Sevierville

It used to be that the sprawl of malls, oversized theaters, restaurants, and tourist attractions was pretty much contained to Pigeon Forge [1]. Sevierville, the Sevier County seat and first city on the journey from interstate to national park, was a laid-back place.

But the lure of tapping into tourist dollars was too much, and Sevierville is beginning to look like a young Pigeon Forge. Even the economic slowdown of 2008 couldn’t seem to slow the pace of construction when it comes to mega-developments in Sevierville.

Shopping malls, giant flea markets, mini-golf, and hotels now line the entire route along Highways 66 and 441. The old city center of Sevierville is just a blip on the screen.