Our stay couldn't have been better. It was peaceful and serene, and exactly as described. My 7YO…read moreand I loved hiking the property and feeding the animals in the morning. The owner Janice was so kind and patient with my kiddo - we'll definitely be back! The location was close to everything, yet felt like a million miles away. Great value, and very quiet.

The horses seemed tired. I was watching the first group leave as we got there. As they were…read morewalking, I seen the horses "knees" shake and looked painful for them to walk. My horse seemed to have something wrong with its mouth. When we mounted, my horse was chewing on the bridle angrily. The guide instructed me not to pull on the reigns, but my horse kept getting to close to my daughters horse in front of me and making my daughters horse kick mine. I had no choice but to pull on the reigns a bit. The guide did say they have days off. But from what I've seen, they seemed tired and in pain. Their manes were full of tangles and burs. The trail was beautiful.

Jacob K was an awesome tour guide. Will be back to tour again on my next trip. Very informative and…read moreentertaining. The kangaroos and birds were amazing

I happened to come upon this place because of TikTok where I seen that you could hold a little…read moremonkey. My daughter and I made doing this the highest priority on our TN vacation bucket list. They also advertise in all of the coupon books plastered all over for $5 off a single experience and $10 off a combined experience. So, I thought awesome! We get there yesterday, the girl behind the desk is not friendly AT ALL. Red flag one. Proceeds to tell us we cannot hold a monkey any longer because the "monkey handler" retired. Yet as I type this, this experience is STILL advertised all over their website, in person menu and flyers. Red flag two. We decided to go anyway because we had already drove out there and looked forward to it for a little under a year. We go to pay and we're then told you can't use the coupon. It's only good on about two things. Well, that should be specified on your coupon what two things it's good for. Not over 3/4 of your menu. Red flag three. Then it is advertised that you get free food cups and food to feed the animals so I figured that would be a decent trade off. Well, red flag four. Although that was true in essence, you get one little tear of lettuce leaf, 3 small squares of apple, and about 5 pieces of kibble (think dog food size kibble). You cannot feed the tortoise only the kangaroo and we were told they don't like kibble so feed it to the dog. The dog was adorable but to be honest, I didn't pay $20 to feed a dog. I can do that at home for free. So we got to feed the kangaroos an extremely small lettuce leaf and 3 of the tiniest chunks of apple. We were also given about a 2" piece of millet for the birds. And told if you drop it or they steal it then tough luck you will not receive another. We were given one little piece of kibble type thing for the monkey even though only two of us wanted to give him a treat, but we paid for five people. So anyways I felt like this was all together petty for what this experience advertises itself as. The last red flag came after we left. Both groups in our party realized we were charged $5 extra for paying with card (which is like 10%). We didn't do anything else on the farm that I can comment on, thank goodness. I will say, however, the gal who took us on the train was a nice gal and tried her best. And all of the animals were very sweet.

My daughter's and I had a great time.. the horses are very gentle. The fresh air and no phones in…read moreour faces was the best part. I grew up with horses and to enjoy a little bit of quiet time with my girls was the best.

Tiffany and her team do an amazing job. I learned during my visit that she has taken in resuce…read moreanimals, some in very poor health, and through many months of care nursed these gentle beasts back to their rightful majesty. Go check them out and show them love.

A few bumps when we first got there, but they immediately attended and fixed everything. The…read morepersonal service was great meals were fantastic and Cara de Somalia is a wonderful addition to their staff. We enjoyed horseback riding a wine tour ut ride.

Loved our stay here. Recently underwent renovations and joined the luxury chain Relais and Chateau…read more We stayed in the Haywood cabin which was perfect for our group of 5. Two king bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, porches, living area with pull out couch, and fireplace. Modern decor and comfy touches throughout like the heated floors in the bathroom. We also had an amazing view of the mountains. We had the pleasure of trying all the menus at Switchback Restaurant - breakfast, brunch, and dinner. Food was local and tasty. Vibe was lodge chic. Took advantage of the hiking trails as well. Did the Salamander Falls and Meadow trails. Great scenery and went right past the pasture with horses, which were so sweet. Most importantly, the staff were all incredible. Everyone was pleasant and accommodating. They made it so easy to communicate requests both before and during our stay. Thanks for a great time!

I almost don't want to write this review because I don't want to give up this hidden gem. We come…read moreto the smoky mountains every year and always make a family horseback riding day. The place that we typically go to closed forcing us to look for a new one. Low and behold this hidden gem fell in our laps. The owner is really something special with her outgoing and friendly personality. She makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door. The building is small and doesn't look like much but the employees and horses really make up for it! Everyone that we dealt with was friendly and you could tell they loved the animals and their jobs. Our tour guides were great! We couldn't have asked for anything more. The horses were all very healthy and well behaved. The ride itself was beautiful. We passed through a few creeks and rode all through the smoky mountains. We had a group of 4, ages 15-43 and everyone enjoyed the ride. Just shy of an hour ride. We can't wait to come back next year!

My wife and I have been together for 24 years. In that time we've gone horseback riding 3 times,…read moretwo of which have been here in Pigeon Forge. Our most recent excursion @ Goldrush Stables and the other @ Big Rock Dude Ranch. Naturally, I can't help making comparisons between the two. Simply put, after this experience we've come to the conclusion we really don't like riding horses, even though we love them! It's just not for us, but we are so glad for all the opportunities. . [ THE RIDE ] We arrived 15 minutes early as requested by the stables to sign waivers and prep for the ride. Our trail guides were saddling several horses as we watched from outside the fence. Once ready, we were summoned to the mounting platform, which makes it much easier for beginners like us. Because COVID-19 has given me a little extra girth, I was given one of the larger horses named Blondie, while my wife rode Fanny. It was Blondie's first ride in weeks (they tend to rest their horses for long periods), so she proved to be rather eager on the trail. Fanny, as my wife soon discovered, doesn't like to get her feet wet. Once all the riders were mounted & instructed, we walked across a wooden bridge to a field and began our ride. Normally the ride would begin by walking the horses through the creek, but rain from the night before had water levels up, so we bypassed it via the bridge. We also bypassed another creek walk further down the trail, which was disappointing since it was one of the main reasons we chose this stable over Big Rock. It was one of the best selling points. We then arrived at a smaller, more narrow creek crossing that both Blondie and Fanny decided to jump, startling both me & my wife. Immediately after the creek the terrain goes uphill, which my horse decided to run. She headed straight into some low-lying branches, almost knocking me off. Her eagerness caused her to not listen very well when pulling back on her reigns and my inexperience handling her didn't help. My wife's horse ran her knee into a tree just after jumping the small creek, so clearly we were having a few issues! LOL Our guides yelled out after my wife's accident "steer your horses", but even after 3-minutes of instruction it's hard to do that properly when the horse seems to have other plans. At this point the trail follows a path into the woods and up and down a fairly good-sized hill. On a dry day I think this would have been a very pleasant ride, but because the trail was muddy, my particular horse kept sliding... BADLY, like something you'd see in a cartoon! It was very nerve racking and made it difficult to relax and enjoy the experience. In truth, I felt sorry for my horse. She was seriously soaked in sweat by mid ride and seemed to walk under every low branch along the way! I believe she was intentionally trying to get me off her back, fo'realz... hahaha! Poor thing. My wife remained frazzled most of the ride as she wrestled with her own fears of not feeling in control. At midpoint the trail loops back into itself and we follow the same path back to the beginning. . [ THE VERDICT ] We learned something about ourselves that I suppose we've always known. Some of the experiences we've had were greatly enhanced because of the joy we felt showing our children how to live life. We did so many things in the name of giving them great memories and now we must reprogram to pursue our own like as a couple, not just as parents. We thought we would enjoy the more open fields & smaller slopes @ Goldrush versus the mountainous trail @ Big Rock, and probably would have if not for the muddy conditions. That being said, the ride time was far shorter and there is little else to do here. Overall we felt like Big Rock was the better value. So why 4 stars you ask? Well, for one I believe most of our dislikes for this ride were either OPERATOR ERROR or just conditions that couldn't be helped. It's just the luck of the draw when dealing with nature. Secondly, I think despite the shortness of the trail, it is perfect for beginners and families with children old enough to ride on their own. [ NOTE TO OWNERS ] I would like to suggest regularly trimming low lying branches along the trail, adding colorful signage reminding riders to watch their knees in at least TWO critical areas and/or add a guide rail to deter the horses from walking so close. Most of us city folk just don't know how to handle a horse!!! Also, since the trail is short and most people these days love photo opportunities, why not build a second mounting/dismounting platform at the top of the hill where riders can have a chance to pause & take pics on or beside their horses. I personally think this would go a long way in improving the experience. TIP WHEN PLANNING A VISIT: Currently they do not allow doubles, so smaller children or kids fearful of riding alone cannot ride (unlike Big Rock which allows small children to ride with parents). ENJOY 2020 / 71

World class ranch! Skilled cowboys, well taken care of horses & other animals, breathtaking views…read moreon the horse trail ride! 10/10 recommend! Must do for kids under 15! What an amazing time!

My daughter and I visited Big Rock Dude Ranch during our trip to the Smoky Mountains because…read morehorseback riding was one of the experiences we were most looking forward to. Unfortunately, the experience was incredibly frustrating. There was little to no clear signage explaining where to check in or how the process worked. We waited at the "Riding Stables" counter, and when we finally spoke to an employee, we were simply told to stand by the stop sign at the stable. We waited there for nearly an hour before learning we were supposed to have purchased tickets first. No one at the counter mentioned that, even though we specifically told them we were there to ride and didn't know what to do. When I went back to buy tickets, I was told both riders had to be present, so I had to run back for my daughter, only to lose our place in line (we were next up). We were then told rides were assigned based on ticket purchase time, meaning we'd have to start all over again. Since we had a flight to catch, we had no choice but to leave without riding. We could've used that lost time for a nice breakfast and one last hike. To make matters worse, when I explained what had happened, the employee dismissed our concerns and said she was "just in charge of pictures and that we would probably still make our flight" even after starting the whole wait process over. Better signage, clearer instructions, and staff who take ownership of customer issues would have prevented this entire experience. The lady at the main ticket counter wasn't helpful either. Very disappointing.

The drive thru tour of seeing all the animals and feeding them from inside the wagon is so fun…read more There are goats, deer, ram, cows, longhorn steer and even a yak. All the animals are very docile and can easily eat from your hand. A lot of them are big cuddle babies according to the staff.The feed bucket is a good size to feed all the animals. The staff is good at rotating the animals so you get a chance to feed them all They also have a walk in area to see animals, a highland cow session you can book, a zip line and a self controlled mountain coaster. The highlight for me was Dozer the sweet highland cow and the baby alpaca. Thanks Skyland Ranch for the fun morning

My mom and I had a wonderful time on the Safari Hayride, meeting Doser the miniature Highland, and…read moreriding the Wild Stallion Mountain Coaster which was a longer ride than I anticipated. I think all of the attractions are well worth the cost!

Tough meat. Spent a couple hundred bucks on different cuts of meat and I was very surprised at how…read morebad it was. Even the filet was chewy and tough. Ended up feed it to my dogs. I bought with the best intentions of supporting a local but this is not it. They're from California and it shows.

I reached out to the owner to inquire about bones for broth. We have a mutual friend who is on a…read moreliquid diet due to surgery. When I explained who the bones were for, he generously donated a very big box of high-quality bones to assist in our friend's recovery. The broth was the tastiest I've ever made-super velvety and rich. I've never shopped Walnut Hollow but I will be sure to make it a regular habit in the future. Very happy to know that this business and it's kind proprietor are in my community.

Local Goat in Pigeon Forge TN is awesome. You can tell by the parking lot that is always packed…read moreout - every day. Food is Fresh and prepared exactly as you request it. Never been disappointed in any of the dishes ordered. Love the fresh, hand-cut french fries and fried green tomatoes. That's the only place my husband goes for the best burger in town.

Stopped in pigeon Forge to see the smoky mountains for two days while trekking to Clarksville. I…read morehave never been to the area so I was blown away. It was like a little kid Las Vegas! They literally have every fast food and chain dining experience on one block, but I didn't know that at the time but I'm tired of road trip Food so wanted to sit down for a good meal! Pulling into the parking lot and I was overwhelmed because it was huge and very crowded! We go to the desk and they tell us 25 minutes. This place was huge and very accommodating, they were getting people to their tables fast! We noticed two empty seats at the bar, so we opted to take them and had the pleasure of being served by Robert. He was attentive, made sure our waters were always full. He gave recommendations on his favorite dishes and was all around a great bartender! The guy working the other end of the bar was equally as professional. The ambience is a dark cool vibe, little trendy but people were dressed pretty casually! Answer the most important thing...The food! For an app, we got the beer, cheese fondue that came with apples, bread and pretzels. The beer cheese had a little bit of ooomph to it, which was refreshing because usually I'm not a big mustard person. The pretzel bites were incredible crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The apples were fresh all around the appetizer for 3 to 4 people so we took extra home. I ordered the 10 ounce sirloin cooked, medium with the web sweet potatoes and a side Caesar salad for a three dollar charge which ended up being a full-size salad! It was super fresh and gigantic for a side salad. The steak was cooked perfectly, in the middle with an insane sear. Their house, butter that they put on it truly elevated the flavor profile. I tried the sweet potatoes mashed and they were enjoyable, but I do not enjoy a sweet side with my food so I knew I was going to donate them to my husband and he said they were incredible, the flavor was definitely there just not my cup of tea, but I knew that from the beginning . He got the Caesar salad with grilled chicken! It had so much flavor and tastes incredible but yet melted in your mouth it was the most tender chicken I've ever had in my life, and the flavor was all there! Not even the slightest bit of any kind of dryness. One of the best bites of chicken I've ever had.! He ordered the bison meatloaf to go, and that comes with caramelized mashed potatoes and fried onion straws.... It smells incredible and I will update when we try it . * UPDATE: best meatloaf ever!!! Based on the quality/ experience on a very busy night- everything was phenomenal and I will return. Service 10/5 Food 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Value 5/5

This place had a lot more things than I honestly expected…read more The putt putt was a disappointment, but it was still something to do. Nothing like a real putt-putt course. The airsoft and paintball were a huge hit.... probably the favorite thing. We were unable to do gold mining because they were out of the dirt (it's brought in). I was really excited to do gem mining, but my excitement was quickly dashed when I realized it was planted gems. In retrospect it makes sense. If you dig up dirt from one place you'll get just tiny bits of probably one or two kinds of rocks. As an adult you know the deal, but my son was blissfully unaware and very excited about everything he got. He even found a shark's tooth... in a tiny plastic baggy. The staff was very nice, friendly, and engaging. That's the real reason for the 5 stars. If I was just rating the facility it would be 3.5 or 4. But the staff made the experience a 5 and certainly a place we will come to again.

We had an absolute blast! My friends and I, from Florida, took a vacation and stayed in the loft…read morecabin on the property. The cabin was nice, clean and comfortable. The staff was so kind and such a delight! We did the gold panning, gem mining, wagon ride, and paintball gallery. The bathrooms were kept super clean. We will definitely be coming back on our next girls trip!