Texas Family Wins $10,000 Prize in ‘Pigeon Forge Family Challenge'

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (July 26, 2011) – The Johnny and Melisa Shreve family from Lone Oak, Texas, emerged the victor in the vacation-oriented Pigeon Forge Family Challenge, winning $10,000 and an unannounced meeting with superstar Dolly Parton.

The competition’s final challenge was at the Dollywood theme park, and Parton surprised everyone by getting involved in the prize presentation.

“It was a blast from the very start. The whole process was almost surreal. We never expected to meet someone like Dolly. I’ve sung her songs, but I never expected to meet her,” said Melisa Shreve.

The Pigeon Forge Family Challenge has been playing out in a month-long series of webisodes at MyPigeonForge.com. The final webisode began airing July 26.

Five families chosen through self-nomination and online voting were invited to become Pigeon Forge’s first reality show stars. They participated in a series of challenges that mirrored regular vacation activities in this gateway city to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

The Shreve’s daughters – Abigail, 14, and Rachel, 18 – participated in the challenges with Johnny and Melisa.

Challenges included a timed go-cart race at The Track, a stick horse race at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, a Zorb obstacle course and a trivia test at the Titanic Museum Attraction.

The finale challenge was on a stomach-churning ropes course 90 feet off the ground at Dollywood.

“The prize money is the start of Rachel’s college fund, so it will change her life,” Melisa Shreve said, adding that the Shreves and some of their friends already have scheduled a just-for-fun Pigeon Forge vacation.

In addition to the Shreves, Family Challenge participants came from Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Tennessee.

The project was part of Pigeon Forge’s ongoing promotion of family vacations.

“Vacations strengthen families. It’s that simple,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism.

Pigeon Forge is one of America’s most popular family vacation destinations. Each year, more than 10 million people visit this little town of only 6,200 permanent residents.

Patricia Lopez, host of the “Late Shift” on cable television’s GAC network, hosted the webisodes.

Details about the Pigeon Forge Family Challenge and all aspects of visiting Pigeon Forge are available online at MyPigeonForge.com or by calling toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.