The Way It Used to Be

The Old Mill at Pigeon Forge as it looked in the early 1970s.

 A favorite weekend getaway for the young Jenkins family in the early 1970s was the Pigeon Forge -- Gatlinburg area. We always stayed in Pigeon Forge, because the motels were cheaper and the town was much less crowded, even then.

Built in 1830 by Isaac Love and his sons, the mill has had an interesting history. In addition to grinding meal, it has powered looms to make uniforms for local Union soldier volunteers (East Tennesseans substantially supported the North during the Civil War), powered a sawmill, and ran a generator to provide electricity for part of Pigeon Forge. Nowadays it houses a restaurant and gift shop.

The mill looks much the same today, but may be a little hard to find in the amazing clutter of restaurants, hotels, stores, and tourist traps that make up present day Pigeon Forge. I'm glad we were able to enjoy the town before it became a massive traffic jam. 

Even as far back as 1985 the traffic had already gotten out of hand. One October weekend we went to Knoxville to visit our son Rob and his wife Bonnie. He was working on his master's degree at the University of Tennessee at the time. Saturday morning it was decided that we would go to Gatlinburg. It took us nearly four hours to go the four or five miles from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge! Since then, we have avoided going to the area on weekends. Now, even weekdays are one endless jam-up.

We camped at a small campground near Pigeon Forge for three weeks last summer (2022). Our campsite was in my opinion the nicest we've ever had. But leaving the campground to go anywhere was a major chore. We won't go there again.

I'm glad I can remember the old mill and Pigeon Forge the way they used to be.

(The photo was made on Kodachrome film, but I have no idea what camera I used. Most likely, a Nikkormat.)

Check out the pictures at my online gallery: https://davejenkins.pixels.com/  Looking is free, and you might find something you like.

Photography and text copyright 2023 David B.Jenkins.

I post Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless life gets in the way.

Soli Gloria Deo -- For the glory of God alone.