Pigeon Forge: Cades Cove Tour in a Pink Panorama Van

Discover the idyllic valley of Cades Cove, the most visited area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on a guided tour. Spot wildlife such as black bears, white-tailed deer, coyotes, and wild turkey as you explore the valley in a heated Pink Jeep Wrangler.

Depart from Pigeon Forge and travel through Wears Valley to Townsend, known as the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. Ride in a custom-built Panorama Van with 360-degree views. Upon entering the picturesque valley of Cades Cove, step back in time amidst a backdrop of lush, rolling meadows and carefully restored 18th- and 19th-century structures.

Follow the gently winding Cades Cove Loop and learn about the area's long, rich history from your local guide. Stop at several early structures, such as the Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, or the Missionary Baptist Church.

Halfway through the Loop, stop at the Cades Cove Visitor Center and historic Cable Mill area. The Visitor Center features exhibits showcasing Southern-mountain lifestyle, a gift shop, bookstore, and restrooms. The Cades Cove Historical Grist Mill, built in 1867 by John P. Cable, sits on its original site.

Several other historic buildings have been relocated here from elsewhere in the park. The water-powered grist mill and sawmill made Cable's farm a focal point of the community. Lumber sawed at the Cable Mill built the first frame houses in the cove, while its grist mill ground grains into flour and meal.

Cove residents would gather round “waiting their turn” and pass along stories of the day. The mill's overshot water wheel still makes its slow and steady turn, its original grinding stones in use 150 years after first being laid.

A final tour stop will be at a cabin homestead tucked into the serene edges of the cove. Learn about early construction methods, the ingenuity of cantilever barns, and the ways of daily life.