Hatfield & McCoy Experience: The Feud Told by the Family

About

The Hatfield & McCoy Experience is a history museum in Pigeon Forge's Old Mill district that sets out to tell the real story behind the country's most famous family feud. It is presented by descendants of William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield, the patriarch of the West Virginia Hatfields, and led by his great-great-great-grandson Jack Hatfield Jr. It is not the same business as the long-running Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud show in town, and the tone here is history rather than comedy.

Visitors move through the exhibits on a self-guided audio tour that includes accounts from the families themselves. Historical photographs and personal artifacts sit alongside a timeline of the feud that places it within the Civil War era and the wider story of Appalachia. Children can follow a scavenger hunt through the museum, and outside there is gem mining and panning. Photo opportunities, a gift shop with themed merchandise and hand-scooped ice cream finish the visit.

The museum is at 107 Old Mill Avenue, in the Old Mill district near traffic light #7 on the Parkway, so it combines easily with a meal or shopping at The Old Mill. Local press lists hours of roughly 10 AM to 8 PM daily, but it is wise to call ahead or check the website before you go. The mostly indoor exhibits make it a good choice for a rainy afternoon.

AI rendering based on visitor photos, not an actual photo

Did You Know

• The museum is led by Jack Hatfield Jr., a great-great-great-grandson of William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield (The Mountain Press).
• It is a separate attraction from the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Feud show in Pigeon Forge (The Mountain Press).
• The exhibits include audio of family accounts, historical photographs and a feud timeline with Civil War-era context (My Smoky Mountain Guide).
• A future moonshine and bourbon experience tied to historic Hatfield family recipes is planned (Hatfield & McCoy Experience).