Riverbend Campground - Pigeon Forge, TN

We’re going to the Dinosaur Walk Museum here in Pigeon Forge this evening. I love dinosaurs, so I am immediately 7 1/2 years old again just thinking about it. 40 life-sized and accurate dinosaur models to look at, plus some taxidermied snakes for those who unaccountably aren’t completely fascinated by the dinosaurs, are enough to get me to walk 40 miles to see them.

That doesn’t sound like much until you consider the fact that I’d walk it on my eyelids. I’m just that foolish for dinosaurs.

Tomorrow night we have reservations for a magic show which I’m sure will remind me of Lance Burton’s spectacle at the Monte Carlo in Vegas. I’m almost as foolish for magic as I am for dinosaurs so I go to see a lot of shows. I had fun at Lance’s show and was grateful to have had the chance to meet him afterwards. On our way to the green room, a pen filed with the ducks from the show was wheeled by, quacking a red and blue shift as they approached and passed. I’m not 100% sure this sort of thing only happens in Vegas, but I’m quite sure that it’s comparatively rare. This evening’s show here in Tennessee promises tigers, pyrotechnics and lots of shiny things, just like a good tourist-town magic show should. We’re going to have a total blast.

The campground here in Pigeon Forge has the same name as Alex’s old campground in Indiana where the Airstream used to be docked off-season. We thought it was a good omen so we made reservations and here we are, on the banks of the Little Pigeon River. We’ve seen herons, hummingbirds and ducks of unknown species. Mallards are all I ever see back in Virginia, so I’m always intrigued to see something other than bright green heads and bright blue flanks.

Of course we’re also in the land of camel sweeps. laser tag, miniature golf and lot filled with beautifully restored antique hot rods right across the main road from the Comedy Barn Family Entertainment Spectacular, the Smith Family Gospel Breakfast Show, The Miracle: A Musical Celebration of the Life of Christ and a fudge shop whose spokesperson is named Papa Fudge Beard.

Yes. Really.

I’m not disdaining any of it at all. It’s such a wonderful juxtaposition of the old, new, religious and secular that it deserves more than a casual mention. I love this kind of place, where there’s something new on every corner and all of it is so honestly and openly what it is, never pretending to be anything else but a joyous diversion from what may be on your mind, perhaps with a message, something positive to hold on to for later.

We are on our way out the door for dinosaurs and we may have just located a sushi place for dinner. This place gets better by the moment.

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