The Volunteer State volunteers to take your money in the most creative ways possible.
They’ve figured out how to charge admission for things that should be free and make you feel grateful for the privilege.
It’s like paying extra for the “scenic route” that leads directly to your credit card statement.
Some of these places have more gift shops than actual attractions.
1. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Gatlinburg sits at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
This mountain town draws millions of visitors each year with its promise of natural beauty and family fun.
Downtown Gatlinburg has become a maze of overpriced attractions and tourist traps.
You’ll find temporary tattoo shops charging $10 for what costs under a dollar elsewhere.
The streets overflow with t-shirt shops, candy stores, and questionable “gem mines” that exist solely to separate tourists from their money.
2. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Pigeon Forge markets itself as a family-friendly Las Vegas in the mountains. The town boasts countless go-kart tracks, mini golf courses, and carnival-style attractions.
You’ll spot the second-largest Jesus statue in America promoting elaborate dinner shows. The main strip features endless t-shirt shops and chain restaurants designed to capture tourist dollars.
Most visitors find themselves asking “what else is there to do?” after experiencing the repetitive attractions.
3. Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville serves as another gateway to the Smokies, filled with outlet malls and tourist attractions. The town features numerous mini golf ranges and shopping complexes.
Most activities here target tourists specifically rather than offering genuine local experiences. You’re better off spending your time hiking in the nearby national park.
The outlet malls promise great deals but often feature inflated “regular” prices to make discounts seem more appealing.
Why It’s On This List: Like its neighboring towns, Sevierville prioritizes tourist spending over authentic mountain experiences.
4. The Parthenon, Nashville
Nashville’s Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek structure, complete with a 42-foot Athena statue inside. Built for the 1897 Centennial Exposition, it earned Nashville the nickname “Athens of the South.”
Thousands of people visit this concrete copy each year expecting to see something spectacular. You’re essentially paying to see a knockoff of an actually amazing ancient site.
The experience feels hollow compared to Nashville’s authentic music heritage and culture.
Why It’s On This List: Visiting a replica when you could experience Nashville’s genuine musical history makes little sense for most travelers.
5. Angel Wings Mural, Nashville
This 20-foot white wing mural on 11th Avenue South has become Instagram famous. Created by artist Kelsey Montague, it’s designed for social media photos.
On perfect weather days, you’ll find long lines of people waiting hours for their turn at the wings. That wait can be brutal in Tennessee’s summer heat.
You’re better off visiting Nashville’s dozens of other murals that actually represent the city’s character and culture.
Why It’s On This List: Long waits for a generic photo opportunity that has nothing to do with Nashville’s unique identity.
6. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort
Ober Gatlinburg markets itself as a year-round mountain adventure destination. The resort offers skiing in winter and various activities during warmer months.
The facilities are outdated and overpriced for what you get.
Many visitors leave feeling disappointed by the dated equipment and high costs.
The ski slopes are limited, and the summer activities don’t justify the premium pricing structure.
Why It’s On This List: Outdated facilities and inflated prices make this a poor value compared to other mountain destinations.
7. Ripley’s Believe It or Not Attractions, Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg hosts multiple Ripley’s attractions, from the classic Believe It or Not museum to various themed experiences. These attractions promise weird and wonderful oddities.
Most Ripley’s locations in Gatlinburg offer recycled exhibits you can see elsewhere for less money. The aquarium gets decent reviews, but the other locations disappoint many visitors.
You’ll pay premium prices for displays that often feel dated and unimpressive.
Why It’s On This List: Overpriced attractions with recycled content that don’t offer unique value for your vacation dollars.
8. Comedy Barn, Pigeon Forge
The Comedy Barn bills itself as family-friendly entertainment featuring comedy acts and variety shows. The venue has operated for years as a staple of Pigeon Forge tourism.
The humor often feels dated and the acts repetitive.
Many visitors find the comedy doesn’t justify the ticket prices.
The shows target the lowest common denominator rather than offering genuinely entertaining performances.
Why It’s On This List: Dated comedy acts and high ticket prices for entertainment that rarely lives up to expectations.
9. Black Bear Jamboree, Pigeon Forge
This dinner theater combines country music performances with dining in a rustic mountain setting. The show features animatronic bears and live performers.
The food quality typically disappoints, and the entertainment feels more like a relic from decades past. You’re paying dinner theater prices for cafeteria-quality meals.
The animatronic bears and dated musical numbers appeal mainly to very young children.
Why It’s On This List: Poor food quality and outdated entertainment make this an expensive disappointment for most families.
10. Jurassic Cruise, Gatlinburg
This boat ride promises a prehistoric adventure with animatronic dinosaurs along a water course. The attraction markets itself as family-friendly entertainment.
The dinosaurs look obviously fake and the ride feels more like a cheap carnival attraction than a quality theme park experience.
You’ll pay theme park prices for what amounts to a brief boat ride past unconvincing robot dinosaurs.
Why It’s On This List: Low-quality animatronics and a short, unimpressive ride don’t justify the high admission costs.
11. Dollywood’s Splash Country, Pigeon Forge
This water park operates as a separate attraction from the main Dollywood theme park. The facility features water slides, pools, and typical water park amenities.
You’ll pay premium prices for a water park that doesn’t offer anything special compared to other regional options. The crowds during peak season make it nearly impossible to enjoy.
Many visitors find the experience underwhelming given the high admission costs and long wait times for slides.
Why It’s On This List: High prices and overcrowding create a frustrating experience that doesn’t deliver value for families.
12. SkyBridge and SkyLift, Gatlinburg
The Gatlinburg SkyLift takes visitors up to a suspension bridge offering mountain views. The chairlift ride promises scenic vistas of the Smoky Mountains.
You’ll wait in long lines to pay high prices for a brief chairlift ride and a walk across a bridge. The views are nice, but you can get better mountain vistas for free in the national park.
That’s why many visitors feel disappointed after spending significant money for what amounts to a 30-minute experience.
Why It’s On This List: Expensive admission for views you can get for free elsewhere in the Smokies with a short hike.
13. Anakeesta Outdoor Adventure, Gatlinburg
Anakeesta combines a chairlift ride with treetop activities and shopping. The attraction promises outdoor adventure with zip lines and elevated walkways.
The activities feel manufactured rather than offering genuine outdoor experiences.
You’re paying premium prices for artificial adventure when real hiking trails surround the area.
The treetop walk and zip lines target tourists rather than providing authentic mountain recreation.
Why It’s On This List: Artificial outdoor experiences at high prices when genuine mountain adventures are available nearby for free.
14. Great Smoky Mountains Wheel, Pigeon Forge
This 200-foot Ferris wheel dominates the Pigeon Forge skyline with LED light displays. The attraction promises panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
You’ll pay significant money for a brief ride that offers views you can get from numerous free overlooks in the area. The wheel operates slowly, making the experience feel longer than it needs to be.
Most riders find the views pleasant but not worth the admission price compared to free alternatives.
Why It’s On This List: Expensive rides for views that are readily available at no cost from nearby scenic overlooks.
15. Titanic Museum, Pigeon Forge
This half-scale replica of the famous ship houses artifacts and interactive exhibits about the Titanic disaster. Visitors receive boarding passes with passenger names to follow throughout the experience.
The museum charges premium admission for what amounts to a fairly standard historical exhibit. Many visitors find the experience doesn’t justify the high ticket prices.
You’re better off visiting actual maritime museums with more comprehensive collections and lower admission costs.
Why It’s On This List: High admission prices for a themed experience that doesn’t offer exceptional educational value.
16. Moonshine Tastings, Gatlinburg
Numerous distilleries along the main strip offer moonshine tastings and tours. These establishments promise authentic Appalachian moonshine experiences.
Most of these operations are recent tourist-focused businesses rather than traditional distilleries.
The “moonshine” is often flavored grain alcohol marketed to tourists.
You’ll pay inflated prices for products that have little connection to actual mountain moonshine traditions.
Why It’s On This List: Tourist-focused distilleries selling overpriced flavored alcohol with minimal connection to authentic moonshine heritage.
17. Dollywood Express Train Ride
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This narrow-gauge railroad offers scenic rides through the Smoky Mountain foothills. The vintage train promises a nostalgic journey through beautiful Tennessee countryside.
The ride lasts only about 20 minutes and covers limited scenery for the ticket price. Many passengers expect a longer, more comprehensive train experience.
You’re paying premium prices for what amounts to a brief loop around the theme park area.
Why It’s On This List: Short ride duration and limited scenery don’t justify the high ticket prices for most visitors.
18. Gatlinburg Strip District
The main tourist strip in Gatlinburg features dozens of t-shirt shops, candy stores, and souvenir stands. This area concentrates most of the town’s tourist-focused businesses.
You’ll find the same mass-produced souvenirs and overpriced snacks repeated in shop after shop. The area feels more like a carnival midway than an authentic mountain town.
That’s why many visitors leave feeling they missed the real Gatlinburg character and mountain culture.
Why It’s On This List: Repetitive tourist shops selling overpriced merchandise that has nothing to do with genuine mountain heritage.
19. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster
This mountain coaster promises thrilling rides down the mountainside with scenic views. The attraction markets itself as combining adventure with sightseeing.
The ride is brief and expensive for what amounts to a glorified go-kart track on rails.
You’ll wait in long lines for a short experience that doesn’t deliver the promised thrills.
The views are limited, and the coaster itself feels more like a carnival ride than a mountain adventure.
Why It’s On This List: Short ride duration and high costs for an experience that doesn’t live up to the adventure marketing promises.
20. Pigeon Forge Dinner Shows
Multiple dinner theaters in Pigeon Forge offer themed entertainment with meals. These venues promise family-friendly shows ranging from country music to comedy acts.
Most dinner shows feature mediocre food and dated entertainment that feels stuck in previous decades. You’re paying restaurant prices for cafeteria-quality meals plus show tickets.
The entertainment rarely justifies the total cost, and many visitors leave feeling they overpaid for both the food and the show.
Why It’s On This List: Poor food quality combined with outdated entertainment makes these expensive disappointments for most families.