Okay, Hillbilly's Missing Something Again

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I'm having lunch in Pigeon Forge, near the Great Smoky Mountains. I had a lovely morning hiking (well, it's more like a walk) to Cataract Falls, located behind the welcome center. Here's what I don't understand, though. You have the most visited national park in America right next door. (It's the most visited because (a) it's close to about a third of the US population, and (b) it's the only free-admission national park. ) You have incredible natural beauty that's there for the discovery. And you also have what is tantamount to a a permanent circus side show. There are countless "theater"-type shows here, from the Comedy Barn (worthless trivia: that was originally started by Archie Campbell!) to the "Hatfields & McCoys" and "Dixie Stampede," not to mention more goofy golf places than you can shake a putter at. Everywhere you turn is a Ripley's something. Trust me, I don't believe it. So what's Hillbilly missing here? Is this a "you choose" option world: you can spend all your time with the man-made stuff and ignore the park, or vice versa? Or maybe do people consider driving through Cades Cove "seeing the park" and decide to spend the rest of their time at a go-cart place? If the latter is the case, why come all the way to the Smokies for that? You're not going to see a bear playing goofy golf. Not a real one, anyway.