If the idea of riding among the Smoky Mountains on horseback appeals, maybe you need to book into Big Rock Dude Ranch in Ponderosa. The ranch is only a short distance from Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge and allows guests to experience the area just as it was a couple of centuries ago.
It’s not only about the horses, though admittedly they are the star of the show. Kids and adults alike can also make the most of a picnic area, a gem mine, a petting zoo, and a fishing pond. When you take to horseback, you can follow a breathtaking 3.5 mile trail offering the Great Smoky Mountains as a backdrop.
Complementing the other facilities at Big Rock is a general store selling snacks and souvenirs and a heritage museum dedicated to the Arbor Day Foundation. This is filled with both local and civil war relics.
As Big Rock Dude Ranch in Ponderosa specializes in offering dude ranch vacations by day, it’s not somewhere you can stay over. Instead, turn up whenever you like between 9 am and 5 pm, seven days per week. It’s the ultimate escape when you need a quick fix, all conveniently close to some of the top attractions in Tennessee.