With realism, comfort, competition and support – mixed with some of the grit and dedication of Cal Ripken, Jr., the Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, is a premier youth baseball facility that offers a unique blend of sports and family entertainment. Established in 2016, this state-of-the-art complex features six youth turf fields designed to replicate historic professional ballparks, providing players with an authentic Big League atmosphere. Each field is equipped with lights, batting cages, and bullpens, allowing for a comprehensive training and playing experience.
For young kids practicing baseball, nothing can keep the motivation fueled better than to feel the excitement of the professional game while still in training, and this is exactly what the Ripken Experience brings to the sport. Even if you’re not practicing yourself, you can’t help but be lifted up by the excitement of this superb baseball facility, with thousands of young players passing through all year, taking part in youth competitions, team tournaments and week-long baseball intensives that also combine with a family vacation in the Smoky Mountains.
Image courtesy of the Ripken Experience
The mountains are never far away at the Ripken facility, forming the backdrop for all of the activities, with Pigeon Forge sitting right on the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is America’s favorite national park, open all year and hugely scenic, the complete complement of nature for physical young kids, and with numerous attractions in park and town for less active fun-seekers of all ages in the rest of the family.
Features and Amenities at the Ripken Experience
The complex includes six turf fields modeled after famous stadiums like Camden Yards and Fluor Field, each one equipped with lights, batting cages, bullpens, and synthetic playing surfaces as used by professional and collegiate teams, as well as bleacher seating areas for spectators. Each stadium is different, and Ripken does a great job of emulating the original. The facility in all boasts fifteen batting cages and twelve bullpens, as well as two warm-up areas for teams to prepare before games.
By the way, the six original fields are now being expanded by four more, in Pigeon Forge’s nearby Wear Farm city park, which has been upgrading its fields to the Ripken standard, on order to provide overflow capacity for the insanely popular draw. The city has partnered with Ripken from the beginning, and reports stunning sports tourism success form the venture.
Adding comfort to the camaraderie, the 14,000 square foot clubhouse serves as the central hub for players and families, enhancing the overall experience with amenities such as food and shopping, and a superb view of the fields and the mountains, viewable from inside and from large deck spaces. Mindful of teams and families, there are play and picnic areas also.
Activities and Events at the Ripken Experience
The Ripken Experience hosts various tournaments and week-long baseball experiences that cater to young athletes looking to improve their skills while enjoying family time in the scenic Smoky Mountains. These events are designed to create lifelong memories for participants.
The facility hosts numerous youth baseball tournaments throughout the year, providing players with a chance to compete on professional-style fields. These tournaments often include player announcements and walk-up music, enhancing the big league experience for participants.
The All-Ripken Games are designed for players aged 8-14 and offer age-appropriate competition and structured formats that include both pool play and bracket play.
The week long experiences are family baseball vacations that offer a week-long program combining competitive play with family-friendly activities. Participants can enjoy a minimum of six games, skills competitions, and special events like private Q&A sessions with coaches. The Smoky Mountains are all around, and Pigeon Forge itself is jam-packed with fun attractions, shows, dining and shopping enough to last a lifetime, let alone a week.
How to Visit the Ripken Experience
There are no mandatory lodging requirements to visit the Experience, so the choice is wide open. The area is teeming with accommodations ranging from hotels and lodges to camping or glamping and the kids-favorite luxury cabins packed with entertainment. Also, parking is free and there are no charges to come and watch, so families can share in the fun.
To book a week-long program at The Ripken Experience in Pigeon Forge, go to the website here and scroll to Pigeon Forge. For personalized assistance, you can call the Ripken team at 865-366-3101 or email at [email protected] to get guidance or answer any questions.
The week-long packages typically feature at least six games, skills competitions, coach and player gifts, and entertainment options for families. There are numerous attractions close by , including a water park and restaurants.
To register your team to enter a tournament, visit the official website to view upcoming tournaments. You can find information about various events and their schedules here. To register you’ll need to put down a deposit, but you can get onto a waitlist at no charge.
Families who register early for tournaments or events may receive discounts, although specific details on these discounts can vary by event and should be confirmed during the registration process.
Useful Information
The Ripken Experience Pigeon Forge
405 Jake Thomas Road, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Tel: 865-366-3101 (check the phone above)
Web: ripkenbaseball.com
