Pigeon Forge makes Time's 'Christmassy Towns' list

12/5/2011

Sevier County has its Winterfest that drives offseason tourism. The county now can add national publicity as a "Christmassy Town" to its list of accomplishments.

Time magazine's website, Time.com, ranks Pigeon Forge on its list of "The 9 Most Christmassy Towns in America" based on a survey of towns and cities that "take this holiday very seriously, from the over-the-top light extravaganzas to the classic and quaint."

Time noted the Inn at Christmas Place and its namesake retail site Christmas Place as contributing to Pigeon Forge's holiday reputation.

Pigeon Forge was ranked just behind Woodstock, Vt., and Los Angeles and ahead of Frankenmuth, Mich., Solvang, Calif., Santa Claus, Ind., McAdenville, N.C.., New York City, and Washington, D.C.

"Acknowledgments of just how special Pigeon Forge is keep coming. It is wonderful to have image-building businesses such as the Inn at Christmas Place and the Incredible Christmas Place in the heart of Pigeon Forge," said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Pigeon Forge pointed out that earlier this year, positive consumer reviews led to a Travelers' Choice Award for the Inn at Christmas Place from TripAdvisor when the hotel was named one of the Top 25 Hotels in the U.S. It polled sixth on that list.

Then Pigeon Forge was named to the TripAdvisor list of the Top 10 Best Family Destinations, and the Inn at Christmas Place was named the top-reviewed family-friendly hotel in the city.

The 145-room Inn at Christmas Place opened in 2007 as an outgrowth of the Incredible Christmas Place, which started in 1986 and expanded in 2010 with the Partridge and Pear Restaurant. The three related businesses employ approximately 435 people.

Other holiday factors leading Time's selection, according to Pigeon Forge, are A Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood, ChristmasFest at the Smoky Mountain Opry, Christmas-themed shows at more than a dozen theaters, and some 5 million lights as part of Winterfest.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel