New Restrictions will Make it Illegal To Advertise The Sell Of Your Rod Along Parkway

If you, like many visitors to the Smokies, visit during the Pigeon Forge spring and fall rod runs, your next Rod run experience is likely to have a significant change at the Hands of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Classic car owners and admirers flock to Sevier County during these events. The official Pigeon Forge Rod run takes place at the Leconte Center, but as you may know U.S. 441, also known as Parkway sees thousands of cars line the roadside. An important distinction to make before we delve further, the official Rod Run event solely takes place at the Leconte Center- the cars and participants lining 441 are not affiliated with the official events whatsoever. 

As you walked or drove around Parkway during the rod run weekends, you have likely noticed “for Sale” signs on many of the cars. This practice is as old and traditional as the event itself. Many individuals bring their classic rides to the area in hopes of a sale, just as others arrive in hopes of finding a car to buy. This seemingly harmless practice has been ongoing, year after year. Much like it did for me, it may also come as a surprise to you that this is an illegal practice according to the state of Tennessee. 

As it happens, the State of Tennessee leases this stretch of road to the City of Pigeon Forge which in turn subleases to businesses that line 441. Those businesses have allowed individuals to park their cars in their lots and lawns during the Rod Runs. Many of these hotels, stores, and restaurants have become a sort of unofficial hub for the event. Naturally, the rod run brings thousands of tourists to the area who need a place to sleep, eat, and buy some souvenirs during their stay. Many business owners see this as a mutually beneficial situation. The Rod run certainly provides a boost to the local economy- for big and small businesses alike. 

But here’s where the trouble lies. Part of the leasing agreement between the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the city of Pigeon Forge bans the parking of vehicles along the route to advertise anything. This includes but is not limited to business advertising and most importantly for this topic, the sale of vehicles. Anyone who has followed Rod Run business in the past has probably heard this story before. Several years ago the state made a push for this part of the agreement to be followed. Recently the Tennessee Department of Transportation re-presented the city with the restrictions and expectations for enforcement in the city’s sublease agreement for the road. If this restriction is enforced it would mean The city of Pigeon Forge would need to rework the subleases with Parkway facing businesses to include this language.  And this would subsequently ban the advertisements of parked cars n their lots and lawns droning the runs. 

In recent years the Pigeon Forge Rod Run (not the official event) has been under a decent bit of scrutiny.  For many locals, the traffic during Rod Run is at least a concern and at most intolerable. There’s also the issue of lawlessness during the Runs.  For instance, according to reports, with the efforts of the Pigeon Forge PD, Sevier County sheriff’s office, and Tennessee highway Patrol the spring edition of the 2023 Rod Run saw 1.097 service calls, 47 arrests, 315 citations, 21 incident reports, and 22 accidents. These numbers reflect a 20% increase from 2022.  You have likely come across the cell phone footage from several years ago featuring gunfire at an area gas station. Earlier, in 2021, a petition started to end the event altogether. 

I must mention here that during our daytime visits to the run, we have only experienced a family-friendly environment. We have been able to walk around both the official event and 441 without incident. It has been an enjoyable and informative experience steeped in tradition. Most of the aforementioned shenanigans seem to take place once the sun sets. Some of this has been documented on various YouTube videos and according to most of the responses we have seen on YouTube and media outlets, many of the event supporters cite a changing. younger demographic for many of these Issues. 

None of what we just mentioned has anything to do with the official event, however. The sanctioned event at the Leconte Center has encountered none of these issues and cannot and should not be held responsible for anything other than what happens at the Leconte Center. But this is what has happened far too often in public opinion. And as far as the advertising issue from earlier the official event has maintained a designated space for car sales. According to the Mountain Press event organizer Byron Cooper stated “If that were to stop, it would help our show at the Leconte,” We have an area there for selling cars. The official Pigeon Forge rod run has toed the line and acted responsibly and within the law, even as it pertains to this seemingly arbitrary advertising restriction. The good news for the official event, and individuals planning to buy or sell cars there, if this restriction starts to be enforced there will still be a designated space for trading. Can you imagine how big the official Rod Run would be if all the cars for sale on Parkway was part of the actual event?

One thing is for certain the Rod Run is and has always been a Staple of the Pigeon Forge community. Car enthusiasts have flocked to the area each spring and fall and it’s doubtful that an advertising restriction will change that any time soon.  If you are planning to hit the spring or fall runs this year, or looking to come to the Smokies and avoid the Rod Run traffic here are the dates. The Spring 2024 rod run will take place April 17th through the 20th and the fall run is September 12th through the 14th.