The Island in Pigeon Forge: Rides, Dining, Shopping and Free Things to Do
A 23-acre entertainment complex with more than 80 shops, restaurants and attractions, The Island makes it easy to spend a few hours—or half a day—without constantly moving your car.
Is The Island in Pigeon Forge Worth Visiting?
Yes—especially if you want a walkable place where you can combine attractions, restaurants, shopping, live entertainment and free things to do without constantly moving your car.
Admission and parking are free, so you can spend as little or as much as you want once you arrive.
The Island in Pigeon Forge is a 23-acre entertainment complex with more than 80 shops, restaurants and attractions.
Its best-known landmarks include the 200-foot Great Smoky Mountain Wheel and the Island Show Fountain, but there is enough here to easily fill several hours or even half a day.
Whether you are traveling solo, as a couple, with friends or with the whole family, you can ride, eat, shop, sit by the fountain or simply walk around and enjoy the atmosphere.
Quick Planning Guide: The Island in Pigeon Forge
Before visiting, check the official Island hours and events calendar because attraction, restaurant and retail hours can vary.
What Is The Island in Pigeon Forge?
The Island is a large, walkable entertainment district in the heart of Pigeon Forge.
Instead of paying one admission price for the entire complex, visitors can enter for free and choose which rides, attractions, restaurants or shops they want to pay for.
That flexibility is one of the things I like most about it.
You can build an entire afternoon around ticketed attractions or spend very little by walking through the shops, watching the fountain and enjoying the atmosphere.
The complex includes restaurants, specialty shops, amusement rides, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, SkyFly: Soar America, live entertainment and seasonal events.
Is The Island Free to Visit?
Yes. Admission to The Island in Pigeon Forge is free.
You can walk around the complex, browse many of the shops and watch the Island Show Fountain without purchasing an admission ticket.
You pay separately for attractions, amusement rides, food, drinks and anything you purchase in the shops.
This makes The Island useful for travelers with different budgets because everyone in a group does not have to participate in every paid attraction.
What Are the Best Things to Do at The Island?
The best-known things to do at The Island include riding the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, watching the free Show Fountain, experiencing SkyFly: Soar America, shopping, dining and sampling local drinks.
Which attractions are best for you depends on whether you want views, rides, food, shopping or a more relaxed visit.
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel rises about 200 feet above The Island.
Is the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel Worth Riding?
For me, yes.
Even though heights can make me nervous, I found the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel surprisingly comfortable because the gondolas are fully enclosed and climate-controlled.
The observation wheel rises approximately 200 feet above The Island, providing elevated views across Pigeon Forge and toward the surrounding Smoky Mountains.
I especially liked the slower pace of the ride.
It felt more like sightseeing than a thrill ride, which made it easier for me to enjoy the views.
If you also have concerns about heights, read my complete Great Smoky Mountain Wheel review for my firsthand experience.
What Is SkyFly: Soar America?
SkyFly: Soar America is an immersive flying theater that simulates a flight over landscapes and landmarks across the United States.
The experience combines motion with visual, sound, wind and scent effects to create the feeling of soaring above the scenery.
This was another highlight for me because it offered something completely different from a traditional amusement ride.
Instead of focusing entirely on speed or drops, it creates the sensation of traveling through multiple destinations.
The attraction is located directly at The Island, so it is easy to add without leaving the complex.
You can check current hours and attraction details on the official SkyFly: Soar America page.
What Is the Island Show Fountain?
The Island Show Fountain is a free choreographed water, light and music attraction at the center of The Island.
You do not need a ticket to watch it.
The fountain uses more than 89 water nozzles, and the center jet can send water approximately 60 feet into the air.
Performances are synchronized to multiple pieces of music.
I think it is especially worth seeing after dark because the lighting adds another layer to the performance.
If you are trying to visit The Island without spending much money, the fountain should be near the top of your list.
Check the official Island Show Fountain page for current performance information.
Dining choices at The Island range from snacks to full sit-down restaurants.
Where Should You Eat at The Island?
The Island has a wide range of restaurants, from quick snacks to full sit-down meals.
Current dining options include Timberwood Grill, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, Margaritaville Restaurant, Mellow Mushroom and several dessert and snack stops.
We ate at Timberwood Grill and enjoyed its mountain-lodge atmosphere and hearty food.
My tip from our meal: Try the nachos if you are looking for something to share.
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen is another popular option if you want Southern comfort food served family-style.
For a tropical atmosphere, I also enjoyed Margaritaville at The Island. My firsthand review covers what we ordered, the live music, gift shop and what to expect from the restaurant.
Browse current choices on the official Island dining guide.
Is The Island Good for Shopping?
Yes. Shopping is one of the easiest activities to enjoy at The Island without purchasing attraction tickets.
The complex includes a large collection of specialty retailers selling gifts, food products, clothing, candy, home décor and souvenirs.
We enjoyed browsing because the shops were varied enough that it did not feel like walking through a row of identical souvenir stores.
You can find everything from candles and sweets to quirky gifts and locally inspired products.
The official Island shopping directory is useful if you are looking for a specific store before visiting.
Ole Smoky Moonshine adds another distinctly Tennessee stop to The Island.
Can You Taste Moonshine at The Island?
Yes. Ole Smoky Moonshine has a location at The Island where eligible adult visitors can sample different moonshine flavors.
The setting also frequently includes live bluegrass music, making it more than simply a retail stop.
Even if you are not interested in purchasing moonshine, the displays and atmosphere make the area an interesting place to browse while exploring The Island.
Is Parking at The Island Free?
Yes. Parking at The Island in Pigeon Forge is free.
The main parking lot is located between The Island and the LeConte Events Center.
A complimentary tram carries visitors between the main lot and the entrance to The Island.
The trams are handicap accessible and generally operate during The Island’s business hours.
I consider the free parking a meaningful advantage in a busy tourist area because you can park once and spend several hours walking between attractions, restaurants and shops.
See the official parking and directions guide before your visit.
How Long Should You Spend at The Island?
Allow roughly two to four hours for a typical visit, or half a day if you want to ride several attractions and eat a full meal.
A shorter visit works if your main goals are shopping, seeing the fountain and having a snack.
If you add the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, SkyFly, a restaurant meal and shopping, your visit can easily stretch into several hours.
Because there is no admission charge, you do not have to feel pressure to stay long enough to justify a ticket price.
Is The Island Better During the Day or at Night?
If I had to choose only one, I would lean toward late afternoon into evening.
That gives you daylight for shopping and photography while still allowing you to see the lights, fountain and Great Smoky Mountain Wheel after dark.
During the day, it is easier to appreciate the surrounding mountain setting and photograph the different areas clearly.
At night, the complex becomes much more colorful as the rides, signs and fountain lighting come on.
If your schedule allows it, arriving in late afternoon gives you both experiences without making two separate trips.
Adults, Solo Travelers and Families Can All Make It Their Own
What Can You Do at The Island for Free?
You can enter The Island, park, ride the parking tram, browse the complex and watch the Island Show Fountain without paying an admission fee.
Window-shopping, seasonal displays and some live entertainment can also be enjoyed without purchasing attraction tickets.
This makes The Island a useful stop even if you are trying to keep your Pigeon Forge trip budget under control.
What Should You Know Before Visiting The Island?
What Else Should You Do Around Pigeon Forge?
The Island is easy to combine with other attractions because it sits directly in the heart of Pigeon Forge.
The Island in Pigeon Forge FAQ
Where is The Island in Pigeon Forge?
The Island is located at 131 The Island Drive, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, just off the main Parkway between traffic lights 3 and 4.
Does it cost money to enter The Island?
No. Admission to The Island is free. Attractions, rides, food and purchases are priced separately.
Is parking at The Island free?
Yes. Parking is free, and complimentary trams run between the main parking area and The Island during operating hours.
How long do you need at The Island?
Most visitors should allow approximately two to four hours. Plan a half day if you want to ride several attractions, shop and have a sit-down meal.
Is the Island Show Fountain free?
Yes. The choreographed Island Show Fountain is free for visitors to watch.
How tall is the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel?
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel rises approximately 200 feet above The Island.
Is The Island open year-round?
Yes. The Island operates 365 days a year, although individual shops, restaurants and attractions can have their own hours and seasonal schedules.
Is The Island good at night?
Yes. Night is one of the best times to visit because the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, fountain and surrounding attractions are illuminated. I recommend arriving before sunset if you want to experience both daylight and nighttime views.
Can adults enjoy The Island without children?
Absolutely. Restaurants, shopping, live entertainment, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, SkyFly and Ole Smoky Moonshine give adults plenty to do without children.
Is The Island in Pigeon Forge Worth Visiting?
Yes. The Island is one of the easiest Pigeon Forge attractions to recommend because you can make the visit as simple or elaborate as you want.
You can spend money on rides, meals and attractions, or keep the visit inexpensive by parking for free, walking through the shops and watching the fountain.
I especially like the variety.
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel offers views, SkyFly provides an immersive attraction, the restaurants give you several dining choices, and the shops and fountain make it easy to slow down between activities.
If you only have a short time in Pigeon Forge, allow a few hours. If you have a full afternoon or evening, The Island can easily become the centerpiece of your plans.
My tip: Arrive in late afternoon and stay through sunset. You can explore and photograph The Island in daylight, then watch the complex transform when the lights come on.
Check the official Island in Pigeon Forge website for current hours, tickets and events before your visit.
Then use my Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg & Smoky Mountains Weekend Guide to plan the rest of your Smokies getaway.
About Angela
Angela Addington is the travel photographer and writer behind Lenses & Latitudes. She shares firsthand destination guidance and practical photography advice for independent and solo travelers, women over 50, road-trippers and weekend explorers. Learn more about Angela.
