by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is one of the top East Coast resort attractions. An ‘All American town with a wholesome atmosphere’ if you believe it’s website homepage.
There is Dollywood. A Titanic exhibit. Alpine coasters. Alcatraz crime spot. A wax museum. Plus tons of other stuff to do there.
And every August, the spot just about 45 minutes southeast of Knoxville turns from resort town into one of the year’s biggest Jeep events anywhere in the country.
They call it the Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion. This year will be the 12th edition.
Organizers expect over 50,000 people to make their way to Pigeon Forge later this month, driving more than 22,000 Jeeps. All packing the LeConte Center parking lot in a sea of colorful Willys, CJs, YJs, TJs, JKs, JLs, JTs, Grand Cherokees and all kinds of other Jeeps as well. Stock to well-built.
Quadratec will be there as well this year, setting up shop outside the LeConte Center with plenty of new product on hand to sell and order, as well as our highly popular JTe Gladiator that has been all over the country with our 50-for-50 Trail Cleanup Initiative.
This year’s GSMJI offers LeConte center inside and outside access to more than 300 of the industry’s top Jeep vendors, special swag bags, party access, Jeep trail rides and an expansive Show and Shine.
The 2024 Smoky Mountain Jeep Invasion will be from August 22-24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The inaugural event launched in 2012 in Townsend, Tennessee, before moving to its current location in Pigeon Forge. It is open to all Jeep enthusiasts and clubs throughout the country.