Blog for Zipline Attraction in the Smoky Mountains
Located in Pigeon Forge, TN and near Gatlinburg and Sevierville.
Mountains of Laughs
By Ross Bodhi Ogle
Posted on May 16, 2023
Have you ever taken one of those vacations that wound up being so stressful you were actually glad to get back home? Sometimes when we travel, we let inconveniences and small problems get the better of us and let them cloud our overall appreciation of the trip we worked so hard to pay for and make time for.
Next time you come to the Smoky Mountains, you don't have to fall into that trap. One good way to do that is to make sure you find plenty of opportunities to laugh. Fortunately, we can make some recommendations for some attractions to visit that will definitely tickle your funny bone. And once you're relaxed and in a jovial mood, you're much less likely to get sidetracked by those little annoyances.
The Comedy Barn
Surely, a theater with the word “comedy” in its name is bound to be good for some laughs, right? Indeed it is. And don't call me Shirley. The Comedy Barn has been making Smoky Mountain visitors chuckle for the better part of three decades with a formula that has been successful at drawing big crowds to that big red barn on the Parkway. The key is variety, because what's funny to one person may not be to the next. But at The Comedy Barn, there's always something new around the corner, which means chances are you'll find laughs one way or another. Their cast includes stand-up comedians, jugglers, ventriloquists, barnyard animals, live music and more. It's a two-hour show you're sure to remember long after you've wiped away the tears of laughter.
Great Smoky Mountain Murder Mystery Dinner Show
Murder is serious business, but at this interactive murder-mystery show in Pigeon Forge, it's all laughs. The theater presents different shows that rotate throughout the week. Currently, the lineup is Moonshine Murders, Who Shot the Sheriff, Killer Prom and Marriage Can Be Murder. In each case, someone's been killed, and it's up to the zany cast of characters, with some help from the audience, to figure out whodunnit. Making the evening even tastier is a three-course meal. Just try not to laugh when your mouth is full of food…
Impossibilities
Staged at the Iris Theater in Gatlinburg, inside the Gatlinburg Space Needle, this show bills itself as an evening of magic, mind reading and mayhem. Mentalist and magician Erik Dobell has performed his winning combination of entertainment in venues all over the country, and when you read the reviews of his show, it's clear that comedy is a common thread. If someone's going to read your mind, you might as well have a few laughs along the way.
Remembering Red: A Tribute To Red Skelton
Those of you of a certain age may remember comedian Red Skelton, whose clownish and physical style of comedy was a mainstay of film and television in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. While this legend has since passed on, his comedic memory lives on in this one-man tribute show performed by Brian Hoffman. He's taken his show all over the country, including Las Vegas, but visitors to Pigeon Forge will find his act at the appropriately named Red Skelton Tribute Theater on Wears Valley Road.
In addition to these venues, many of the music theater shows in Pigeon Forge and at Dollywood include a comedian of some kind in the lineup. Another option is to catch the improv group Einstein Simplified, which performs regularly at Scruff City Hall on Market Square in Knoxville. Or if you like your comedy a little bit on the edgier side, a Google search will steer you toward any number of open-mic and showcase comedy nights at eateries and nightspots throughout the Knoxville area.
You know who else is pretty funny? The guides who conduct the tours at our ziplines in the Smokies. They do a good job of keeping everyone safe, but they're also known for their skills at interacting with guests. Schedule a tour today, and get ready for a day of thrills AND laughs.
