Lumberjack Feud an Action Packed Pigeon Forge Adventure

One of the most adventurous shows you can see in the Smoky Mountains is the Lumberjack Feud.  Set in a new $10 million theater, the show is one of the most unique, entertaining and action-packed shows in Pigeon Forge.  Watch as lumberjack athletes compete in events like log rolling and ax throwing, all while they settle the biggest Lumberjack Feud in the Smokies.

Set in 1934, right after the land creating the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was annexed, the two feuding families are the Dawsons and the McGraws.  They are battling it out for the last logging rights in the Smokies and plenty of raucous fun ensues.  Not only do attendees of the show get to see lumberjacks and lumberjills compete in serious competition, there is also lots of humor and good-natured ribbing occurring between both teams which creates lots of laughs. 

Guests can choose a dinner and show option or show only option.  I decided to have dinner and a show so I could try their Lumberjack Camp-style dinner.  Plus, who doesn’t love to be entertained while they dine.  Served shortly after being seated, the dinner includes pork tenderloin, mesquite chicken breast, macaroni and cheese, green beans or baked beans, dinner roll and a delicious dessert.  ( I was served  delightful strawberry shortcake, but on some nights dessert is blueberry cobbler.)   I was impressed with the quality of the meat served and as a macaroni and cheese fanatic, was pleasantly surprised at the richness and cheesiness of the side dish.

The action of the show, though, is  the real highlight of any night at Lumberjack Feud.  The fast-paced production had the Lumberjack athletes competing in sawing races, boom runs, log rolling,springboard chopping, ax chopping and throwing, pole climbing and hot saw competitions.  Even the flying timer dogs get in on theaction with extreme launches that reach up to seven feet in the air.  Draft horses make appearances too, adding to the authentic nature of the show.  Two of my favorite competitions of the Lumberjack Feud Show were the boom run and log rolls, as nothing beats adding a little water to events to make them even harder.  Boom run reminded me of Frogger, in how you had to jump from one log to the next to make it across the pond, while log roll always ended in a splash as inevitable one lumberjack outlasts the other as they literally run across a log in water.  Watching the timber dogs a favorite too, as these dogs take “go fetch” to a whole new level. 

Be sure to arrive at the Pigeon Forge Lumberjack Feud early to get your souvenir photo taken and to snap a photo or two with the strolling bears.  The Smoky Mountain Lumberjack Feud is one of the most unique shows in the nation and one of the only ones to celebrate the legacy of the American logger.  It’s an all-around entertaining show that excels at recreating the history and culture of the Smoky Mountains.