popular outdoor attraction is open from March through December, offering numerous opportunities to experience the sensation of zooming through the treetops of the Smoky Mountain foothills.
An alpine coaster, also known as mountain coaster, is a fairly new amusement ride that you will definitely love as the thrill it gives you is really incredible. The most important thing you need to know about this particular Pigeon Forge attraction is that it is perfectly safe. In fact, it is much safer than its predecessor, an alpine slide, especially considering the most advanced technology used to reduce the risk of accidents.
The variety of attractions available in Pigeon Forge is so great, there can be no doubt every member of your family will find something to enjoy. Check out our list of the coolest options you should try when visiting this incredible resort:
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1341 Wears Valley Road • Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 • 865.366.7139
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