A Magical Tennessee Getaway with Mountainous Acts of Kindness
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (February 2024): Allysson was on her way back to her hospital room after undergoing a CT scan. She was completely surprised at what she saw. There were balloons, a room full of smiling nurses, and a sign to let her know that Kids Wish Network was granting her wish, she and her family were going to Pigeon Forge in Tennessee! Her mouth gaped open, and her shock quickly turned into happy tears. She was so excited for her dream to come true.
Kids Wish Network flew Allysson and her family to Tennessee. It was so exciting for Allysson to fly for the first time. She felt so special when the pilots let her sit in the pilot seat and push some of the buttons. They also gifted Allysson her first pilot wings pin. It was a memorable first flight.
WonderWorks indoor amusement park was first on her itinerary. It was a fun place for her family to start off their Tennessee adventure.
When they checked into the Black Fox Lodge of Pigeon Forge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, they were surprised with a beautiful two-bedroom suite. The head housekeeper also made Allysson smile with surprises in her room, gifting her a basket of snacks, Harry Potter gifts knowing what a big fan she is, balloons and more! They also enjoyed daily breakfasts.
Dinner was at Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown. Her family felt special dining in a private party room with their own personal server, and had lots of fun duckpin bowling. They were also given lots of play cards for gaming in the arcade, and Allysson was gifted major reward points to pick out a fabulous prize. She collects rubber ducks, so it was very exciting leveling up her collection being given a Downtown Flavortown duck that’s usually reserved for their high score players. Allysson’s server said she made his whole day and will always remember her.
Their next day was full of wonder with Pink Adventure Tours, taking its Newfound Gap Smoky Mountains Tour in their iconic pink Jeep! They explored, took in all the stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains, learned history, and had an exciting off-road adventure. Their personal guide kindly extended the tour to show them even more of the area’s landscape. “This is a trip I will never forget,” said Allysson to her mom. She especially loved the scenic overlook. Allysson was also thrilled to receive pink ducks in her gifted goody bag.
Their family fun continued at The Island in Pigeon Forge where they all received Unlimited Rides wristbands, courtesy of the attraction.
Dinner at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen was big on southern hospitality, along with abundant helpings of dishes created from Deen’s recipes. The managers also gave Allysson a gift package with a lunchbox, Paula Deen Cookbook, cup, cake mixes, an apron, bear and coloring book. The family and staff had heartfelt conversations making meaningful connections. It was a sweet night, in addition to having their decadent desserts.
The next day they went shopping, followed by a very memorable lunch at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Gatlinburg restaurant. When they arrived, Allysson was announced as a special guest. Her family grubbed on the hearty down-home comfort food, and Allysson was graciously invited to their store to pick out whatever she wanted. She was thrilled to get a baseball cap and sweatpants, and they also gifted her restaurant merch including a cowgirl hat, an Ole Red cup and bag. More heartwarming connections were made. Allysson’s server said meeting her was a blessing, and another server sweetly asked Allysson for a dance, and she said yes! Ole Red management later reached out to Kids Wish Network saying “their hearts are so full” participating in her wish.
Another highlight was visiting Anakeesta, a mountaintop adventure park located above downtown Gatlinburg with sweeping views of the national park. Allysson loved the Treehouse Village Adventure, the Treetop Skywalk, cozy fire pit, shopping, and dinner at the Smokehouse BBQ in Firefly Village overlooking the scenic mountain vistas. Their memorable experiences at Anakeesta included admission to Astra Lumina, an immersive nighttime light show creating an enchanting walk under the stars.
Allysson’s favorite part of her wish was all of it! “She created lifelong memories,” said her mom Aspen. “It was a different kind of individual attention that wasn’t medical related. She enjoyed feeling like a VIP.”
All of the sponsors mentioned generously donated their services to make Allysson’s wish extraordinary. It was a magical Tennessee getaway with mountainous acts of kindness.
Allysson had a traumatic birth with complications. At ten months old, she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, and shortly after had a VP shunt implanted. She’s been through several surgeries, and suffers with migraines. Allysson recently had to have her shunt replaced, and continues to work hard in therapies to obtain her goals. She also struggles with additional challenges.
Many Thanks
Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Allysson without the help of Black Fox Lodge Pigeon Forge Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Wonder Works, Downtown Flavortown, Pink Adventure Tour, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, The Island in Pigeon Forge, Ole Red Gatlinburg, Anakeesta, Smokehouse BBQ, and the many supporters who believe in making wishes come true for kids who need hope.
Sponsors
Wonderworks
www.wonderworksonline.com/pigeon-forge
FB: https://www.facebook.com/WonderWorkstn
IG: @wonderworks_tn
Black Fox Lodge Pigeon Forge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tysirup-black-fox-lodge-pigeon-forge
FB: www.facebook.com/Blackfoxlodge/
IG: @blackfoxlodgepigeonforge
Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown
https://downtownflavortown.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/downtownflavortown/
IG: downtownflavortown
Pink Adventure Tours- Smokey Mountain Tours
www.pinkadventuretours.com/tours/smoky-mountain-tours
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pinkjeeptours/
IG: @pinkjeeptours
The Island in Pigeon Forge
https://islandinpigeonforge.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheIslandInPigeonForge
IG: @theislandpf
Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
https://pauladeensfamilykitchen.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/PDFKPigeonForge/
IG: @pauladeensfamilykitchen
Ole Red Gatlinburg
https://olered.com/gatlinburg/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/OleRedGburg/
IG: @olered
Anakeesta
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AnakeestaTN/
IG: @anakeesta
https://anakeesta.com/astralumina/
https://anakeesta.com/magical-firefly-village/#smokehouse
Visit www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn about our different programs.
Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.
Every kid’s wish is worth the investment because every wish changes a life.
If you would like to sponsor a child’s wish, or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network’s wish-granting services, please call 727-789-0008.