Family Fun at the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud

We received free admission to the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud in exchange for our fair and honest review; all opinions are our own.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a popular vacation destination in the Southeastern United States. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains National Forest, the town lies in the most picturesque of locations.

Focus on Family

One reason we love Pigeon Forge is that the theme of family runs as clear as the mountain creeks. Roots run deep in the Smoky Mountains, both in nature and in values. Along the main thoroughfare from Sevierville to Gatlinburg sits many family-centered restaurants and shows.

One of our favorite attractions in Pigeon Forge combines both dining and entertainment, the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud. If you are vacationing in the area, the feud is definitely worth the money. Hatfield and McCoy’s is clean, family fun for all ages.

Just as Pigeon Forge has a family focus, the dinner feud focuses on the family too. However, these families were at war!

The dinner feud is based on the real West Virginia-Kentucky feud that lasted between the years of 1863-1891. This feud was so severe that kids are still learning about it today in their history classes! Here’s what happened…

Two families lived along the West Virginia-Kentucky border in an area known as Tug Fork. The Hatfields lived in West Virginia, and the McCoys were from Kentucky. The feud began during the Civil War. The majority of the Hatfields and McCoys fought in the Confederate Army.

Asa Harmon McCoy was the only member of either family to join the Union Army. Beginning in 1863 a series of minor skirmishes and events led to Asa Harmon McCoy’s death in January of 1865. Asa was killed while returning home from battle after leaving the Union Army. No one was ever charged for the murder. However, the McCoy’s blamed Jim Vance, a member of the Hatfield family, for McCoy’s death.

While the families disliked each other, it took thirteen years before violence erupted again. This time the two families argued over the ownership of a hog. Both the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s claimed that the hog was their property. Eventually, the case went before the Justice of the Peace, Anderson Hatfield. It was no surprise that the Justice ruled in favor of the Hatfields. He made his decision based on the testimony of Bill Staton, and two of the McCoy brothers then shot and killed Staton. The brothers were acquitted of the crime.

Roseanna McCoy had an on again-off again romance with Jonce Hatfield, and even lived with the Hatfields for a while. The relationship did not sit well with McCoys, who sought revenge and had Jonce arrested for bootlegging. Roseanna let the Hatfields know about the arrest and they came and rescued Jonce before he was taken away. Despite Roseanna’s loyalty to Jonce Hatfield instead of her family, Jonce left her and married her cousin, Nancy McCoy.

The most violent event of the 28-year feud occurred on New Year’s day in 1888. The Hatfield crew surrounded the McCoy cabin and began shooting the inhabitants, then set fire to the cabin. The family patriarch Randall McCoy escaped into the woods.

After the fire, the local sheriff formed a posse and began searching for the McCoys. Several family members were killed by the posse. Many Hatfield family members stood trial for the New Year’s Day attack. Eight Hatfield men were found guilty. After the trials ended in 1891, violence finally began to subside.

Now both families profit from curious tourists who visit the area for tour rides and other attractions. In 2003, members of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s formally agreed to a truce.

Focus on Fun

Although the famous feud cost many lives, those 28 years went down in history. Now, you can watch the feud unfold… Pigeon Forge style! There will be no deaths and very little violence, but there will be lots of laughs and a good time had by all. The dinner show focuses on how the families came together to end the feud.

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The dinner show has excellent special effects. You don’t have to visit West Virginia or Kentucky to find the local swimming hole or the homesteads of the Hatfield and McCoy’s; you can vacation in Pigeon Forge and find it all.  

Focus on Food

Jackson was counting down for a month before our trip to eat at the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud. If you are visiting, come hungry because this meal is all you can eat. When we attended last week, our menu consisted of the following:

Appetizer

Ma’s Creamy Vegetable Soup (yes, it is white, and it is mighty tasty). It is actually so delicious that they sell the soup mix at the show. We always like to pick up a few mixes and then on cold winter afternoons, it is a quick and delicious dinner.

The Main Course

Squirrel (its really barbecue)- Jackson loves their barbecue so much that he politely asked our waiter for another bucket of squirrel.

Grass Clippins– coleslaw

Leftover Moonshine Corn– corn on the cobb

Smashed Mashed Taters– mashed and delicious

Feudin’ Fried Chicken– Living in the south, we know our fried chicken, and y’all, this is good!

Ma’s Hot Homemade Bread– just right for possum sliders

Creek Water– plain ol’ water

Tea– sweetened or unsweetened

Soft drinks– Pepsi products

Dessert

Granny’s famous specialty desserts- pick from your choice of banana or chocolate pudding.

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We are planning our next trip to visit the Hatfield and McCoy’s, and we can’t wait to visit the Christmas show! We hope to see you there!

Are you interested in other Pigeon Forge attractions? Click here to learn what Pigeon Forge has to offer! Click here to preview the Smoky Mountain Opry, a sister show of the Hatfield and McCoy’s!

Are you interested in visiting the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud? We would love to hear from you. Please drop us a line in the comment section below. I am sure that they would love to have you on their side!