Which Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving 2020?

Which restaurants will be open in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville on Thanksgiving Day, 2020? The good news is that more than 50 restaurants plan to open on Thanksgiving Day, and several are offering a special Thanksgiving menu.

With Thanksgiving almost here, this becomes the crucial question as even some of those visitors who are here on family gatherings for the celebration may choose not to cook a meal in their fully equipped cabin in the Smokies, and instead choose to visit a restaurant.

Image courtesy of Crystelle Creek

For an updated list of restaurants open and serving either their regular menu or offering a special meal, see the updated list maintained here.

We note that Crystelle Creek Restaurant & Grill, one of our favorite and featured dining establishments in the area, is open on the day, and offering a special Thanksgiving meal as well as its regular, fantastic menu.

Johnson Family of Restaurants on the other hand, will be closed on Thanksgiving. Another of our favorites, the well loved group of eateries is usually open for this holiday, but notes that their staff have had a tough year (which is easy to understand), and they decided to let their people take a break and be with their families for this holiday. We’ll miss them, but wish their staff a great holiday, and look forward to eating their awesome food again soon.

Seasons of Ober Gatlinburg is open and serving a Thanksgiving Buffet that some people will want to get up the mountain for. And the Aerial Tramway (and our Free Ticket to you) makes it a special adventure (or you can drive up too).

Anakeesta is open on the mountain also on this special day, with its Clifftop restaurant serving a special Thanksgiving menu. Both here and Ober Gatlinburg are great ways to get up on the mountain above the land and take a lingering look at the beautiful last traces of fall. And as with the ski resort, Anakeesta has other eateries in case you spend the day and get hungry.

Remember that no list is always perfect, and with literally hundreds of great places to eat in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area, be sure to call your favorite or check online to see what their plans are.

Some visitors are planning to spend Thanksgiving Day with the whole clan, cooking and celebrating in the cabin. We can never argue with this choice – we’re very fond ourselves of spending time enjoying the life in a luxury cabins in the Smoky Mountains.

It’s a busy season but be sure to check with us to book one of our Gatlinburg cabins, our Pigeon Forge cabins, or our Wears Valley cabins over on the Quiet Side of the Smokes. Remember too that each cabin comes with our Trip Cash book of Gatlinburg coupons and Pigeon Forge coupons for free tickets to some of the best attractions around, worth over $700 in all. That’s something you won’t find anywhere else!

Whichever choice you make for food and celebration on the day, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

About Tony Perez

I'm a people person, and I enjoy the atmosphere that working with Cabins Of The Smoky Mountains entails, interacting with different types of people and trying to relate to each one uniquely. From Michigan originally, I've been coming to the Smoky Mountains since I was a child, with family in Wears Valley. Summer fun for me is exploring the Cades Cove area, swimming in the creeks, and hiking Mount LeConte and many other trails. I love the Smoky Mountains.