Record-setting crowds bring Jeep enthusiasm, tourism revenue and hordes of Jeeps to the northeastern Tennessee area.
by Terry Pritchard
Torque Staff Writer
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Put an extremely large gathering of thousands of Jeep enthusiasts and vendors in the mountains of East Tennessee and what do you get? The 10th Annual Great Smoky Mountain Jeep Club Invasion.
The Invasion is hosted annually by the Smoky Mountain Jeep Club in Pigeon Forge, a small town nestled in the beautiful landscape of the Smoky Mountains about 45 minutes southeast of Knoxville. This year's event saw 250 vendors, 43,000 people and 20,000 Jeeps flock to the area, setting yet another three-day attendance record.
Pigeon Forge is a great little mountain city full of roadside attractions, souvenir shops, restaurants and of course, Dollywood Amusement Park. For a small town that relies on tourism and hospitality, it truly is amazing to see how an influx of Jeep enthusiasts changes the look and feel of this small city.
Pigeon Forge Mayor Dave Wear gets involved as well.
“The 2022 Pigeon Forge Jeep Invasion at LeConte Center is in the books and we couldn't be happier with the event,” Wear said. “The event began in Pigeon Forge nine short years ago and has grown to be one of the largest shows hosted at the city's LeConte Center.”
The Invasion can be broken down into three major areas: Show and Shine/Vendor Show, Daily After Parties and Cruise on the Streets. Realistically, you don’t want to miss any of them.
The Show and Shine is really a chance to show off your vehicle in one of the nine categories. These are basically broken down by model and offer a Runner Up and First Place in each category and a Top Five overall. The Show and Shine registration also guarantees hassle-free parking in the Show and Shine area which is closer to the main vendor location. The Show and Shine is also a great way for visitors to see some of the coolest Jeeps and perhaps get an idea or two for their rig.
The main vendor show is located inside and outside of the LeConte Center, which is a beautifully designed exposition hall and meeting facility. The vendor area is set up like most traditional auto trade shows but this one combines indoor and outdoor venues. There is even an installers’ row outside, where some vendors offer direct installation of their products.
Even with the clear vistas of the Smoky Mountains, August in East Tennessee still gets very hot. So it is usually best to hit the outside vendors first, then go inside to enjoy the soothing air conditioning while seeing even more amazing products. And you do not want to miss a single booth. With rows and rows of vendors, you can find almost anything to customize your Jeep.
The city of Pigeon Forge really supports these major events, and the Jeep Invasion organizers coordinate with area businesses and restaurants to offer daily event after parties. A business may offer a portion of their parking lot as space for meet and greet gatherings to see impressive Jeeps in a casual environment.
Some of these restaurants will also have GSMJI specials on the menu. All of it offers a great chance to meet new Jeepers or catch up with old friends.
“Our economy runs on hospitality and tourism,” Wear said. “Events like this allow for jobs and generation of paychecks for our workforce. The economic impact study of the 2022 show is underway, but we anticipate that tourist spending in Pigeon Forge generated solely by Jeep Invasion to be in the $8 to $10 million range.”
Cruising on the Strip is not necessarily a GSMJI exclusive. But cruising on the Pigeon Forge Parkway is quite a unique experience. This cruising atmosphere is not frowned upon and almost appears to be encouraged.
Thousands of Jeepers take to the Parkway and just go from one end of the strip to the other. Then, using a pass-through lane, proceed to the other side and ride in the opposing direction. Although there are multiple lanes each way, the continuous parade of Jeeps will slowly move in the outside lane (while obeying all traffic laws).
The parkway is lined with thousands more Jeeps and spectators in lawn chairs enjoying the sights of these unique vehicles with music thumping and lights glowing. Ducks, candy and other trinkets are always passed out along the way. It is definitely a neat way to celebrate the end of a great Jeep show day.
Although the 2022 Great Smoky Mountain Jeep invasion has ended, plans are well underway next August. The event will again be at the LeConte Center and this one is set for August 24-26.
“For a three-day show, this is a significant impact to our local economy,” Wear said. “Attendance at this year’s show is estimated at thirty-five thousand, doubling last year’s numbers. We are grateful for Justin (Murray) and Kevin (Carlson) for growing their show in Pigeon Forge and for always trusting that the good people at LeConte Center will take care of them and their guests.”
