The Ripken Experience

The Ripken Experience is Cal Ripken Jr.'s youth baseball complex in Pigeon Forge, run with his brother Billy Ripken in partnership with the City of Pigeon Forge. Since it opened in 2016, teams from across the country have come to play on fields built to look like professional ballparks, with the Great Smoky Mountains rising behind the outfield.

The fields

The complex has six synthetic turf fields, and each one has lights, a batting cage and a bullpen. They're replicas of well-known ballparks from the rookie leagues up to the majors. Teams work their way up the ladder toward the championship field, a replica of Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles ballpark where Cal Ripken Jr. played.

Ripken also uses four turf fields at the city's Wear Farm City Park for some tournament games. The turf drains well, which keeps games on schedule after mountain rain.

What players and families get

• A big-league feel: walk-up music and a PA announcer who calls each player's name.
• Room to warm up: 15 batting cages and 12 bullpens across the complex.
• A 14,000-square-foot clubhouse with a deck that looks out over the Smokies.
• Concessions and a merchandise shop during tournament play.

Tournaments and events

Most teams come for a 3- or 4-game weekend tournament or a Week-Long Experience. The complex also hosts spring training events, including a softball season kickoff. The tournament season runs from spring through fall, with divisions for a range of youth age groups. Ripken posts the current schedule and registration on its Pigeon Forge tournaments page.

Bringing a team? Our Pigeon Forge baseball tournament guide covers the tournament formats, what to pack and how to plan the days between games.

Where to stay

Ripken doesn't require teams to book through partner hotels, so families and teams can stay wherever they like. A cabin gives the family room to spread out, and a group of cabins gives the whole team one place to share meals and meet between games. See our cabins near the Ripken Experience.

Brothers and sisters who aren't playing have plenty to do in town. Pigeon Forge has Dollywood, the Parkway and the Smokies, all within easy reach on off days and between games.

Plan your visit

In town for another tournament? See Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg.