PIGEON FORGE, Tenn.—Ripken Baseball, a company that provides youth baseball experiences and facilities, including tournaments, camps, and training programs, has signed a 10-year extension with the City of Pigeon Forge to continue operating The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge for the next decade.
Ever since its inception in March 2016, the facility has welcomed approximately 10,000 youth baseball and softball teams that played 30,000 games. More than 750,000 visitors have generated 480,000 room nights and driven an estimated $320 million in total economic impact for the city over the last nine years.
“Our partnership with the City of Pigeon Forge has created one of the greatest destinations in all of youth sports,” says Bill Ripken, co-founder of Ripken Baseball. “From the moment families arrive at the complex and see the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, they know they’re somewhere special. We’re proud to keep building unforgettable baseball moments in Pigeon Forge.”
When it opened, Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge had six turf fields modeled after historic and modern Major League ballparks. Located atop a ridge overlooking Pigeon Forge, it was designed to replicate the journey from the Minor to Major Leagues, with field layouts inspired by stadiums like Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem, and Fluor Field in Greenville. In 2023, the complex expanded to include four additional renovated fields at Wear Farm City Park, bringing the total number of playable fields to 10.
The facility’s tournaments run nine months out of the year and attract teams from more than 30 states and several countries. The events are completely free to spectators.
“Ripken Baseball has been a valuable partner for nearly a decade, and this extension allows us to continue that momentum,” says Pigeon Forge mayor Kevin McClure. “The Ripken Experience has delivered measurable economic results while also providing our residents with access to upgraded sports facilities and year-round opportunities.”
