Things to do nearby: attractions, shows and family entertainment
Margaritaville Island Hotel sits on The Island in Pigeon Forge with immediate access to The Island’s shops, rides and fountain shows and easy walking access to family theaters and museums. Guests can also use the hotel as a base for day trips to Dollywood and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
In this guide
The Island entertainment complex — steps from the hotel
The hotel is located on The Island entertainment complex, which includes more than 80 shops, restaurants, rides and regular free live music. The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel (also called the Island Wheel) and The Island Show Fountain are anchor features of the plaza outside the hotel.
Walk out and you’ll find casual dining, specialty retailers, a choreographed dancing fountain show, and family rides within easy walking distance of the hotel entrance.
- Great Smoky Mountain Wheel — visible from the plaza and a short walk
- The Island Show Fountain — music-synced water show in the central lagoon
- Shops, distillery, brewery and regular live music on the promenade
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountain Wheel | Observation wheel with plaza views |
| The Island Show Fountain | Choreographed fountain show with lights and music |
| Shopping & dining | 80+ retail and restaurant options |
On-site dining, bars and poolside refreshment
Margaritaville Restaurant and Fins Bar & Chill are the hotel’s main on-site restaurants; Margaritaville Restaurant serves lunch and dinner and offers a river-view patio and stage for live performance. Fins Bar & Chill is a casual riverside spot for lunch, dinner and drinks by the fire pit.
The rooftop Chill Bar sits by the hotel’s heated rooftop pool and serves tropical drinks, beer and light fare. Guests can charge food and drink from Fins Bar & Chill and the Chill Bar to their guest room for convenience.
- Margaritaville Restaurant hours: Sun–Thu 11:00 AM–10:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–11:00 PM
- Chill Bar serves tropical drinks, beer and light poolside fare (hours vary)
- Starbucks in the hotel lobby (hours listed locally)
| Venue | Type |
|---|---|
| Margaritaville Restaurant | Caribbean/American, river-view patio |
| Fins Bar & Chill | Casual riverside dining and fire pit |
| Chill Bar | Rooftop poolside bar |
Family shows and theaters within easy walk
Several family-oriented theaters and dinner shows are within walking distance of the hotel. The Comedy Barn Dinner Theater sits very close to The Island, and Pirate’s Voyage and Country Tonite are a short drive or walk depending on your pace.
If you want a typical Pigeon Forge family-show evening, concierge and the front desk can help with current showtimes and ticketing.
- Comedy Barn Dinner Theater — about 1,050 feet from the hotel
- Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show — roughly a 5 minute walk from the property (listing varies)
- Country Tonite Theater — about 1.4 miles from the hotel
| Show/theater | Proximity |
|---|---|
| Comedy Barn Dinner Theater | ~1,050 feet |
| Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show | ~5 minute walk (listed) |
| Country Tonite Theater | ~1.4 miles |
Museums, attractions and indoor activities nearby
A number of Pigeon Forge museums and indoor attractions are within a short walk or drive from the hotel. The Alcatraz East Crime Museum sits at The Island entrance; the Titanic Museum Attraction and WonderWorks are short drives away.
Other family-friendly options in the area include arcades, mini-golf, the Rockin’ Raceway arcade and Ripley’s-style attractions. Ask the concierge for current hours and ticket assistance.
- Alcatraz East Crime Museum — at The Island entrance
- Titanic Museum Attraction — a short drive from the hotel
- WonderWorks and indoor arcades — within a few miles of The Island
| Attraction | Distance/Note |
|---|---|
| Alcatraz East Crime Museum | At The Island entrance, walkable |
| Titanic Museum Attraction | Short drive (minutes) |
| WonderWorks | Short drive (around 2 miles listed) |
Outdoor recreation and Great Smoky Mountains access
Dollywood is frequently listed as a must-see day trip and sits roughly five miles from the Island/hotel area, making it an easy drive for a full day at the park. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Gatlinburg entrance is generally 5–7 miles south of Pigeon Forge via the Parkway and is reachable by car for hiking and scenic drives.
Seasonal timing matters: summer is the busiest season for outdoor attractions, while spring and fall windows are recommended for milder hiking weather and fall foliage. The hotel does not provide complimentary airport transfer; car or shuttle options should be arranged separately.
- Dollywood — around 5 miles from the hotel
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Gatlinburg entrance) — about 5–7 miles by Parkway
- Cades Cove loop and longer scenic drives are roughly an hour from Pigeon Forge
| Destination | Typical travel |
|---|---|
| Dollywood | About 5 miles (day trip) |
| Gatlinburg/Smoky Mountains | About 5–7 miles to park entrance |
| Cades Cove | ~30–35 miles, about 1 hour drive |
Spa, fitness and family facilities at the hotel
St. Somewhere Spa is the hotel’s full-service day spa; it lists Monday–Saturday hours of 10:00 AM–8:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM–7:00 PM and offers massages, facials, nail services and a salon. Spa guests 21 and over receiving services may be offered a complimentary alcoholic beverage per the spa’s published notes.
The hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center and a rooftop heated pool with hot tub, fire pits and private cabanas (cabanas are available for hire). Pool access and fitness-center use are included under the nightly Island Destination Fee.
- St. Somewhere Spa hours: Mon–Sat 10:00 AM–8:00 PM; Sun 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
- 24-hour fitness center included with Island Destination Fee
- Rooftop pool hours vary seasonally; the pool is heated and includes a hot tub and cabanas for hire
| Hotel amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| St. Somewhere Spa | Open to hotel guests and day visitors; 24-hour cancellation policy |
| 24-hour Fitness Center | Access included in Island Destination Fee |
| Rooftop Pool & Chill Bar | Heated pool, hot tub, fire pits, cabanas; pool hours listed locally |
