This Tennessee Gift Shop Has The USA’s First Outdoor Selfie Park Out Back
What if the best photo op in Tennessee was hiding behind a gift shop? Not inside a theme park.
Not behind a paywall. Just sitting out back, open to anyone who wanders in.
Tennessee is officially home to the USA’s first outdoor selfie park, and it delivers. Giant props, creative setups, and backdrops you won’t find anywhere else in the country are all free to explore.
It’s the kind of stop that sounds too fun to be real until you’re standing in the middle of it, phone in hand, already planning which shot to post first. Road trips through the Volunteer State just got a new must-stop.
The USA’s First Outdoor Selfie Park And Why It Matters
Most gift shops settle for four walls and a cash register. This one took a different approach entirely, building what is recognized as the USA’s first outdoor selfie park behind the store.
The park sits in a fenced-in area accessible through a side door on the left of the building.
Entry is completely free, which already sets it apart from the countless paid attractions lining the Pigeon Forge Parkway.
A donation box is available for those who want to support upkeep, and many visitors happily contribute after seeing the quality of the space.
The concept is refreshingly simple. Creative backdrops, painted murals, and interactive props are arranged throughout the outdoor area so that every corner offers a new photo opportunity.
Families with young children find it especially manageable because the fenced layout keeps the space contained and comfortable. Visitors consistently rate the experience highly, with the park earning a 4.6-star average across more than 400 Google reviews.
For a free attraction in one of Tennessee’s busiest tourist towns, that kind of feedback speaks clearly about the value this place delivers to every visitor who walks through.
Bigfoot Murals And The Art That Covers Every Wall
The centerpiece of the selfie park is a large, boldly painted Bigfoot mural that greets visitors the moment they step outside. Local artists created the murals throughout the park, and the Bigfoot depiction reflects genuine craft rather than a rushed tourist gimmick.
The detail in the brushwork gives the figure a personality that photographs exceptionally well from any angle.
Beyond Bigfoot, the murals span a wide range of cultural icons and wildlife themes.
An Elvis Gopher, a giant rooster, and a bear band called the Grand Old Smokey are among the standout pieces.
Each mural carries its own visual story, and the overall collection feels like an outdoor gallery that just happens to be free and family-friendly.
The artists drew inspiration from Tennessee’s rich traditions, blending humor with regional pride in a way that feels authentic rather than manufactured. Visitors often spend more time studying the murals than they initially planned, moving from one painted scene to the next.
Children are particularly drawn to the animal characters, while adults tend to linger near the cultural references. The artwork alone justifies the stop, making the selfie park far more than a backdrop for quick phone photos on a busy vacation day.
A Gift Shop Stocked With Bigfoot Apparel And Tennessee Souvenirs
The shelves carry everything from classic state souvenirs to a surprisingly deep collection of Bigfoot-themed merchandise that reflects the store’s signature character.
Bear apparel, windchimes, Christmas ornaments, and magnets fill the displays in a way that feels organized rather than cluttered.
The Bigfoot Sock Company has a dedicated presence in the shop, offering socks with designs that range from subtle to outright absurd in the best possible way.
Recycled soda can candles sit alongside Elvis Presley memorabilia, creating a merchandise mix that somehow works because of the store’s commitment to regional identity.
Prices are described by multiple reviewers as reasonable, which matters in a tourist corridor where markups are common.
Handmade and locally sourced items occupy a notable portion of the inventory.
One longtime reviewer specifically praised the quality and the number of products that were crafted rather than mass-produced.
The shop also offers a photo printing service, allowing visitors to print images from the selfie park on the spot.
Staff members are consistently noted for their attentiveness and willingness to explain the store’s offerings, making the shopping experience feel personal rather than transactional.
Operating hours run from 9 AM to 9 PM most days, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday until 10 PM.
Face-In-Hole Cutouts Featuring Dolly Parton And Willie Nelson
Few photo opportunities carry the same instant charm as a well-made face-in-hole cutout board, and the ones at Bigfoot’s Country Barn are genuinely impressive.
The park features cutouts depicting Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, two figures whose cultural weight in Tennessee and country music is nearly impossible to overstate.
Slipping your face into one of these boards produces a photo that feels both silly and deeply regional at the same time.
The boards are crafted with enough detail that even the backgrounds behind the cutout figures reflect the personalities of the people they represent. Dolly’s signature glamour and Willie’s laid-back charm come through in the artwork surrounding each opening.
These are not afterthoughts slapped together for a quick laugh. They are considered pieces that reward the people who take a moment to line up the shot properly.
Groups traveling together tend to rotate through multiple boards, trying different combinations and laughing at the results. The cutouts work equally well for solo travelers looking for a memorable keepsake image.
In a park already full of strong visual moments, the Dolly and Willie boards consistently rank among the most photographed spots. They tap into something familiar and joyful, reminding visitors why Tennessee holds such a special place in American culture and memory.
Pet-Friendly Access And Interactive QR Codes For Music
One detail that separates Bigfoot’s Country Barn selfie park from similar attractions is its genuinely pet-friendly policy. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the outdoor space, which means families do not have to leave their animals behind in the car while they explore the park.
For many travelers, the ability to include a pet in vacation photos is a meaningful bonus that other attractions rarely offer.
The park also incorporates interactive QR codes placed throughout the outdoor area. Scanning these codes connects visitors to music, adding an audio layer to the visual experience.
The idea is simple but effective, transforming a walk through the park into something that feels more immersive than a standard photo stop. It also gives the space a dynamic quality that static displays cannot replicate.
Together, these two features reflect the thoughtfulness behind the park’s design.
The people who built this space clearly considered what would make a visitor’s time there feel complete rather than just adequate.
Families with pets often mention the park specifically when recommending the stop to friends, because pet-inclusive destinations are genuinely rare in high-traffic tourist areas.
The QR code music feature tends to surprise first-time visitors in a pleasant way, adding one more reason to slow down and enjoy the space rather than rushing through for a quick snapshot.
The Old-Timey Country Atmosphere Inside The Store
The atmosphere inside shifts noticeably from the busy commercial energy of the Pigeon Forge Parkway outside. Country decorations line the walls and displays, and the overall aesthetic leans into a barn-inspired warmth that feels deliberate rather than decorative for decoration’s sake.
The space has a lived-in quality that many newer souvenir shops lack entirely.
Wooden accents, warm lighting, and a layout that encourages browsing rather than rushing all contribute to the store’s character.
Visitors frequently describe the ambiance as different from the other shops along the strip, noting that the Country Barn feels more personal and less like a retail machine.
That distinction is meaningful in an area saturated with gift shops competing for the same tourist dollars.
Staff members contribute significantly to the atmosphere.
Multiple reviews highlight employees by name, praising their willingness to greet customers, explain the store’s unique offerings, and go beyond the minimum expected of retail workers.
One reviewer noted that being acknowledged and genuinely helped made a tangible difference in how they felt about the entire visit.
That kind of human touch is harder to manufacture than any mural or display, and it is one of the reasons Bigfoot’s Country Barn earns repeat visits from travelers.
Butterfly Wings, Dinosaurs, And Animal Statues Throughout The Park
Beyond the murals and face-in-hole boards, the selfie park at Bigfoot’s Country Barn fills its space with three-dimensional props and statues that add texture to the overall experience.
Butterfly wings set up for photos, dinosaur figures, and monkey statues are distributed throughout the outdoor area, giving visitors multiple interaction points.
The butterfly wings are particularly popular for solo photos, offering a whimsical backdrop that works across age groups.
Children gravitate toward the dinosaurs with obvious enthusiasm, while the monkey statues tend to inspire more creative posing from adults who are willing to commit to the silliness.
The variety ensures that groups with mixed ages and interests can each find something that appeals to them specifically.
The placement of these props throughout the park also encourages visitors to move through the entire space rather than clustering near one or two spots. That circulation creates a more satisfying experience overall, as each new corner reveals something unexpected.
The combination of flat artwork and dimensional props gives the park a layered visual quality that photographs differently depending on where you stand.
Visitors who spend ten minutes in the park often discover they have stayed for thirty, simply because the space keeps offering new angles and new reasons to take one more picture.
What Visitors Are Saying About Bigfoot’s Country Barn
With a 4.6-star rating across more than 400 Google reviews, Bigfoot’s Country Barn has built a reputation that holds up well under scrutiny.
The reviews cover a wide range of visitor types, from families with young children to couples on weekend trips to solo travelers passing through the Smokies.
The consistency of the positive feedback suggests the experience delivers reliably rather than occasionally.
Several reviewers specifically mention the surprise factor, noting that they stopped in without high expectations and left genuinely impressed.
Phrases like “low-cost, high-fun” and “well worth your time” appear across multiple independent reviews, pointing to a value proposition that resonates with budget-conscious travelers.
The free entry to the selfie park is mentioned in nearly every review as a standout quality, especially given the cost of most Pigeon Forge attractions.
The gift shop earns its own praise separate from the park, with reviewers highlighting the quality of handmade items, the breadth of the Bigfoot merchandise, and the helpfulness of the staff.
One visitor described the shop as “very different, in a good way” from the other souvenir stores along the Parkway.
Another praised a staff member named Aaron for going well beyond standard service to ensure a photo printing order came out perfectly. These personal details accumulate into a picture of a place that takes its visitors seriously.
Planning Your Visit To 2869 Parkway In Pigeon Forge
Getting to Bigfoot’s Country Barn is straightforward. The shop sits at 2869 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, right along the main commercial strip that runs through the heart of town.
Most visitors pass it naturally during a day of exploring, and the storefront is distinctive enough to catch attention without requiring a dedicated search.
Hours run from 9 AM to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 9 AM to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
The extended weekend hours accommodate travelers who prefer to explore later in the evening after dinner, which is a practical touch for a vacation town that operates on flexible schedules.
For questions before your visit, the shop can be reached by phone at (865) 286-5502 or by email at [email protected].
The selfie park is accessible through a side door on the left of the building, so first-time visitors should look for that entrance rather than assuming the outdoor space is visible from the street. Parking along the Parkway is manageable with a bit of patience.
The stop works well as a standalone destination or as part of a broader afternoon of browsing the shops in the area. Either way, building in at least thirty minutes ensures enough time to explore both the park and the gift shop without feeling rushed through either one.