Smokey Mtn. Vacation 08 Part 2

A few miles past DollyWood, on a curving back road outside of Pigeon Forge you will find Parrot Mountain. I actually missed seeing the sign to turn into it and drove on past for a mile or so. The country side was beautiful. Parrot Mountain is a tropical bird sanctuary that is open in warm weather only. The property is decorated in what I would call Mediterranian style. A kind lady took a picture of the girls and I on the entrance steps.

Emily is pretty afraid of almost all God's creatures so I wasn't able to take a lot a pictures. I had to hold her hand most of the time. She did get have the courage to feed the birds you see above. These were the only ones she fed, but I was proud of her for doing it.

There was another area where visitors could feed Lori's some sugar water. Jordan and I did this. I ended up with two on my head, one or two on each shoulder and seveal on my arm that help the sugar water. Jordan had several on her as well. I wish I could have gotten a picture. One of the Lori's bit my arm for no reason... ha!

The colorful bird you see above is a type of pheasant. I believe it was called a Golden Pheasant. It along with a peacock and two or three other species were in an area called The Secret Garden. Beautiful stone walls were around this part of the tour. This area was magical to me. You passed through a lovely wooden door into a garden foyer of sorts. Along the pathways were plaques that quoted scripture from the creation story in Genesis.

If I remember correctly this beautiful bird is a type of McCaw. There were all kinds of colorful birds like this one there. Some you could feed and some were off limites and were only for veiwing. The Parrot Mountain nursery was a place Jordan really enjoyed. She came away begging for a Pocket Parrot (Parrotett? I think the are also called)! Do a seach on them. They are really very neat little birds.

Not only were the birds wonderful to see, but the grounds were landscaped with impatients, river rock, hemlock, ferns, and other beautiful plants. The waterfall here was at the summit of the sanctuary. To the right of the waterfall a path led to a prayer garden where a stone tomb had been biult to mimic Christ's tomb.

If you are ever in the Smokey's (except for winter) be sure to visit Parrot Mountain!