Pigeon Forge, Tennessee - Pioneer - Pirate Statue

Pigeon Forge, not known for being low-key, has a new amazing sight, at least to me. On the corner Rt 441 and Dollywood Lane sits a deserted mini golf guarded by a large pirate. The remnants of the golf area are being used by someone to create incredible hand carved motifs for the adjoining motel, River Chase, an otherwise ordinary piece of architecture. Each window is framed by hand-painted and carved rustic scenes of animals, bears and other woodland creatures. On a roof is a moonshine still. Climbing bears appear on balconies. An altogether unusual and cool sight. [Diane Plumley, 09/13/2009]

On the way to Dollywood we stumbled across a giant who appeared to be somewhere between a cowboy and a pirate. There was also a velociraptor sitting in front of an outhouse. Not sure what the business was -- looked like some sort of wooden furniture stand. [Jacob Krejci, 07/23/2008]

[RA: Not a Muffler Man, but this Pioneer - Prospector - Daniel Boone statue is also seen in North Carolina and around the southeast. The knife in his black buckle belt is sort of pirate-like. The velociraptor statue is common to dino parks, and could be a refugee from the long defunct Jurassic Golf in Pigeon Forge...]