PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., June 30, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A four-part series of webcasts that chronicles five families' quest for $10,000 in the Pigeon Forge Family Challenge begins July 5. The action takes place at MyPigeonForge.com.
A new webcast episode will be unveiled every Tuesday in July. The July 26 webcast, shot at Dollywood's Adventure Mountain ropes course, reveals which family prevails after an action-packed Pigeon Forge vacation.
The families, each from a different state, qualified through an online nomination and voting process to be Pigeon Forge's first reality show stars.
Two adults and two children from each family competed in four challenges at Pigeon Forge tourist landmarks such as Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, the Titanic Museum Attraction, The Track and Zorb Smoky Mountains, leading up to the finale 90 feet off the ground at Dollywood's Adventure Mountain.
Patricia Lopez, host of the "Late Shift" on cable television's GAC network, hosts the webcasts.
The Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, a perennial advocate for family vacationing, provided the families an expense-paid vacation along with being part of the Family Challenge tapings.
The families are from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Tennessee and Texas. They are
- The Dennis and Diana Bagwell family from Jefferson, Ga.
- The Tom and Rhonda Herndon family from Saraland, Ala.
- The Steve and Lora Luscombe family from Smyrna, Tenn.
- The Johnny and Melisa Shreve family from Lone Oak, Texas.
- The Chad and Michele Wente family from Kokomo, Ind.
Pigeon Forge, which recently landed at #4 on TripAdvisor's inaugural Top 10 Best Family Destinations list, is a proponent of family vacations and in 2010 organized the "Taking Vacation Back" campaign that encouraged families to create memories and strengthen family ties – even during a bad economy.
"We really believe that vacations strengthen families. Our Pigeon Forge Family Challenge is one more way to show just how much fun vacation can be," said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.
Pigeon Forge is a gateway community to America's most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Despite a permanent population of only 6,200, it hosts more than 10 million visitors every year.
Details about all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge are available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.
Tom Adkinson, APR
615-341-8796
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The following pictures are available for download:
| [Image] | Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism logo |