PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Wednesday, vendors and promoters are getting ready for the Fall Rod Run, an event one of the promoters said will bring 17,000 to 20,000 visitors to the LeConte Center throughout the weekend.
But they aren't the only ones preparing. Pigeon Forge Police Chief Richard Catlett said the department spends hours preparing officers, and $35,000 each Rod Run weekend to hire extra officers from other departments, and pay his officers overtime.
"It's not just us, it's the whole county these car shows effect," Catlett said. "It puts a lot of stress on us and it's a very tiring time."
On a normal weekend, Catlett said there are 10 police officers always on patrol. For Rod Run, that number jumps up to 55.
Those officers come from Blount County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Sevierville Police Department, Sevier County Sheriff's Office, Gatlinburg Police Department and the National Park Service, Catlett said.
"We get a lot of noise complaints at night, a lot of traffic complaints," Catlett said. "Sometimes you think you've seen it all, and then somebody comes and does something else."
Most recently in April, the Spring Rod Run weekend resulted in 36 arrests, 1,151 calls for service, and 43 traffic collisions.
For comparison, we asked PFPD what a normal weekend looked like. A different weekend had 232 calls for service, 11 arrests and 13 traffic collisions.
WBIR asked Chief Catlett if all of the hassle was worth the economic value the car show brings to the community.
"No, its not," he said. "I mean, at least not to us. The people who run the car show might argue that fact."
Promoters of the event like Byron Cooper and Rod Milligan with MCS Promotions said it's a family-friendly event in the LeConte Center.
MCS Promotions took over the event in 1991. They also said the event, and the people who come to cruise up and down 'the strip' are not the same.
"That part we don't have anything to do with," Cooper said. "MCS only promotes the event that happens at the LeConte Center."
Economic Impact
Promoters of the show tout millions of dollars come into the county, especially when people come to stay in hotels and cabins, and when people buy car parts.
"It brings a lot of economic impact, from your mom and pop shops to your big businesses," Milligan said. "Its a one-stop-shop for a lot of people."
Jordon Butler is the shop manager for Smoky Mountain Rod and Customs in Knoxville. He and his team will set up a tent at the LeConte Center.
"It would effect us negatively for it to be stopped," Butler said. "We make a lot of money on merchandise. People don't seem to understand this is a true sanctioned car event, its not time to come down here and play."
Businesses said the event brings money to the area.
John Smotherman owns Gino's Pizza on the Parkway and said he understands traffic comes with the having a business in Pigeon Forge.
"I do realize there are some issues, but that comes with the territory," Smotherman said. "Still, I'm happy when anyone comes to town."
Lonnie Reed is the store manager for a cabin décor store on Teaster Lane and said he understands when the Rod Run is in town, he'll get to see some cool cars.
He also said people will stay in cabins, which helps his business in turn when people buy decorations.
While he welcomes the business, he said he sees the problem with a small group of rowdy spectators.
"We've seen over the years car shows being huge family events," Reed said. "Now, because of a lot of the spectators causing issues, it maybe isn't as family friendly."
PFPD's chief said he doesn't feel the event makes as much money as some might think.
"I've heard this through my years of working here that if the Rod Runs left the city of pigeon forge would, you know, dry up and blow away," Chief Catlett said. "And that's absolutely not the fact, the two months we have Rod Runs are not even the two biggest revenue producers for the city."
According to revenue numbers from Pigeon Forge Office of Tourism, April and September don't rank in the top five most lucrative months for the city.
In 2023, September brought in $100 million less than the top-earning month in July.
History of Rod Run
The Rod Run began in 1978, in Gatlinburg through a Maryville Car show group. It was called “Shades of the Past”, bringing car lovers to the Smokies to enjoy scenic vistas and classic, shiny cars.
In 1978 when it first happened, police used fire hoses to spray the crowd, and 50 people were arrested.
The event got pushed to Pigeon Forge by 1980.
As for the future?
The City of Pigeon Forge has an agreement with Rod Run to keep the event at the LeConte center for Spring and Fall of 2025, according to city manager Earlene Teaster.
Catlett said there have been conversations about making a change.
But Teaster said she hasn't seen any formal conversations in official meetings.