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Forbidden Caverns
Forbidden Caverns, located outside the city of Sevierville, is
convenient to visitors staying in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Guided
tours of the cave last about an hour and include information on the
formations in Forbidden Caverns as well as fascinating local history
tied to the cave. The temperature in Forbidden Caverns is a constant
58 degrees, so bring a light jacket for the tour.
Like many remote
mountain locations Forbidden Caverns was used to make moonshine from
the 1920's until 1943, and part of the tour includes a view of an old
moonshine still. Long before it was used to hide from revenuers,
though, Forbidden Caverns was a shelter for Native Americans. However,
for the past forty years Forbidden Caverns in Sevierville has been open
to the public for tours.
If you prefer "touristy" attractions, then Forbidden Caverns may not
impress you. But if you enjoy attractions with substance this would be
a great place to find it in a county where most attractions are
artificially enhanced to appeal to visitors. And unlike most man-made
attractions in the Smokies, it is neither crowded nor outrageously
priced. The one hour tour takes visitors through a half-mile loop
around the cave, so wear comfortable shoes. There are steps to traverse
- 9 up and about 50 down - so the cavern is not handicapped accessible.
Older preschoolers should have no problems on the walk (provided they
aren't afraid of the dark or enclosed spaces), but this may not be the
best choice of attraction for younger preschoolers or toddlers. And
while most people realize that bats live in caves, it is highly likely
that you will see one or more bats on your tour. I have had mixed
experiences with the tour guides. Some are enthusiastic and informative
while others seem less informed about the cave. A newer addition to
Forbidden Caverns is a recording of the history of the cavern which
visitors listen to while on the tour - an excellent addition to the
tour.
If you have visited Forbidden Caverns in the past you will notice a
change this year. For the first time since the Caverns opened in the
1960's the gift shop and lobby areas have been extensively renovated.
The redesign definitely gives visitors a better first impression of
Forbidden Caverns and allows for better traffic flow through the gift
shop.
Forbidden Caverns is open April through November (excluding
Thanksgiving) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays. While there
is no restaurant on site, refreshments are sold and a picnic pavilion
is available. The drive from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge is about 45
minutes. Consider bringing a picnic lunch and taking a morning tour of the cave.
Directions from Pigeon Forge: Take Hwy 441 N into Sevierville. From
441 N turn right onto US-411 Dolly Parton Pkwy. Continue on US-411 for
about 13 miles (it turns into Newport Hwy) until you see a sign for
Forbidden Caverns on the right.
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