We were there too early to see the bears. They must sleep until 10am because even though the store opens earlier, we found that the bear exhibit didn't open until 10. We were headed back home that day, so we didn't wait around. Maybe next time. I was in the market for a personalized Christmas ornament, the kind with the year and special significance on it. My daughter recently got engaged and they had several perfect ornaments to choose from. I chose the one in the shape of an engagement ring. The lady doing the personalization on the ornaments had a couple of others ahead of me in line. I noticed another employee standing at the same table, and I asked her if she too could do the personalization. Low and behold, she could, and she did a fantastic job. Nice handwriting, it was perfect. Bring cash in to tip her, as there was a tip jar suggesting so. I sort of begrudgingly noticed it, because I felt like the price that I prepaid for the ornament was substantial enough. Call me a Grinch, ok?! Downstairs was where the fudge and a ton of other things are. Dad and I somehow had a coupons for a free sample of fudge. The lady cutting the fudge mentioned that the coupon offer only included the basic flavors and that if we wanted to get an upgraded flavor it was a few dollars up charge. I decided to go for the Reese's version and pay the charge. I got a big ol' slab, Dad stuck with the basic chocolate and was only given a small portion. Upgrading is the way to go. Oh, we also got a lecture about how she was only suppose to give one offer per household. Thanks for asking, but we aren't in the same household. (I swear I bit my tongue and eye roll) read more

See all

Your store phone numbers recording says you're open at 9am, Google maps and Yelp also say 9am. I've been sitting in parking lot since 8:50am and watched three people drive up and go to door only to find it locked but yet a bright OPEN sign is flashing in window. They shrug back to their cars and drive off. I called at 9:11am and the operator says that you're on 'winter hours' for Jan/Feb and you don't open until 10am. I said you need to change it on stores voice recording and Google. She said it's too hard so they don't change it. ‍‍ Please keep update your hours so your customers and especially loyal ones don't drive over here wasting time and gas. And please add a sign to your doors stating 'Winter Hours.' You have a great product, atmosphere and generally the customer service I have experienced has been great. read more

Three Bears General Store - Front of Three Bears General Store - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Live bear exhibit is very cool. Bear was fat and happy and viewing area was pretty close. Did the old time photo upstairs and it was really cute. Store has a lot of junky stuff but bear visit was good enough for me to make me recommend it read more

My husband and I went to the Smoky Mountains recently in May. We really enjoyed taking in the beautiful mountains. We had seen lots of bear. it was beautiful to see them in their natural habitat. It was so amazing watching them. We stopped at the 3 bears general store to view the bears we only saw one. It was very pitiful, watching the bear pacing the wall back-and-forth. You can tell he was not happy he was miserable being locked up. You could tell by the way he was acting. So iam speaking for the bear. The mountains of gatlinburg are calling them home, set them free. They have a safe haven in the beautiful mountains where they belong. They are not circus bear. read more

We thought they closed at midnight... well, we waltzed in at ten to 9p and they let us casually look around and shop for 1.5hrs after they closed and NEVER SAID A WORD to us. Not even so much as a bad look, nothing. Friendly and casual the entire time. It wasn't until we checked out and realized we were the only ones there and that they closed at 9p(!) that we found out, and they were still smiling and chatty and totally normal. We were mortified. They said don't even worry about it, we didn't want to bug you. amazing employees and service. Holy cow. Glad our group spent a few hundred dollars. Will definitely be back! (Also, the store is AMAZING!) read more

So much fun & so much crap. You'll find what you need AND what you don't. And the snacks served are top notch! read more

Three Bears General Store - Funnel cake & root beer float - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Fun place to shop and buy souvenirs! Outdoor decor, t-shirts galore and a lot to look at both upstairs and downstairs.

Good ole three bears. We stop in here every year after we leave Dixie stampede. I'm not really sure what the draw is but we end up here every year. I give it three stars just because I feel like this place is average. It's pretty cool when you first walk in but the deeper you get into the store the more average it becomes. They do offer a military discount which is very nice. read more

Three Bears General Store - Free Wi-Fi. - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Cute store with just about everything. The ice cream was SO GOOD! The prices of their merchandise was kind of high though. Strange considering how much competition there is. read more

I never come to pigeon forge without stopping here!! I love the canned foods and all of the varieties! It is crowded but they have a little of everything to offer. read more

They sell something for everyone, but overpriced. Loved that they had live bears. Plenty of different things of any kind. Hate they were so high. Overcrowded Went in to see what the hype was all about, came out pretty quick cause it was overpriced and you even had to pay to see the bears. read more

Three Bears General Store - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Great shop to find everything!! I wish it was a Lil less crowded and had more people following covid precautions but it's still greT! read more

Three Bears General Store - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

This was meh, the bears were cool, but it was more like a flea market than anything else. We bought a few things. read more

Three Bears General Store - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Customer service: 5 stars: we only interacted with 2 people. The first interaction was a teen or early 20s dude who took our admission money to see the bears. He was funny and accomodating. The second interaction was a very personable gentleman who did the airbrushing for the place. He has a great personality and loves to spread the word. Even if you are a non believer he will say something you can relate to. The bears: 5 stars: we overheard someone saying they were Himalayan bears but idk for sure what type they were. They did give a show because 2 were arguing over the sunny spot with that had the long log to rest on lol we missed the feeding times by an hour or so. So if you want to feed them call to check the times. It was like $7 bucks for 2 adults and 2 children to view the bears with coupon we got off of their website. The store: 4 stars: they have all kinds of ish in there from Christmas ornaments to souvenir tee shirts. If you like quirky stores that sell all sorts of junk you will like this place. They have a small arcade upstairs as well as ol time photos you can take in various costumes and sets. Cleanliness: 3 stars: I didn't like looking at bear shit while observing the bears. I didn't like seeing the t shirt area ransacked. I didn't like seeing people leaving their unfinished soft drinks anywhere they could sit them. The staff was working hard to stay on top of things but when you have a store loaded with stuff from floor to ceiling anything out of place looks like a wreck. Price point: 2 stars: some of it is over priced junk and some of it is worth the value. You will just have to see. I did purchase 3 airbrushed caps for about $32 and a travel bingo game for $1.99. I am happy with my purchases but if I was in the market for some of the other stuff they offer I would be like yeah right! Lol Overall: a wonky store worth checking out. If you have a stick up your culo you won't enjoy a place like this. But if you are happy go lucky and like quirky things you will enjoy the experience. read more

See all

My bf and I live near Cookeville, TN so we come to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area a lot throughout the year and we had never been to 3 Bears but had always saw it so we decided to give it a go! Whenever my boyfriend and I went to see the bears upstairs, we met this sweet man at the register named Frankie. He was the nicest person I have ever met in my entire life! If the owner of 3 Bears happens to see this- Do whatever you can to keep this man because he is a true asset to your company. We love Frankie!!!!!!! Will be back because of him! read more

This is not a store for anyone who is in a hurry or who is easily overwhelmed, and on the day we visited The Three Bears General Store I was a bit of both. I loved all the bear decor and apparently they have live bears upstairs, but the idea of bears captive in a gift shop just hurt my heart. I hope that it is a great situation for them but I just could not be a party to it. I stopped in hoping to find one of the super cute pastel tye-dye shirts I had been seeing everywhere. I did find several of them but none in my size. I am a bigger size person and though I can wear an "XL" I refuse to buy a 100% cotton t-shirt smaller than a 3XL because they shrink a lot and I do not like any t-shirt to fit tight. I kept seeing signs in the store that advertised 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X but could barely find any shirts that were even an XL and never saw any that were larger. We picked up some delicious pecan fudge and made our way to our next appointment without my desired shirt. Maybe next time. read more

Those bears looked so sad, like they lost their will to live. At the entrance they play videos of playful happy bears. What a hoax. Then they sell MAGA products but most of the stuff in the store is not made in America. Hypocrites, but I guess the truth doesn't matter for those that buy or sell MAGA products. read more

This store has everything! But do not buy the fudge. We paid $41.00 for fudge for gifts and it was stale and hard as a rock. Just don't do it! Spend your money on some of the other cool things they have there, not the fudge. Yuck! read more

What an awesome place! They have everything! And the prices are so fair! When we come back again ... we will definitely stop for more T-shirt's and goodies! The fudge was delicious too!! read more

An amazing store with a little bit of everything. The staff was super sweet and helpful. Picked up some amazing fudge, and a bunch of jars of pickled snacks. I could have spent a couple hours shopping there. Just go! read more

Overpriced. Way too much traffic inside. Aisles too small to accommodate so many people. Not enough checkouts open for the amount of people there. Bears exhibit is what is expected. They all look sad and depressed. You have to go through the gift shop and upstairs if you want to get a ticket to go see the bears. read more

Walked in and loved the neat stuff they had. But the overwhelming dump of trump crap everywhere lead us out the door. Bye! Idiots

I have mixed feelings but I'm gonna go with a lower score. My bf thought I would love this place and seeing bears make me happy . but these bears don't need to be confined in a store environment. Given I understand that they are rescues but please love your animals and treat them with kindness. These aren't sun bears and they should be treated as if they are They looked depressed to be honest. There is so much CRAP in this place that makes you want to just walk out. If you're claustrophobic then this isnt rhe place for you. If you enjoy walking into rude people who stand in the middle of the walkway then this is definitely the place for you. But I'm so serious, there is so much CRAP. Who puts an arcade accessory store, gelato, fudge, and live bears in one building?that is the most up chuck thing to do. read more

See all

This is the place to grab your souvenirs!! Has pretty everything you'll see at other shops in the area and more at lower prices. It was also really fun to feed and see the bears in the back. Just $3 for the food and entry together and the enclosure was pretty big for the two of them. read more

On vacation and was told by really nice waitress o go try tho place with the kids, attempted twice both times was closed, no hours posted anywhere, left with kids crying. read more

This place has everything you could think of souvenir wise. You name it, home goods, special jams, pasta recipes, long Johns for your dog, personalized pocket knives, EVERYTHING. It was kind of overwhelming and hard to navigate at times but there is no shortage of things to get for family and friends back home. There's even food to get inside? Amazing. The snow cones were a great treat. The Christmas section upstairs is beautiful, and I couldnt wait for december when I heard the music. I would consider this place a one-stop shop for any gift shopping read more

Cute tourist store! Also the bears weren't out yet when I visited but i am kinda glad bc reviews all say they seem sad.

Nice store with unique foods and gift ideas. They do require mask but they are not limiting the number of people allowed in the store and it's a two story store so a lot of people can enter. Just keep it in mind during this COVID era read more

Three Bears General Store, a deplorable roadside attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, confines black bears to a barren concrete pit. They spend their days in cramped, severely crowded conditions and have nothing to do except stare at the walls and beg tourists for food. They're deprived of any way to satisfy their most basic needs--to roam, forage for food, and hibernate in the winter. In the wild, Asiatic black bears are far-ranging animals who interact with other bears only minimally. But here, four are imprisoned in a single concrete pit, with nothing to provide mental stimulation or anything that's normal and natural to them. Three Bears has a lengthy history of animal-welfare violations, including allowing moldy excrement to accumulate in the bears' enclosure failing to provide adequate veterinary care, and failing to provide clean drinking water. Recently, one bear was seen dragging her back leg. Arthritis and foot injuries in captive bears are often caused by obesity and living solely on concrete. It's time that these bears were moved out of their prison to a reputable sanctuary where they can have proper care and opportunities to roam and forage. In 2014, two Himalayan black bears were rescued from being confined to a tiny cage in a residential backyard by the owner of Three Bears, Bill DeLozier, in, Sevierville, Tennessee. They now live at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, where they have soft grass and wide-open space, and are hibernating each winter, likely for the first time in their lives. I really cant believe this is still happening 2018. Do not support this disgusting excuse for a business. Write a letter, sign a petition, or call and urge this business to close their bear exhibit. read more

Don't waste your time. I hate to leave a negative review but honestly can't find a single positive thing to say about this store.

Crowded with products. Mask wearing not enforced. Aqua spa was awesome. Did not venture to the roof to see the bears.

This is an awesome Christian owed store!! Something for everyone at very reasonable prices... They even have a live bear exhibit and a deli and ice cream shop. This is one of my favorite places to visit when I come to Pigeon Forge!! I'd highly recommend it to you and your family!! As for the bear exhibit.... These bears are well provided for with everything they need. They were rescued from a hunting club, better known as a kill farm. Without the care of the General Store, these bears would have been killed a long time ago. read more

Three Bears General Store - Department Stores Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

This place is sensory overload central. Piles of made in china merchandise piled up to the second floor ceilings. It's a maze that's not easy to escape from. Stick together and have a plan. read more

How fun! We had a late breakfast at Sawyers's Farmhouse next door and they gave us a coupon for a free quarter pound of fudge at 3 Bears, so I had to stop by for at least the fudge. Boy, am I glad I did. What a fun, touristy place. And then I discovered they have live bears that you can feed. Entrance to the bear exhibit is free if you check in on Yelp, so my wife and I both checked in. The food was an extra $1.25 and so we bought one and off we went. I had the best time. The bears are lazy and won't move but 5 feet to eat, so you have to throw the food right at them. You can also drop it down some pipes in the lower level and hear them snort for more. They're hilarious. Inside is all kinds of fun stuff to buy. It's a total tourist trap and I loved every minute of it. I'm glad my wife humors me at places like this. She probably gets a bigger kick out of watching me than the others things, but that's why I love her! read more

See all

Good little store for souvenirs and trinkets got a ice cream shop and candy store two floors got an old time photo shop and an arcade it's awesome that they rescued the bears but they look pitiful in that small enclosure it would be nice to see them retired to a nicer facility that's all read more

Dear three bears general store, Matt here please update your hours of operation, you are not open 9am you are open at 10am. This really put a damper on my morning plans. Also i do not appreciate the drug addicted patrons of your establishment yelling "they don't open till 10" in the parking. This startled me and made me afraid to come back for fear of my health and safety. I hope you can fix this as i would like to shop here but am currently to afraid. read more

Everytime we are in town we stop at this store. This go around, I am disappointed in how they are handling COVID as they don't enforce the mask requirements or limit the amount of people. I felt very uncomfortable. read more

Three stars for Three Bears General Store. Which actually had five bears. Well, five live black bears anyway. The store itself is huge; two floors one of which that has a section devoted to Christmas decor that they sell year-round. You can find all sorts of souvenir tshirts, caps, key chains, picture frames, jewelry, jams, jellies, dips, sauces, kitchen utensils, bible covers, toys, stuffed animals, blankets, really almost anything you can think of and then some more. The bears are kept in an enclosure in the back, you have to go upstairs to get to the entrance. Thanks to yelp and some coupon booklets we were able to get in at a discount and get some food to feed them with. They were adorable but not sure if it would have been worth it to see the 5 bears if we didn't have the discount and if we hadn't been there during feeding hours. read more

Not Impressed! Especially with the three bears and their enclosure and situation. I don't know the whole story as to who they belong to or how they ended up there. However after paying my entrance fee and buying a small cup of food for them I went in to see. The man attending the station and even a cashier swears up and down the bears are loved and taken care of. I really hope this is the case. However what i saw were three bears contained in a cement enclosure with grape and bits of apples being thrown at them from people wanting to see them. No way for a bear to live. It is just sad to me. Instead of making money off them release them to a rescue or provide a better living situation. The store itself is much like any other gift shop just maybe a bit bigger. read more

Very cute store. Picked up some delicious candy apples and visited the three bears.