Driving from Knoxville Tennessee to the Great Smokey Mountains we did not expect to find the biggest Vegas side-show on the planet. Pigeon Forge is Vegas meets Side Show Alley with a bit of god bothering thrown in. It really is the strangest place made even stranger due to its proximity to The Great Smokey Mountains.

After checking in to the overpriced (its peak season don’t you know) hotel we walked around town, or up the strip if you like. I kept catching glimpses of W C Fields. In My Little Chickadee W C Fields play a gambler. Gambler Fields asks a partner, “Have you any of the elusive spondulicks on you?”And proceeds to relieve said partner of his illusive hard-earned dollars.

This is what Pigeon Forge is all about Separating the “jabbernowl” from their “illusive”.

Jabbernowl is another of W C Fields’ descriptives for one who could be regarded as a little soft in the sconce. Do I need to elucidate further?

The Sun Sphere at Knoxville, left over from the 1982 Word Fair.

On the road to Pigeon Forge

The Playhouse of History.

A Titanic Resort

Mt. Rushmore meets King Kong

Golf is the game of choice on the strip.

The Church in the middle of the strip.

Every tee-shirt taste is catered for at Pigeon Forge.

A simple enough message and very handy when checking in.

Chicken with street cred.