Ridemakerz — Local services in Pigeon Forge

Amazing experience. We took my son here for his birthday!

My 3 year old saw this place on Handyman Hal (YouTuber) and I looked it up to see there was one right near us! I told him it was here and asked if he wanted to go and he jumped up and down and clapped his hands. That’s how he tells us he’s really excited or really want’s something. He’s nonverbal but is cognitively advanced in certain areas so he is rarely able to communicate complex thoughts leading to frustration. I only bring this up because Taking him here helped that frustration a lot. He was able to tell us he wanted to do something and we did it.

He is hyper-fixated on cars and trucks and anything that goes vroom lol. His favorite is fire trucks and dump trucks but he surprised me and chose a pink mustang. He’s beaten it up a bit since then because he plays with it all the time but it still works great and he still loves it. It’s his favorite toy.

He couldn’t do too much of the building process but it was enough to make him feel like he did it himself and he was ecstatic. We took him to build a bear before this but he wasn’t nearly as into it as he was making his own monster truck.

The employees were so patient. He changed his mind a few times and I apologized but they waved it off and helped him build the car he wanted, being patient enough to let him communicate his wants through gestures and us asking pointed questions. I think this is why he likes it so much, he was allowed space to make his own decisions and to a toddler, who is told what to do a lot because that’s just the reality of being a kid, that is a big deal.

Judy is the person I want to name specifically and the man she worked with (I’m so sorry I didn’t catch your name! You were amazing!). We had some issues that had nothing to do with them and everything to do with my husband’s absent mindedness and she still helped us out a ton, making sure his birthday ended the best way possible. I will never forget that and will tell everyone I know to come here. Even without kids, this place is great for adults just like build a bear is still a thing for many adults. It’s just pure fun.

I know the price might make many wary but this thing, while it looks light and cheap, is powerful and hold up to the abuse of a toddler. I think it’s the bright colors that gives it that cheap appearance but thats what kids like, bright colors. So If anyone is hesitant I would say to go for it. It’s the experience that you’re paying for as well as the truck. The only reason I bring this up is because I saw some people talk about this on Reddit and it made me hesitate but I am so glad I went for it.

Anyway thank you guys for caring enough to help make my son’s birthday a good one. You didn’t have to. Being a parent of an autistic child means getting those annoyed looks from people out in public a lot. It means getting side eyes and judged for being to accommodating or lenient. And I get it, I live and work here in a customer facing job. We both do. It’s draining and it’s hard to do more for someone when you see 100 someones a day and they all want special treatment and some are really mean about it. The grace you showed us means a lot, it really does. Parents have to go by different rules when raising an autistic child. These kids have a strong sense of fairness and trying to punish them into submission will just cause more bad behaviors. I know, thats how I was as a kid. I am also autistic and was well behaved until some heavy handed adult was mean to me for no reason or overreacted. I’m lucky that he is really well behaved if not somewhat mischievous. Really respectful of others though. He is indecisive and y’all were so patient with that. Thank you. Really. Y’all are star employees and I hope they are treating you well there because you deserve it.

Sorry this was really long lol. But td;lr: 5 stars easy. I would add...

Our kids loved this place. When you come in, you pick from a range of different vehicles, ours were 29.99 each and included everything needed to make an entry level push car. For 25.00 each more, you can convert them to RC which we did. Once you pick your car, you move to another station where you can add on batteries for about 9.00. You also get your chassis with the option to upgrade to monster wheels. Then you choose your wheels and rims. There are basic and upgrade options. (You can probably bring your own batteries if you want to save a bit.) Next, you head to the center of the store where a pit crew member sets up your station giving you time to add on any light bars, spoilers, pipes, etc (all optional upgrades) Marc was our pit crew member and was incredible with our little kids. He let them be as hands on as possible, showed them how the power tools worked, and explained everything very patiently to some very excited kids. After they built their cars, they paired their RC remotes and got to drive around the track taped onto the store floor. All in, it was very comparable to build a bear pricing. Once you pick your cars, you’re in control of add on costs. They made recommendations but we never felt obligated to add on. The kids are obsessed with these cars and I’m impressed with how substantial they are. They feel worth the price, for sure. Our girl picked a pink, pearl and purple sports car and our boy got a big f150 style truck. They both insisted on holding them the whole way home and haven’t stopped playing with them since. It’s the best souvenir we’ve...

We recently visited Ridemakerz in Pigeon Forge with our car loving boys, aged 10, 8, and 4, and our furry family member, our dog, and it was an absolute blast! From the moment we stepped in, the staff was incredibly kind and helpful. They went above and beyond to cater to our young children and even extended their warmth to our dog, making it a truly inclusive experience for the whole family.

The selection of cars and customization options was impressive, providing plenty of choices for each of our boys to create their dream ride. The staff patiently guided them through the process, offering assistance and suggestions along the way.

What truly stood out was the staff's interaction with our children and our dog. They were attentive and made the experience truly memorable for all of us. Our boys were beaming with excitement as they built and personalized their cars, and the staff's enthusiasm only added to the fun. Meanwhile, our dog was treated with kindness and care, which we greatly appreciated.

Overall, Ridemakerz in Pigeon Forge exceeded our expectations. The combination of a wide selection of cars, excellent customization options, and, most importantly, the kind and helpful staff who even welcomed our furry friend made it an unforgettable experience for our family. We'll definitely be returning and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and unique activity, especially for kids of all ages and even those...