You're tooling along Tennessee's Highway 416, heading in the general direction of no place in particular, when you start to ponder place names. Sevier had his ville, clearly enough, Gatlin his burg. Dolly has her wood. So what's with Pigeon Forge? Which pigeon? Whose forge? A hand-lettered sign by the roadside refocuses your attention and soon you're munching on some truly fine boiled peanuts.
Your vacation becomes an ongoing feast of local flavor. Splashing good times at Ogle's Water Park®, foot-tapping tunes and heart-pumping rides at Ms. Parton's place. River rafting, golf and antiquing to taste, all conveniently close to Mountain Meadows. And one magical moment when the lady in the library resolves your riddle. Isaac Love set up his forge in 1820, beside the Pigeon River - so named by Indians for the bird life on its banks - and the town and its name took off from there. So glad you asked!