Parrot Mountain: One of the Smokies’ Most Unexpected Hidden Gems

Some attractions are exactly what you expect. Parrot Mountain isn’t one of them.

We thought we’d spend an hour looking at some beautiful birds, take a few pictures, and move on to the next attraction. Instead, we left wondering if one particular Cockatoo would remember us the next day. That’s usually a pretty good sign.

Located less than five minutes from Wildflower, Parrot Mountain is one of those places that’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. In fact, the driveway almost seems to sneak up on you if you’re coming from our direction because the sign faces the opposite way. Keep an eye out or you’ll be making a very scenic U-turn (we went for the slow backing up around the mountain, which was probably a terrible plan in retrospect, but we made it!).

A Walk Through the Rainforest

The first thing that surprised us wasn’t the birds. It was the setting. Instead of walking through rows of cages, you’re winding through beautifully landscaped pathways surrounded by trees, tropical plants, waterfalls, flowers, and enough shade to make even a hot Tennessee afternoon feel comfortable. Although some birds are housed in enclosures for their safety (and yours, because apparently some of them can be a little snippy), there are many birds free to fly around the property.

On the day we visited, temperatures were climbing quickly, but the tree canopy made the entire experience much more enjoyable than we expected. It honestly felt more like wandering through a rainforest than visiting a bird sanctuary.

Just be prepared for hills. There are several fairly steep sections throughout the property. The paths are technically wheelchair accessible, but we’d hesitate to recommend them unless whoever is pushing the chair is prepared for a workout.

More Birds Than You Can Count

Parrot Mountain is home to hundreds of birds representing dozens of species from around the world. Many of them were rescued from neglectful or abusive situations or surrendered by owners who could no longer care for them. Knowing that many of these birds have found permanent homes here makes the experience feel a little more meaningful.

The variety is incredible: macaws in every color imaginable, cockatoos with personalities almost as big as their crests, tiny lovebirds, several species of toucans, a kookaburra that happily sang for us, and then there was the Guinea Turaco. If you’ve never seen one before, imagine a bird that somehow looks like it spent an hour getting ready before leaving the house. We still aren’t entirely convinced nature is responsible for that eyeliner.

The Best Part? The Birds Want to Meet You (for the Most Part)

One of our favorite parts of Parrot Mountain was how many opportunities there were to interact with the birds. There are areas where birds will happily perch on your hand after you sanitize it, and if you’re lucky, you may even get to meet some of the younger birds as they hop from person to person. Not every bird is interested in making new friends that day, which somehow makes the ones that do feel even more special. If you spot a bird with its beak tucked under its wing, it’s probably having a quiet moment. Give it a little space and let it decide whether it’s in the mood to make new friends.

Then there was our bird.

We stopped to pet one particularly interactive cockatoo, and every time we started walking away, it made the saddest little noises until we came back. So… naturally… we came back. Several times.

We’re still not entirely convinced it wasn’t running a very effective emotional support scam.

Whatever the case, it worked.

Is It Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

Parrot Mountain isn’t one of the attractions that gets talked about as much as Dollywood or Ripley’s Aquarium, but it probably should be. It’s reasonably priced, beautifully maintained, and offers something genuinely different from almost everything else in the area.

If you enjoy animals, photography, gardens, or simply slowing down for a couple of hours, we’d put this high on your list.

Just remember to watch for the entrance, and don’t be surprised if you leave talking about one particular bird long after the rest of the trip is over.