Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s ‘18 Kids and Counting’ Project Grows to Two Episodes – TLC schedules Smoky Mountains vacation shows for July 14, 21

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (July 2009)-Like the Duggar family itself, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.’s, vacation project with the reality TV family from “18 Kids and Counting” has grown. Instead of generating a single half-hour episode of the popular TLC show, two episodes have resulted, and with the extra airtime comes a greater marketing value for Pigeon Forge-now $2.4 million for the initial airings.

The episodes will air July 14 and 21 at 9 p.m. (Eastern), with a repeat each night at 1 a.m.

“These shows happened because of the longstanding relationship between the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism and our advertising and marketing agency, BOHAN,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the department.

“BOHAN knows Pigeon Forge so well that it identified the delightful Duggar family as an ideal ‘test’ for Pigeon Forge. The idea was that if Pigeon Forge could entertain a family as diverse as the Duggars are, we can entertain every family,” Downey said, recalling how the project started.

“18 Kids and Counting” chronicles the lives of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar from Springdale, Ark., and their 18 natural-born children. The show averages more than a million viewers per new episode, and the total audience grows with repeat airings.

Pigeon Forge’s efforts impressed the Duggars and TLC, which sends video production crews to the Duggars’ home and travel destinations.

Downey said the TLC exposure for Pigeon Forge will really showcase the city.

“Purchasing that much TLC time for two nights would cost $2.4 million,” he said, “and that’s obviously something we couldn’t afford. The shows are a huge marketing boon for Pigeon Forge. We and the agency worked our heads off, but our out-of-pocket costs were only about $5,000.”

The Duggars made some remarkable vacation memories, including meeting Dolly Parton and riding in the 24th annual Dolly Parton Homecoming Parade.

The family also enjoyed several Pigeon Forge attractions. They rode camels prior to the show at the Miracle Theater, rolled down a 750-foot mountainside at Zorb Smoky Mountains, toured the Old Mill historic site, raced go-carts on a triple-decker course at The Track, admired the horsemanship at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Pigeon Forge attracts more than 10 million visitors a year and is one of America’s most popular family vacation destinations. Its next-door neighbor is Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Pigeon Forge attraction information and travel itineraries are available online at www.MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100. For more about “18 Kids and Counting,” go to TLC.com

July 8, 2009   Posted in: United States South