Pigeon Forge announces record-setting year

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The City of Pigeon Forge made a billion dollar announcement on Thursday, sharing with the community a three percent increase in gross receipts for the 2017 year.

The City said 2017 began less impressively, but Pigeon Forge has begun a huge turnaround, setting new records along the way. At the State of the City event Thursday, Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear announced a record-setting $1.298 billion in sales last year.

During the address, attendees learned many services like fire response, public works and even the public library have seen an increase in revenue.

While the City celebrates a strong rebound, officials also began to look at how to manage the growth.

"We are pleased and blessed to announce that 2017 was another record year,"

"We're proud of our business community, our residential community. We have a strong community here, and I think that is the underlying factor in a strong economy. We have to continue to develop, continue to encourage commercial and residential development. It is important here, we need housing for our folks to live in. We need housing for the students, for the workers who want to live here."

Last year, Pigeon Forge experienced a 30 percent increase in commercial development.

A brand new 300-acre development was planned for 2018 that will bring affordable housing to the area. A new resort community was part of the designs for that plan.