Three Bears General Store

About Three Bears General Store

Three Bears General Store is a family-owned retail store at 2861 Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near traffic light 4. Its website describes a 40,000-square-foot store, open since 1979, that sells jewelry, apparel, home decor, giftware, specialty foods, candy and handmade fudge made on site. Activities include the Make-UR-Bear Factory, where visitors make their own stuffed animals, an Old Time Photo Studio, a family-sized arcade and a live bear habitat. It is a retail business first, and it is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The store's website also links to other family-owned businesses in Pigeon Forge, including a gem mine, a breakfast restaurant and a cabin rental company.

History

The store's About page says it opened in 1979 and grew from a modest local shop into its present size. It says the store was founded by people with deep roots in the Smokies who wanted a place where families could gather and make memories, and that it remains family operated. The homepage says the store was voted Best General Store in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Exhibits and habitats

The Bear Habitat page introduces two American black bears, River and Daisy, and describes the habitat as a safe, state-of-the-art home for rescued bears. The store presents the habitat as a way to see black bears up close in a protected setting rather than approaching bears in the wild.

Visitors can buy Bear Bites, described as a sweet treat for the bears, which are available in limited quantities. The habitat page pairs the visit with bear-safety messages for anyone who sees a bear in the wild: never feed wildlife, stay at least 50 yards from bears, and secure trash. Children can pick up a Bear Discovery Sheet, fill in answers about bears while exploring, and bring it to the Bear Habitat counter for a prize.

Conservation and programs

The habitat page says the store is committed to wildlife preservation and visitor education, and the FAQ says the habitat admission fee goes toward the care and maintenance of the bears. The store hosts group visits, such as school field trips, family reunions and tour groups; for groups of 20 or more it offers a package that includes sweet treats and a visit to the bears, booked online. It also takes donation requests through its website.

Planning your visit

As listed on the Bear Habitat page, the habitat is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The FAQ directs visitors to the store's Google listing for current store hours. Habitat admission can be booked online, children under 2 enter the habitat free, and ticket details are on the store's website.

The store does not have a full-service restaurant, but it sells homemade ice cream, fudge and other sweets. The store phone number is 865-453-4734.