Waldens Landing Development In Pigeon Tennessee Forge Adds Travel Lounge For Motorcoach Drivers

The developer of the Waldens Landing retail and restaurant complex is equipping a travel lounge exclusively for drivers of the many motorcoaches that bring visitors to Pigeon Forge. The 1,000-square-foot lounge will feature recliners, complimentary beverages and cable TV, according to developer Ned Vickers of Holrob Investments.

“Motorcoach drivers are some of the most important people in the tourism mix, and this is one way we can make their work a little easier,” Vickers said.

Waldens Landing, which represents a tourism investment of approximately $15 million, is working toward a Memorial Day weekend opening. It has almost 30 retail and restaurant spaces, and all are leased, Vickers said.

Among the tenants are Thomas Kinkade Galleries, the Atlanta Bread Company, Birkenstock Shoes, the Garden Gate, Hersheys Ice Cream, Mr. Heros Subs, the Smoky Mountain Brewery and the Tool Zone. A 275-seat Calhouns Restaurant will open this fall.

“Motorcoach drivers often are overlooked. It speaks well of a destination when something special is done for them,” said Peter Pantuso, president and CEO of the American Bus Association in Washington, D.C. “Drivers really like communities where it is easy for them to serve their passengers, and the Waldens Landing travel lounge is another nice touch in a city they already enjoy visiting.”

The architecture of Waldens Landing is reminiscent of town squares in small communities in east Tennessee and western North Carolina. The design includes a 70-foot-tall courthouse, tree-lined sidewalks with benches and a replica of an old-style fire hall, complete with a restored 1939 Dodge Hunter Pumper fire engine. A 36-hole interactive miniature golf course is in the middle of the complex

Waldens Landing is on the Parkway toward the north end of Pigeon Forge. In all, there are 58,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

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April 30, 2004   Posted in: United States South