Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Rebel Railroad, Pigeon Forge Tennessee

It's time for another visit to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and the Rebel Railroad (See a previous post with lots of info about the place here)! Today's photos are from October, and it is possible that the park was closed this day.


Take a look at this striking dimensional billboard, with another beautiful steam locomotive used as a static display. Only one more mile and we're there!


In the distance, there is a sign for another amusement park called "Funland". I sure wish I had some vintage photos of it...


We're not there yet, but here is another old-tyme steamer. I wouldn't be surprised if the Rebel Railroad folks acquired these for only a few hundred bucks. In the background, the "Sky Room Restaurant" and a "Sky Lift", which obviously took you to the top of the Smokey Mountains for a beautiful view. Pigeon Forge really wanted to become a tourist destination!


Finally, we're there. But the train doesn't appear to be running. Rats! These photos were taken in October of 1963, perhaps the park closed after the summer. It sure looks like it was a lovely day, however. Fortunately we now know that there's lots of other stuff to do nearby!


And it was worth the drive just to get a good look at this wonderful train, wasn't it??


I just found five more photos of the Rebel Railroad; you'll see those someday!

7 comments:

Chiana_Chat said...

"I wouldn't be surprised if the Rebel Railroad folks acquired these for only a few hundred bucks."

Yeah but the shipping was brutal...

Oh I love the vintage train goodness here - a set of desktops in one post. Thanks!

Connie Moreno said...

I am not ashamed to say that I have alwlays wanted to go to Pigeon Forge and these pics made my day. I absolutely love that first shot of the billboard - Awesome!

JG said...

Pigeon Forge...sounds like a movie name.

Nice trains, nice pics. Thank you, Major!

JG

Major Pepperidge said...

Chiana, I think I read that some folks could buy these old trains just for the cost of delivery, so you are probably right about it being expensive.

Connie, I'm sure that Pigeon Forge is quite different today!

JG, you are welcome!

Rod Bennett said...

Pigeon Forge got its name because of the Little Pigeon River which runs into the Great Smokies N.P. nearby. And actually, Maj, it DOESN'T look that much different today! Also: everybody probably knows this already, but Rebel RR was purchased by Dolly Parton (who grew up in the area) and became Dollywood...so you can still see it up and running today, though it has changed as much or more than Knott's has over the same period.

Connie Moreno said...

Ya see? THAT'S why I want to go to Pigeon Forge! I love Dolly!

Major Pepperidge said...

Oh you guys...! I mentioned Dolly Parton in my first post! But I guess it bears repeating for folks who missed that one.

I had lunch at the local El Torito a few months ago and Dolly Parton sat at the table next to me.