Parrot Mountain and Gardens — Attraction in Pigeon Forge

Birds generally seem to not be stressed at all and tend to have plenty of room to get away from noisy/inconsiderate viewers (a macaw on one of the stands being the exception, but he didn't wake up when one particularly rude teen swiped at his tail-- DUDE! BE KIND TO THE BIRDS!) so don't worry on that part. Many are rehabilitated rescue birds who are now ambassadors for their species, and staff members indicate that there are quite a number of other birds backstage who are cared for even though they cannot be rehabilitated to the point of being comfortable in the enclosures and aviaries.

There are signs everywhere about how interactive each particular bird is willing to be, as well as species information signs, and I saw the birds whose job it was to interact being switched out and rested somewhat regularly. The birds are adept at figuring out who has experience with them and who does not, and in the interactive areas will do their bird behaviors with the people who know and will be patient with the people who don't.

In the non-interactove areas, there are still birds willing to interact. If you go up to the enclosures quietly and start inviting a particular bird to interact with soft whistles and clicks, very often that bird will start doing imitative behaviors it has learned before, like waving with its foot or bobbing, or swinging its head around to look at you in ways it knows that humans find funny. If you play back, and establish a form of trust, some of them will make their ways from deep in the enclosure to right up against the side to interact with just you. It's the most heartwarming and wonderful thing in the world.

The grounds are gorgeous, with lush plantings and plentiful refuse disposal locations, so that trash does not build up. Pathways are well-paved, but they are definitely on the side of a mountain, so a bit steep at times. When the canopy walk loop is completed (under construction as of May 2025), it will probably be one of the more level experiences.

Two things that could use improvement: Better rules establishment at the entrance of the park, for the good of the birds.-- Though many parrots are noisy, they like to be shouted WITH, not shouted AT, and a large proportion of excited visitors did not seem to know the difference. While there is a good rules sign at the entrance, perhaps the beginning of the trail needs monitors with a video loop explaining best practices for interacting with the birds (see the ride line to the Disney's Animal Kingdom Safari for a good example). Parrot nursery needs more attendants.-- The parrot nursery where people can interact with and possibly purchase baby birds at the end of the trails is extremely popular, and the two attendants seemed rather overwhelmed. As a result, there were small kids picking up birds and squealing and acting very scared when the babies tasted them to figure out what was going on. This is hazardous for the birds. If a situation could be implemented where there was an attendant for each family entering the nursery, it would be safer for all.

This is a wonderful experience. Highly recommended, even if the tickets feel a little bit expensive. Bring a four-wheel drive vehicle to get up the mountain, or be prepared to ride the shuttle from the overflow and RV lot at the base...

As a fellow bird lover, I thoroughly enjoyed this place! My husband and I went for our anniversary and I'm so glad we did! The birds looked well cared for, the staff we interacted with was friendly and knowledgeable, the garden's flowers, sculpture & scriptures were beautiful and the entire park was clean and well maintained. (Although, be aware, it is all located on a fairly steep hillside, so anyone with trouble walking inclines or handicapped may have issue navigating the park's trails.) My husband doesn't love birds as much as I do, yet even he was truly impressed. It was worth every penny of the admission fee (around $50 for us as a couple) and we spent several hours there. There was a picnic area and cafe on site, but we didn't eat there so I can't speak to that. I saw some negative reviews, and to be honest, I would like to see more toys or enriching activities for the birds in their cages...The cages and enclosures themselves were large and clean, but didn't hold much for parrots to chew on or entertain themselves with- these birds are very intelligent and need to have something to prevent them from boredom as well as places to retreat if they're feeling stressed out. Also, the area where you feed them, as well as the nursery, probably needed better supervision or limited occupancy, as some birds were stressed and I was concerned that if they flew to the ground they may get stepped on. However, I did not see any birds in deplorable living conditions, with obvious signs of feather plucking or injuries or in immediate need of veterinary care and I looked at each bird as we took our time exploring the entire place. (We didn't pay extra to go in and feed the lorikeets, however.) Overall, our in my opinion, we would definitely return. I, personally, had so much fun interacting with the parrots, especially "Simon" and "Baby", two of their cockatoos, as well as the baby galahs, or rose breasted cockatoos, in the nursery. (Be aware though, these are intelligent animals capable of biting and with unique personalities, so be respectful towards them.) They even had a very sweet pearl pied cockatiel that reminded me so much of my own beloved pet cockatiel. If you're a bird or parrot lover, Parrot Mountain & Garden of Eden was an enjoyable experience and different from a lot of the other activities...

We visited Parrot Mountain and Gardens in Pigeon Forge, TN, last weekend with our two kids (ages 6 and 9), and it was a colorful, interactive adventure that had the kids buzzing with excitement! This tropical sanctuary is home to hundreds of vibrant parrots—macaws, cockatoos, lorikeets, and more—set in beautifully landscaped gardens with blooming flowers, waterfalls, and serene paths. The bird-feeding experience was the star of the show, though we learned quickly that the birds can bite, so caution is key with young kids. Here’s our detailed take on this unique family outing, including tips for parking, bathrooms, and navigating the costs.

The highlight for our family was the interactive bird-feeding areas, which made the visit unforgettable. In the bird garden, we bought small cups of seeds ($1 each, a steal!) for the kids to feed parrots like bright blue macaws and cheeky cockatoos. My 6-year-old was thrilled when a macaw landed on his arm, eagerly pecking at the seeds, though we had to remind him to hold still—those beaks can pinch! The staff gave clear instructions: keep your arm steady, don’t grab the birds, and watch for signs they’re getting feisty. My 9-year-old loved the lorikeet landing, where she held a cup of nectar ($1) and laughed as two lorikeets perched on her shoulder, sipping away with their tiny tongues. However, one bird nipped her finger when she moved too fast, so parents, stay close and supervise younger kids during feeding to avoid any surprises. : Parking is free, a big win with the high ticket prices, but the lot is on a steep slope, making it tricky to unload kids, a stroller, and bags. We arrived at 10 AM and got a spot near the entrance, but I noticed only a few handicap spaces, so get there early if you need one. The bathrooms near the entrance were spotless, with plenty of space and changing tables for my youngest, but the lack of restrooms deeper in the park was inconvenient. We had to backtrack twice when the kids needed to go, so make a pit stop before heading out...