After a lauded career spanning over six decades, Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster announced her retirement this week. Appointed in 1980, Teaster broke ground as Tennessee's first female city manager and became the longest-serving manager in the state. WATE reported that Teaster was first hired as a city clerk in 1961, the same year the city incorporated, witnessing and steering its growth firsthand.

"As I reflect on my time in office, I'm overwhelmed with immense gratitude as I know what a blessing it has been to serve this fine city and its people," said Teaster, per WVLT. Her official retirement date is set to be June 30, concluding a chapter marked with significant developments for Pigeon Forge, including the inception of Dollywood in 1986 and the Pigeon Forge Mass Transit system, now the third-largest rural transit system in the U.S.

During her tenure, Teaster was pivotal in transforming Pigeon Forge into a thriving family vacation destination, a legacy that saw the city's annual revenue exceed $1 billion consecutively for 11 years. Her career encompassed the city's economic ascent and guiding the community during the challenging times of the 2016 wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. WBIR further details her contributions to the infrastructure, including the LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge and the Ripken Experience at Pigeon Forge.