The Cross at Wears Valley

First Baptist Church Pigeon Forge erected the huge white Cross just off the Parkway near the intersection of Wears Valley as a landmark for Pigeon Forge to remind ourselves and the millions of visitors who come here of the great sacrifice made by Jesus Christ who died on a cross over 2,000 years ago. Many visitors tell us they found us "through the Cross" or by searching for more information about it. The Cross remains a local icon that continues guiding followers to Christ and our church.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Galatians 6:14

Construction Facts

The cross measures 110' tall and 65' wide. The basic structure consists of steel pipes that have walls 1/2" thick. The bottom section is 48" in diameter and is set in a concrete foundation 10' square and 14' deep. The outer skin is aluminum with a baked enamel finish.
The finished cross is 7' square, but with a diamond shape, it presents a visible surface that is 9' by 9'.  The total weight exceeds 60,000 lbs. It was constructed on the ground and then set in place with a crane.
The structure was lighted on Good Friday, in April 2022, to serve as a beacon to Christ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Real Meaning of the Cross

The cross on which Jesus died was not a pretty landmark, but an ugly instrument of execution, devised by the Romans centuries ago as a means of tortuously killing society's most heinous criminals.

Initially, it was despised as a symbol of shame and death. It was feared and shunned even by the most ruthless criminals. Jesus chose to die there to illustrate how awful and filthy sin is. He said that He could have called twelve legions of angels to deliver Him, but He freely and deliberately chose to lay down His life there as a ransom to bring us back into a right relationship with the Holy God.
For Christians who have chosen to receive Jesus' gift of salvation, the cross takes on a new meaning. It symbolizes God's love for us and reminds us of the great sacrifice Jesus made by dying on that cross. It is now a symbol of hope instead of despair, life instead of death, forgiveness instead of condemnation, freedom instead of bondage, and heaven instead of hell.

We pray that when you see the cross, it reminds you that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)