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Press Release: Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
May 21, 2004
PIGEON FORGE, TN -- By the time this Smoky Mountains resort city turned off its five million Winterfest lights
at the end of a four-month "off-season" promotion, city businesses had chalked up $162.5 million in revenues,
according to recent calculations.
That's almost triple what the city used to experience each winter. Growth started in 1990-1991 when Winterfest
was created. It began with a modest municipal light display and encouragement to businesses to prolong their operations
after the fall color season ended in the adjacent Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Gross receipts in the last winter before Winterfest were $56.5 million. The just-tabulated amount for Winterfest
2003-2004 was $162.5 million, up six percent from the previous year.
"It is amazing that a little community of about 5,100 citizens can generate $162.5 million in revenue at this
time of year," said Kay Powell, assistant director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. "Pigeon
Forge Winterfest is one of the most successful off-season promotions in the nation."
Winterfest runs from early November through February. This past January and February were particularly noteworthy,
Powell said, with almost $26 million spent in the city in January and more than $26.7 million in February.
"They were the busiest first two months in the history of Pigeon Forge, and that's particularly notable because
the biggest attraction in the city, the Dollywood entertainment park, doesn't begin its annual operations until
spring," she said.
Dollywood is a major player in the first two months of Winterfest, however, offering a special holiday season.
Likewise, the city's live entertainment theaters have extended their calendars, and most offer shows even in January
and February.
The city itself sponsors a series of multi-day themed events during Winterfest, all designed to attract overnight
guests. Wilderness Wildlife Week, the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Festival and Saddle Up!, a weekend of cowboy
poetry and western music, generate dedicated audiences.
Throughout Winterfest, lighting displays remain a major attraction. The city's five million lights are augmented
by three million more at Dollywood, and businesses add even more.
"Winterfest offers a powerful lineup all the way from November through February, and it adds economic stability
to our community. Before Winterfest, many businesses would close their doors as winter set in and wait for spring,
but that's not true anymore," Powell noted.
Not only has business volume grown, but capacity has grown, too. In 1990, there were slightly fewer than 5,000
hotel and motel rooms in Pigeon Forge. Today, there are 12,061 lodging units (hotels, motels, chalets, cabins,
timeshares and campgrounds).
Lodging revenues the last year before Winterfest were $4.2 million. That number now is more than six times bigger
- $25.3 million.
"The last two years have been difficult ones for the American tourism industry - job insecurity, other economic
problems, terrorism and war - and that makes the continued strength of Winterfest even more gratifying. It's good
to see business grow and to entertain visitors all year long," Powell said.
Visitor information about Pigeon Forge is available by calling toll-free to 800-251-9100 or going on the Internet
to www.mypigeonforge.com.
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Contact:
Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism
Kay Powell, 865-453-8574
kpowell@mypigeonforge.com
Source: Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism