Celebrating the Holidays in Pigeon Forge with Family and Friends
We were truly blessed to spend six wonderful weeks in Pigeon Forge celebrating the 2024 Thanksgiving and Christmas season with family and friends. Our immediate four-generation family visited from Minnesota for Thanksgiving, and we had a surprise December visit from dear Wisconsin friends and their crew. This marks the start of our first winter not heading to Disney—instead, we embraced the magic of the Smokies before making our way toward Arizona for the rest of the snow season.
From North Carolina, we made our way to Windrock Offroad Park Campground for a week of trails and mountain views. After that, we stayed a week at the Pigeon Forge Jellystone—though it has since closed. We then settled in for five weeks at Mill Creek RV Park & Vacation Rentals, which is now part of the Gateway RV Campground. A tip for fellow travelers: don’t rely on the website pricing. Those are daily rates with add-ons. Call Gateway’s customer service directly and ask about monthly rates—we paid around $27 per night for a long-term stay right in Pigeon Forge!
Windrock OHV Campground, Oliver Springs, TN
Set up and settled in at Windrock Park Campground in Oliver Springs, Tennessee! With wide open sites, crisp fall air, and beautiful skies overhead, it’s the perfect base for exploring the trails. The Jeep is ready for some off-road fun, and the motorhome’s got all the comforts waiting after a long day. It’s quiet, peaceful, and just what we needed after the busyness of D.C. Time to shift gears and enjoy the slower pace.Every morning at Windrock OHV Park seems to outdo the last, with sunrises more stunning each day. Just far enough north of Knoxville, it feels like its own little world.
A Family Thanksgiving at Pigeon Forge, TN
Our little “Boo Boo” cabin at Jellystone Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee looked cute from the outside—but it was tighter than expected inside. Though listed to sleep double our family size, it felt like a stretch. At checkout, we found out we’d be the last guests before it was torn down! While we did get a partial refund, it probably should’ve been retired long before our visit. Still, it created family memories that will last a lifetime.Our RV site at Jellystone Pigeon Forge was level with nice patio pavers, but it was a tight fit. The site was too short to park both our RV and Jeep together. Like many campgrounds in the area, the terraced layout made it tricky to share space with neighbors. The one-way road added to the challenge—getting between our site and the cabins up the hill meant either looping all the way around or going against traffic.Oma relived her undergraduate days in fine arts, working with the glass artisan to select the colors for the ornament. They even had a sanitary way for Oma to blow up the while the craftsman did his magic forming it.A very special gift from Oma and Opa, with the red, white, and blue color pattern chosen by Ceci. This ornament even holds a bit of Oma’s breath inside, a lasting way to remember our holiday time together as a family at Dollywood.Ceci stands guard at Dollywood, dressed in her penguin hat and ready for action! A playful sword duel with Oma brings big smiles and sweet memories.Momma, Ceci and Mark – pausing for a quick snapshot as the five year dragged us from attraction to attraction wearing out everyone!Four generations together, celebrating the holidays together at Dollywood. From left, Jason (Opa), Lurene (GG), Barb (Oma), Allie (Momma), Ceci (the 5 year old center of all our love) and Mark (Pops).Ceci channels her inner speed racer—focused, fearless, and fully in charge behind the wheel!Fresh off a “death-defying” ride, Oma and Ceci cruise in style at Dollywood in a bright pink classic. Oma’s penguin hat and big smile say it all—pure joy and fun! Ceci stays focused behind the wheel, taking her role as driver seriously. A sweet moment shared on a magical day.Made with our Brother Scan’N’Cut, these cute turkey gift baskets were a fun Thanksgiving project and sweet take-home treats for family.
Christmas in the Smokes, TN
At the recently refurbished Dolly Parton Experience, this vibrant guitar-shaped video display plays music clips from her career—setting the stage for an immersive journey through Dolly’s life, legacy, and style.We thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas program at Dolly Parton’s Stampede in Pigeon Forge—beautiful nativity, great meal, and wonderful service. We got to share the evening with friends visiting from Wisconsin, which made it even more special. That said, we’d recommend the Branson location—it feels newer, has more room, and offers better ADA accessibility for a more comfortable experience all around.Well, once again, we didn’t manage to roll out before getting a dusting of that S-word on our wings! A light snow fell on December 3rd in Pigeon Forge—just enough to cover the Jeep and leave things slick. It melted quickly, giving way to the usual early winter mix of cold, gray skies, and a touch of ice. No more snow since, but we’ll be watching the forecast a little closer next time!One of our final events before Dollywood closed for Christmas Eve and Day—a true blessing in the bitter cold! In the sub-freezing night, real icicles joined the twinkling lights as carolers sang outside the Robert F. Thomas Chapel. This replica chapel honors the doctor who delivered Dolly, symbolizing faith, heritage, and deep Appalachian roots.As Christmas Eve eve came to a close, we bundled up for the freezing night at Dollywood. Surrounded by lights, music, and joy, we soaked in the magic—making warm memories in the brisk, clear mountain air. Honestly, it’s much easier to feel the Christmas spirit at 20 degrees than it is at at Disney with 80 degrees and high humidity!
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